What Is a Website Administrator?
Research what it takes to become a website administrator. Learn about the duties of this job, the education requirements and salary range to find out if this is the career for you.
What Does a Website Administrator Do?
Website administrators, also known as webmasters, web developers or network and computer system administrators, are responsible for all aspects of keeping website content and design fresh, backed up, and fully functional. They typically work closely with clients to make sure they understand how they want their websites to look and function. Depending on their specific role, they may also be responsible for making sure local networks are functioning properly as well. The following chart provides an overview of the education, job outlook and average salaries in this field.
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree |
| Education Field of Study | Computer science, web development, computer architecture, network design |
| Key Responsibilities | Maintain, update, back up and trouble shoot organization's website; ensure functionality and site responsiveness; evaluate website analytics; create websites |
| Job Growth (2020-2030) | 13% (for web developers); 5% (for network and computer systems administrators)* |
| Mean Salary | $77,200 (for web developers in 2020)*; $80,226 (for web administrators in 2021)** |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics **Salary.com
What is a Website Administrator?
Although sometimes called upon to create websites, the main responsibility of administrators is to maintain, back up and update existing websites for organizations. As a website administrator you would be responsible for making sure the site's user interface is easy to understand and efficient. You would ensure that all websites are operating securely and at optimum speeds. Approval of the content and links within the website might be part of your job description, and you will likely be responsible for evaluating each website's analytics, such as user feedback and traffic.
Do I Need a Degree?
You need at least a bachelor's degree to secure a job as a website administrator. While it is difficult to find a degree program specifically in website administration, most computer science bachelor's degree programs offer website administration courses, and some will allow you to specialize in it. However, because many other skills are often required of website administrators, you may also take classes in areas like the following:
- Business
- Systems engineering
- Computer architecture
- Database architecture
- Web development
- Network design
- Application development
What Is the Work Environment Like?
Most website administrators work in offices or computer laboratories, and most work a standard 40-hour week, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS (www.bls.gov). However, because many organizations can be seriously hindered if their website goes down, web administrators must also be on call, and some work 50 hours or more a week.
Is the Job Market Favorable for Website Administrators?
The BLS predicted a faster-than-average job growth of 13% for web developers between 2020 and 2030 and an 5% growth for network and computer systems administrators for the same decade, which was about as fast as average compared to all occupations.
What Is a Typical Salary for a Website Administrator?
According to Salary.com, as of December 2021, web administrators earned a mean salary of $80,226. During the same time, the middle half of them made between $69,974 and $91,765.
What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?
With a bachelor's degree, you may also be interested in becoming a computer programmer. This job entails designing and writing code for applications and software so that they are able to function properly. You could also consider a career as a database administrator, which would involve using software to store important company information like financial records and customer contact details. Another option is a career as a computer support specialist, which involves communicating with individuals and companies who are using various computer software and helping them troubleshoot and fix problems. Support specialist positions may require a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree or just some postsecondary coursework.