The modern tech-driven landscape is ideal for System Administrators. You will find them in almost every industry, ranging from corporate offices, IT firms, and government agencies to healthcare organizations and research facilities, managing networks, servers, and other critical IT infrastructure components. As computers continue to permeate every aspect of the economy, the need for skilled System Administrators is expected to grow exponentially. This will make them indispensable in maintaining the functionality and integrity of digital systems in the days to come- automatically resulting in a high System Administrator salary.
Let me take you through the scope of this interesting field through this blog and learn all about the System Administrator pay in different parts of the world. Read till the end to discover more about this career path, right from junior system Administrator salary to senior System Administrator salary!
Who Is a System Administrator?
A System Administrator, also known as a Sys Admin, is an IT expert who maintains a multiuser computing ecosystem to ensure that IT services and support systems function efficiently without any hindrance.
They set up and oversee an organization's entire system infrastructure, including hardware and software systems and operating systems crucial for business operations. They are required to have a comprehensive knowledge of hardware as well as software to design robust and secure architectures that safeguard the company and guarantee best-in-class user experience.
Considering the significance of this role, allow me to shed some light on what salary you can expect as a System Administrator.
System Administrator Salary in 2024
The salary of a System Administrator greatly depends on the job role. For example, a System Database Administrator's salary will always differ from that of an IT Manager, although they essentially come from the same background.
Average Salary
I have listed the average salary of a Systems Administrator below for you to understand if this field is lucrative for you:
Per Hour | USD 35 (Source: Salary.com) |
Per Month | USD 7,312 (Source: Talent.com) |
Per Annum | USD 83,437 (Source: Indeed) |
Source: salary.com
System Administrator Salary: Based on Experience
The System Administrator salary you get in any industry heavily depends on your experience level. Needless to say, the more experience you gain, the better System Administrator pays you bag. In order to offer you a better perspective of monetary benefits a System Administrator can enjoy, take a look into these SysAdmin salaries based on work experience:
Talent.com- Beginner: The average pay for a System Administrator at the beginner level, with an experience of 1-2 years, is USD 72,450. This can, however, go up with your credentials and experience. I recommend taking up online learning courses so that you can bag the highest pay even as a beginner in the field of system administration.
- Intermediate: The System Administrator's salary at the Intermediate level, with 4-5 years of experience, is about USD 90,001, based on their role and the company they are employed in.
- Advanced: A Senior SysAdmin's salary can go up to USD 127,685 with the addition of more than 10 years of experience. This figure, again, depends on the industry you are employed in, along with your organization.
System Administrator Salary: Based on Location
The System Administrator's salary greatly varies based on the geographical location. Check out the tables below to understand the salary prospects of each country and city.
A. India
Here’s a list of Indian cities with the average SysAdmin salary they pay:
City | Salary |
Kolkata | INR 3-6 LPA |
Mumbai | INR 3-7LPA |
Delhi | INR 4-7 LPA |
Here’s a list of companies and the SysAdmin salaries they pay in India:
Companies | Salary |
Tata Consultancy Services | INR 4.4 LPA |
IBM | INR 4.9 LPA |
DXC Technology | INR 5.0 LPA |
Source: Glassdoor
B. United States of America
Check out the SysAdmin salaries that these cities in the United States offer:
City | Salary |
San Fransico | USD 118,895/ annum |
New York | USD 94,513/ annum |
Washington, DC | USD 96,636/ annum |
Here are the companies that recruit System Administrators and the salaries they pay per annum:
Companies | Salary |
Boeing | USD 130,322/ annum |
Pueo Business Solutions | USD 105,751/ annum |
Northrop Grumman | USD 99,295/ annum |
Source: Indeed
C. UK
Check out the SysAdmin salaries that the different cities of the United Kingdom offer in the table below:
Cities | Salary |
London | GBP 42,819/ annum |
Cambridge | GBP 40,931/ annum |
Manchester | GBP 37,646/ annum |
Source: Indeed
