North Carolina's network administration pathway prepares students for careers managing organizational IT networks. Students develop expertise in network setup, user management, security administration, and troubleshooting. Strong demand from all organizations with IT infrastructure creates career opportunities.
Curriculum covers network administration fundamentals, user and access management, network security basics, systems administration, and troubleshooting. Students configure and manage network systems in lab environments. Learning emphasizes practical system administration skills.
Graduates work as network administrators, IT support specialists, systems administrators, and IT technicians for corporations, government agencies, and IT service providers. Many advance to network engineering and IT management roles.
Network Administration at a Glance
4
Courses
8
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
North Carolina's network administration curriculum aligns with IT administration and security standards. Students complete 4-6 pathway units covering systems administration and network management as defined by NC DPI.
Programs teach hands-on system configuration and network administration practices. Students develop practical IT administration skills.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course | Code |
|---|---|
| Foundations of Information Technology | BI10 |
| Network Administration I | BN20 |
| Network Administration II | BN22 |
| Network Administration III | BN24 |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
IT Support Technician
Entry LevelSalary range: $46,510 - $72,700
Adjusted for cost of living: $49,405
Network Administrator
ExperiencedSalary range: $74,950 - $123,940
Adjusted for cost of living: $103,665
Systems Administrator
ExperiencedSalary range: $74,950 - $123,940
Adjusted for cost of living: $103,665
IT Manager
ExperiencedSalary range: $64,450 - $158,460
Adjusted for cost of living: $105,364
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students intern in IT support and administration roles at corporations, government agencies, and IT service providers throughout North Carolina.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in SkillsUSA, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps North Carolina CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
North Carolina Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with North Carolina's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as North Carolina standards and industry needs evolve
Related Pathways in North Carolina
Cisco Network Engineering
North Carolina's Cisco network engineering pathway prepares students for careers in network infrastructure and administration. Students develop expertise in network design, routing, switching, and network security using Cisco systems. Strong demand from corporations and IT service providers creates career opportunities. Curriculum covers Cisco networking fundamentals, CCNA certification pathway, routing and switching, network security basics, and hands-on lab work. Students configure and troubleshoot Cisco equipment in realistic network environments. Learning emphasizes industry-standard practices and certifications. Graduates work as network technicians, network administrators, network engineers, and IT specialists for corporations, IT service providers, and government agencies. Many advance to senior network engineering and architecture roles.
Digital TechnologyNetwork Security
North Carolina's Network Security pathway addresses the critical need for cybersecurity professionals as cyber threats continue to grow. The program covers network defense, ethical hacking, cryptography, risk assessment, and incident response while emphasizing the legal and ethical dimensions of cybersecurity work. Students gain hands-on experience with security tools, penetration testing techniques, and defensive strategies through virtual labs and cyber range environments. The curriculum includes participation in CyberPatriot and other cybersecurity competitions where students defend networks against simulated attacks and solve security challenges. North Carolina's strong technology sector—particularly in the Research Triangle—and significant military and government presence create abundant cybersecurity career opportunities. The pathway prepares students for immediate employment in security operations centers or continued education in cybersecurity degree programs at NC universities.
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