IT Support Specialist vs Network Administrator: Ireland and the UK Salary & Career Benchmarks

In Ireland, IT Support Specialist roles typically command a higher median salary than Network Administrator positions. According to our 2026 live benchmark data, a mid-level IT Support Specialist earns a median salary of €57K, whereas a Network Administrator brings in roughly €40K (a gap of €17K at the median).

This difference narrows and widens depending on tech stack and location. Roles based in major hubs like Dublin typically pay a 15–25% premium to offset local cost-of-living pressures. Fully remote positions across Ireland tend to compress toward the national median. Senior practitioners in either discipline can exceed the upper range through specialist skills. See the skills premium section below for the specific certifications and tools that push offers to the top of the range.

While both positions are vital to a modern tech organisation, IT Support Specialist and Network Administrator have fundamentally different daily workflows.

IT Support Specialist focuses primarily on providing second-line and specialist IT support, administering Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory environments, managing endpoints via Intune, and resolving complex hardware, software, and network issues. Day-to-day work revolves around providing second-line IT support for hardware, software, and connectivity issues, administering Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory, managing endpoint devices via Intune and SCCM, troubleshooting network connectivity and VPN issues, supporting hardware refresh and cloud migration projects, maintaining asset inventory and IT documentation, escalating complex issues to third-line support, and mentoring first-line help desk staff.

Network Administrator focuses on managing day-to-day operation, configuration, and maintenance of LAN, WAN, wireless, and SD-WAN network infrastructure, ensuring network availability, performance, and security across the enterprise. Their time is spent monitoring network performance with SolarWinds and PRTG, configuring and troubleshooting Cisco and Juniper switches and routers, managing firewall rules and VPN configurations, responding to network incidents, performing firmware updates and change management tasks, documenting network configurations, managing SD-WAN deployments, and supporting IT projects requiring network connectivity planning.

Essentially, IT Support Specialist tends to providing second-line and specialist IT support, while Network Administrator managing day-to-day operation.

Transitioning between these two paths is achievable but requires targeted upskilling.

Moving from IT Support Specialist to Network Administrator: IT Support Specialists with networking knowledge, help desk engineers who have pursued CCNA certification, and junior network engineers transition into Network Administrator roles.

Moving from Network Administrator to IT Support Specialist: Help Desk Specialists who develop second-line technical skills, IT apprenticeship graduates, and CompTIA-certified career changers building hands-on experience.

Neither path requires starting from scratch. Professionals in both roles share underlying technology fluency; the gap is usually domain knowledge and specific tooling rather than core engineering fundamentals.

In Ireland in 2026, both roles are seeing strong demand, but with different drivers.

IT Support Specialist demand is steady, particularly in High-volume consistent demand across all sectors for second-line support specialists with Microsoft 365 and endpoint management skills. Network Administrator demand is high, concentrated in SD-WAN adoption, cloud networking complexity, and cybersecurity requirements raising the technical bar for network administrators.

Network Administrator shows sharper hiring velocity in specialist contexts, particularly as the 2026 AI and cloud transformation push continues across both markets.

Following widespread Return-to-Office mandates across Ireland in 2026, workspace flexibility significantly impacts total compensation values.

IT Support Specialist roles score 60% on our remote-friendliness index (Hybrid). This is because Second-line support for cloud-managed environments (Microsoft 365, Intune, Azure AD) is highly compatible with remote working and hybrid arrangements.. Where in-office attendance is required, it is typically driven by Hardware support, physical device configuration, server room access, and in-person user assistance require on-site attendance, typically 2 to 3 days per week at modern organisations..

Network Administrator roles score 55% (Hybrid). Network monitoring and configuration management can often be performed remotely via secure access; many tasks are location-independent. is the primary driver of flexibility. When office days are required, it is usually for Hardware troubleshooting, cabling, switch configuration, and data centre work require physical presence. Network incidents may require on-site response..

For candidates weighing up the true financial value of an offer, our Remote vs. Hybrid Savings Calculator shows exactly how transit costs and commute time affect the real net income of any salary figure.