Here are the companies that pay top SysAdmin salaries in the United Kingdom:
Companies | Salary |
Google | GBP 30,000/ annum |
Sky | GBP 59,000/ annum |
MRI Software | GBP 40,000/ annum |
Source: Glassdoor
D. Australia
Australian cities have good opportunities for System Administrators. Here’s a city-wise insight on the System Administrator salary in some major Australian cities:
Cities | Salary |
Canberra | AUD 215,136/ annum |
Perth | AUD 102,163/ annum |
Sydney | AUD 102,443/ annum |
Here are some top companies that hire SysAdmins and the salaries they offer:
Companies | Salary |
AC3 | AUD 121,036/ annum |
CSIRO | AUD 104,870/ annum |
Corporate Services, Inc. | AUD 106,348/ annum |
Source: Indeed
E. Canada
Canada has a favorable work atmosphere, which is why many people move to Canada to seek employment opportunities. Here’s how much you can make as a SysAdmin in Canadian cities:
Cities | Salary |
Montreal | CAD 88,862/ annum |
Burlington | CAD 82,114/ annum |
Toronto | CAD 80, 927/ annum |
Here are the top companies that hire SysAdmins and the salaries they pay:
Companies | Salary |
Niagra Health System | CAD 109,785/ annum |
Communications Security Establishment | CAD 104,262/ annum |
Ubisoft | CAD 89,566/ annum |
Source: Indeed
F. Singapore
Singapore is known to pay lucrative salaries to its workforce. Here’s how much you’ll get paid as a System Administrator in Singapore:
Cities | Salary |
Tanjong Pagar | SGD 5,365/ month |
Clementi | SGD 5,025/ month |
Outram | SGD 5,021/ month |
Check out the top companies that hire System Administrators and the salaries they pay:
Companies | Salary |
NTT Data | SGD 8,123/ month |
ITCAN Pte Ltd. | SGD 7,202/ month |
Encora | SGD 7,157/ month |
Source: Indeed
System Administrator Salary: Based on Job Roles
The role of a System Administrator also varies based on a specific job title under various organizations. Let’s take a look at the offered salaries for various such SysAdmin job roles:
Job Roles | Salary |
System Database Administrator | USD 105,993/ annum |
IT System Administrator | USD 80,703/ annum |
Linux System Administrator | USD 105,703/ annum |
System Engineer | USD 104,872/ annum |
Source: Glassdoor
Factors Affecting System Administrator Salary
Here are some factors that heavily impact the salary of a SysAdmin:
1. Location
The salary of a network administrator can be influenced by factors such as the geographical location and industry of their employer. Variances in expenses, demand for network administrators, and salary brackets exist across different regions and sectors.
The location in which you reside can impact your potential to earn as a system administrator due to various factors such as the cost of living, the level of demand for your skills in that area, and other regional considerations.
Here’s a comparison to help you understand the difference better.
District of Columbia | USD 116,470/ annum |
Nevada | USD 113,140/ annum |
New Jersey | USD 112,240/ annum |
California | USD 112,080/ annum |
Virginia | USD 109.410/ annum |
Source: bls.gov
2. Industry / Employer / Company
Every industry has its unique needs, and based on them, remunerations are decided for their employees, further considering their level of skills and experience. Thus, there will always be a difference in the System Administrator pay in each industry, and it may even vary among companies. Here’s what you can expect to be paid as a System Administrator based on the industry you work in:
Banking | USD 102,465/ annum |
Finance | USD 88,927/ annum |
IT | USD 81,657/ annum |
Source: ZipRecruiter
3. Experience
Needless to say, the salary of any person will increase with the years of experience they gather as a professional. A Junior System Administrator's salary will always be less than that of a seasoned professional with years of experience. However, to offer you a clear glance, let me list down the average salary for a Systems Administrator based on the years of experience:
Junior SysAdmin salary (0-1 years) | USD 59,000 - 88,000 |
Jr SysAdmin salary (1-3 years) | USD 61,000-90,000 |
Intermediate SysAdmin salary (4-6 years) | USD 66,000-97,000 |
Senior Sysdmin salary (7-9 years) | USD 69,000-102,000 |
Source: Glassdoor
4. Demand and Supply
The salary of a System Administrator is influenced by the balance of demand and supply in the job market. When the demand for skilled system administrators outweighs the available supply, salaries tend to rise as companies compete for new talent. Conversely, when there is an abundance of System Administrators compared to jobs, salaries may remain stagnant or even decrease as competition among job seekers intensifies.
