On Sat, 26 Jul 2014, Scott Weeks wrote:

"Annual Mean Wage of Network and Computer Systems Administrators by State, May 2013"

is surprising, though. The numbers are much lower than I would expect.

As always, the survey definitions (and footnotes) are important. The survey shows the relative relationship better than the absolute numbers. Of course, there are exceptions. I expect people following NANOG are more likely senior Computer Network Architects, Computer and Information Systems Managers, or Computer and Information Research Scientists rather than specialists or administrators. They are also likely to have compensation packages in addition to wages. Companies may provide free lunches and dinners to encourage employees to stay at the office longer hours. Tech venture capital firms often want their investments close by Sand Hill Road, not in the mid-west fly over country. Large multi-national firms are sometimes more used to a disperse workforce than a small startup firm. Every situation is different. It all depends on what you are looking for, and consider important.