How much does a systems administrator make?
a year · about $48 an hour
A typical systems administrator in the United States makes $99,130 a year, about $48 an hour, about 1.9× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check system alerts, logs, and backups, then update software or repair a slow network. They add user accounts, set permissions, help staff solve problems, and protect computers and servers.
Did you know? Some U.S. systems administrators work evenings, nights, or weekends to monitor, maintain, or update networks.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $62,640 and $155,050How do you become one?
In the United States, the usual route is a bachelor’s degree in computer or information science, IT, or engineering, with courses in programming, networking, and systems design. Some employers accept a postsecondary certificate or associate degree and may ask for a vendor or vendor-neutral certification.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, location, and employer industry; BLS data shows differences across industries and places. A certification may help someone qualify for a job that asks for it, and night, weekend, or longer schedules can affect total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Maryland ($118,290), lowest in West Virginia ($74,490).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $62,640 | $99,130 | $155,050 | about 314,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $118,290 | about 9,000 |
| New Jersey | $116,420 | about 9,000 |
| Massachusetts | $110,980 | about 8,000 |
| District of Columbia | $110,970 | about 1,000 |
| Virginia | $109,610 | about 12,000 |
Official definition: Install, configure, and maintain an organization’s local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software. Excludes “Information Security Analysts” (15-1212), “Computer Network Support Specialists” (15-1231), and “Computer User Support Specialists” (15-1232).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/15-1244.00?redir=15-1142.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/15-1244.00?zip=92101
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY