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IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Salary in Berkeley, CA

How much does an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I make in Berkeley, CA?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I in Berkeley, CA is $81,650 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $95,596
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,250 to $88,950
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,602
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View as table View as graph 25% $73,250 10% $65,602 90% $95,596 75% $88,950 $81,650 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $88,950 $7,413 $1,711 $43
Average $81,650 $6,804 $1,570 $39
25th Percentile $73,250 $6,104 $1,409 $35
Check out IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Job Openings in Berkeley, CA
Systems Administrator

F3EA Inc - 93042, CA

IT Administrator

Sherwood Design Engineers - San Francisco, CA

IT Infrastructure Administrator

Prosites Corporate - Murrieta, CA

IT System Administrator

JWCH Institute - Los Angeles, CA

Search More IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Key Factors That Influence IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Salaries

An IT Hardware/Software Administrator I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects IT Hardware/Software Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • IT Hardware/Software Administrator I (0-2 years): $81,645
  • IT Contracts and Licenses Administrator II (2-4 years): $103,286
  • IT Contracts and Licenses Administrator III (4-7 years): $121,759
  • Enterprise IT Asset Manager (7+ years): $151,803
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
IT Hardware/Software Administrator I0-2 years$81,645
IT Contracts and Licenses Administrator II2-4 years$103,286
IT Contracts and Licenses Administrator III4-7 years$121,759
Enterprise IT Asset Manager7+ years$151,803
$81,645 IT Hardwa...
$103,286 IT Contra...
$121,759 IT Contra...
$151,803 Enterpris...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for IT Hardware/Software Administrator Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $84,230
  • San Francisco: $83,310
  • Oakland: $81,560

What Skills Can Increase an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 3.93% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Computer Hardware (Mentioned in 1.76% Job Postings): Maintaining, configuring, and setting up computer hardware to increase business efficiency and staff productivity.
  • Purchasing (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): Purchasing refers to a business or organization attempting to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between organizations. Typically the word “purchasing” is not used interchangeably with the word “procurement”, since procurement typically includes expediting, supplier quality, and transportation and logistics (T&L) in addition to purchasing.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 3.93%
Computer Hardware 1.76%
Purchasing 1.49%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I's salary.
  • Networking: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Continuous Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Networking
$101,246
24%
Risk Management
$99,613
22%
Continuous Improvement
$97,164
19%
Flexibility
$97,164
19%
Integrity
$91,448
12%
Leadership
$91,448
12%
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IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Salary Growth & Career Path

For an IT Hardware/Software Administrator I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the IT Contracts and Licenses Administrator II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $103,300 - a projected growth of 27% over your current level.

Find Your Next IT Hardware/Software Administrator I Job

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Cost of Living In Berkeley, CA

Cost of Living in Berkeley, CA is
69.0% Higher
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