Technology

Systems Administrator Salary

Systems administrators manage IT infrastructure including servers, networks, and security systems.

Median Salary
$84,810
Mean Salary
$90,080
Total Employed
367,400
Job Growth
+3%

Systems Administrator Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level systems administrators earn around $55,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $86,000. Senior-level systems administrators can earn $125,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$55,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$86,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$125,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for systems administrators varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $52,000, while the top 10% earn $132,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $52,000
25th Percentile $67,000
50th Percentile (Median) $84,810
75th Percentile $108,000
90th Percentile $132,000

Systems Administrator Salary by State

Systems Administrator salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $139,937, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $63,608.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $139,937 Details →
#2 California $129,759 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $122,975 Details →
#4 New York $111,949 Details →
#5 Washington $107,709 Details →
#6 Alaska $102,620 Details →
#7 New Jersey $102,620 Details →
#8 Maryland $98,380 Details →
#9 Oregon $98,380 Details →
#10 Connecticut $97,532 Details →
#11 Colorado $95,835 Details →
#12 Virginia $94,987 Details →
#13 New Hampshire $90,747 Details →
#14 Rhode Island $89,899 Details →
#15 Utah $86,506 Details →
#16 Delaware $85,658 Details →
#17 Florida $84,810 Details →
#18 Illinois $84,810 Details →
#19 Minnesota $84,810 Details →
#20 Arizona $83,962 Details →
#21 Nevada $83,962 Details →
#22 Pennsylvania $83,114 Details →
#23 Texas $83,114 Details →
#24 Vermont $83,114 Details →
#25 Georgia $81,418 Details →
#26 North Carolina $81,418 Details →
#27 Maine $80,570 Details →
#28 Idaho $79,721 Details →
#29 New Mexico $78,873 Details →
#30 Wisconsin $78,025 Details →
#31 Montana $77,177 Details →
#32 Michigan $76,329 Details →
#33 Ohio $76,329 Details →
#34 Tennessee $75,481 Details →
#35 Indiana $74,633 Details →
#36 Missouri $74,633 Details →
#37 Nebraska $74,633 Details →
#38 Louisiana $73,785 Details →
#39 South Carolina $73,785 Details →
#40 Iowa $72,937 Details →
#41 North Dakota $72,937 Details →
#42 Wyoming $72,937 Details →
#43 Kansas $71,240 Details →
#44 Kentucky $70,392 Details →
#45 South Dakota $70,392 Details →
#46 Alabama $69,544 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $69,544 Details →
#48 Arkansas $66,152 Details →
#49 West Virginia $64,456 Details →
#50 Mississippi $63,608 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Maintain servers and operating systems
  • Monitor system performance
  • Manage user accounts and security
  • Implement backup procedures
  • Maintain network infrastructure

Top Skills

Linux Windows Server Active Directory Networking Virtualization Scripting

Education Required

Bachelor's degree

Job Outlook

As fast as average — projected 3% growth over the next decade