5. Credentials / Certifications
We are in a day and age where it is crucial to upskill. You will only be able to surpass the expectations of your employers and stay ahead of your contemporaries if you continuously upskill yourself. Some courses and certifications will help you bag better salaries as a professional. I recommend taking up reliable online learning courses to keep yourself updated with the skills needed to claim lucrative career opportunities as a SysAdmin.
6. Skills
Here’s a list of skills that you must possess if you want to be a successful and highly paid System Administrator:
How To Improve System Administrator Salary?
There are several methods that you can use to improve your salary as a System Administrator. I harnessed some of these methods to upskill and acquire better, high-paying opportunities as a System Administrator. Let me take you through some of these aspects.
1. Skills
My experience says: Always make sure that you possess the skills below if you want to improve your salary as a System Administrator:
- Hardware management
- Automation and Scripting
- Problem-solving and administration
- Knowledge of coding and scripting
However, these are not the only skills that will help you climb the upskilling ladder. Keeping up with market innovations, upskilling with the latest technologies, and inheriting in-demand skills are the best ways to enhance your skillset to future-proof your career.
2. Certifications
I believe certifications will always provide you with a competitive advantage over your contemporaries. Here are some certifications to consider to improve your salary as a System Administrator:
Certifications help to upskill and add credibility to your resume, enhancing your chances to bag the job of your dreams.
3. Degrees
To become a System Administrator, you must come from a tech background. You can pursue a Bachelor of Technology degree in computer science, information technology, or engineering. After a bachelor's degree, you must pursue the relevant certifications stated above.
Apart from these, a master's degree can also help you scale great heights. You can consider a master's in computer science, information technology, system administration and networking, business administration with a focus on system management, and system administration with an emphasis on information security.
4. Experience
No matter how many degrees you have, your experience will speak at your workplace. The starting salary for a System Administrator is comparatively lower; however, it will eventually grow as you continue gaining more years of experience.
As highlighted before, your System Administrator pay increases with years of experience. My advice would be to remain patient and stay in the game to achieve a better salary. Additionally, consider taking up internships while pursuing your degree. I highly recommend this since the System Administrator intern salary will also increase based on your work experience while studying. Thus, it will be a win-win situation for you!
Why Are System Administrators Paid So Much?
SysAdmin salaries are high for diverse reasons. The role demands individuals to have a specialized technical skillset, claiming a crucial role in maintaining IT infrastructure. With businesses that rely heavily on technology, competent administrators are essential as they ensure the smooth operation of networks, servers, and data security.
Their ability to navigate and troubleshoot intricate IT environments and their readiness to address emergencies and work irregular hours justify the competitive salaries SysAdmins receive.
Another big reason behind their high salaries is the potential costs associated with system downtime. This leads to higher salaries as businesses prioritize minimizing disruptions and maximizing efficiency in their operations.
This combination of specialized skills, critical role, high demand, complexity of the job, and cost considerations makes System Administrators valuable assets to organizations, leading to higher compensation packages.
To Sum Up!
We are in a technology-dependent age. Various industries employ System Administrators, to ensure computer systems' smooth and secure operation. Considering the growing importance of tech innovations, SysAdmins will continue to grow in significance as technology is here to stay. Thus, a career as a System Administrator now can be more lucrative than ever!
To succeed as a system administrator, I urge you to take courses offered by KnowledgeHut for online learning. This course is equipped with all the skills required for enhanced SysAdmin salaries. This course is specially designed to learn quickly and stay ahead of others in the game!