GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Best States to Be a Network and Computer Systems Administrators
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a network and computer systems administrators salary goes furthest in Maryland — a $118,290 BLS median worth $107,635 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 115.9).
Which US states are best for a network and computer systems administrators after cost of living and tax?
For a network and computer systems administrators, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Maryland #1: a $118,290 BLS median becomes $107,635 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 115.9). West Virginia ranks last ($80,265, index 86.4). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Maryland ranks #1 of 51 states for a network and computer systems administrators. Index 100 = the average state; 115.9 means pay goes 15.9% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedNetwork and Computer Systems Administrators — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $118,290 | $5,317 | 105.0 | $107,635 | 115.9 |
| 2 | Texas | $101,240 | — | 97.1 | $104,310 | 112.3 |
| 3 | Nevada | $103,440 | — | 100.0 | $103,462 | 111.4 |
| 4 | Ohio | $97,570 | $1,901 | 92.8 | $103,121 | 111.0 |
| 5 | Virginia | $109,610 | $5,503 | 101.1 | $102,970 | 110.9 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $116,420 | $5,226 | 108.8 | $102,196 | 110.0 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $110,980 | $5,329 | 105.8 | $99,900 | 107.6 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $90,160 | $2,330 | 88.2 | $99,573 | 107.2 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $105,880 | $4,248 | 103.6 | $98,091 | 105.6 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $101,870 | $5,438 | 98.6 | $97,780 | 105.3 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $103,100 | $3,338 | 102.3 | $97,538 | 105.0 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $95,230 | $3,505 | 94.3 | $97,242 | 104.7 |
| 13 | Washington | $103,910 | — | 107.0 | $97,100 | 104.5 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $86,450 | $448 | 89.0 | $96,676 | 104.1 |
| 15 | Colorado | $103,370 | $3,888 | 103.1 | $96,535 | 103.9 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $100,230 | — | 104.2 | $96,222 | 103.6 |
| 17 | Georgia | $97,170 | $4,591 | 96.3 | $96,143 | 103.5 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $88,100 | — | 91.9 | $95,896 | 103.2 |
| 19 | Illinois | $100,080 | $4,813 | 100.0 | $95,307 | 102.6 |
| 20 | Alaska | $97,500 | — | 102.4 | $95,253 | 102.6 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $90,790 | $3,172 | 92.2 | $95,018 | 102.3 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $110,970 | $6,557 | 109.9 | $95,006 | 102.3 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $92,520 | $4,129 | 93.7 | $94,285 | 101.5 |
| 24 | New York | $105,810 | $5,300 | 107.9 | $93,133 | 100.3 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $87,020 | $3,350 | 90.2 | $92,803 | 99.9 |
| 26 | Iowa | $84,500 | $3,171 | 87.8 | $92,670 | 99.8 |
| 27 | Michigan | $92,750 | $3,695 | 96.2 | $92,556 | 99.7 |
| 28 | Utah | $95,820 | $4,360 | 98.9 | $92,511 | 99.6 |
| 29 | Florida | $95,200 | — | 103.4 | $92,057 | 99.1 |
| 30 | Idaho | $91,880 | $4,112 | 95.5 | $91,909 | 99.0 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $83,990 | $3,452 | 87.8 | $91,684 | 98.7 |
| 32 | California | $106,440 | $5,777 | 110.7 | $90,917 | 97.9 |
| 33 | Oregon | $102,000 | $8,121 | 103.4 | $90,826 | 97.8 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $81,590 | $2,974 | 86.9 | $90,429 | 97.4 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $84,700 | $3,308 | 90.1 | $90,332 | 97.3 |
| 36 | Delaware | $94,200 | $4,876 | 99.8 | $89,496 | 96.4 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $79,990 | $2,714 | 87.0 | $88,871 | 95.7 |
| 38 | Kansas | $83,340 | $3,851 | 90.1 | $88,255 | 95.0 |
| 39 | Indiana | $84,550 | $2,507 | 93.3 | $87,908 | 94.6 |
| 40 | Arizona | $90,280 | $1,782 | 100.7 | $87,903 | 94.6 |
| 41 | Alabama | $81,400 | $3,805 | 88.8 | $87,359 | 94.1 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $101,450 | $6,180 | 110.0 | $86,648 | 93.3 |
| 43 | Missouri | $80,870 | $2,920 | 90.8 | $85,832 | 92.4 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $86,140 | $2,644 | 97.6 | $85,573 | 92.1 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $83,650 | $3,281 | 94.1 | $85,412 | 92.0 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $75,010 | — | 88.6 | $84,675 | 91.2 |
| 47 | Vermont | $86,020 | $3,296 | 98.0 | $84,449 | 90.9 |
| 48 | Maine | $83,890 | $4,049 | 97.0 | $82,268 | 88.6 |
| 49 | Montana | $80,950 | $3,638 | 94.6 | $81,686 | 87.9 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $75,220 | — | 92.7 | $81,151 | 87.4 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $74,490 | $2,656 | 89.5 | $80,265 | 86.4 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Maryland, a $118,290 salary is worth about $106,221 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $6,802 (≈ top marginal 5.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $111,488 · BEA cost of living 105.0 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $133,531, a $27,310 gain over Maryland.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $133,531 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $130,758 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $130,082 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $130,053 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $129,663 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $129,647 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $128,758 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $128,264 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $127,618 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $126,516 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $125,953 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $125,801 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Network and Computer Systems Administrators — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a network and computer systems administrators?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Maryland is the best state for a network and computer systems administrators: a BLS median of $118,290 is worth $107,635 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,317) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 105.0), an index of 115.9 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Maryland has the highest headline BLS median for a network and computer systems administrators at $118,290, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #1 of 51 on real pay (index 115.9). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a network and computer systems administrators salary go least far?
- West Virginia ranks last of 51 states for a network and computer systems administrators: a $74,490 BLS median is worth only $80,265 after tax and cost of living (index 86.4). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
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- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
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- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a network and computer systems administrators is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.