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Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary in the United States

How much does a Systems Administrator - Experienced make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Administrator - Experienced in the United States is $93,840 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

However, a Systems Administrator - Experienced's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $102,170
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $84,270 to $98,200
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $75,557
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View as table View as graph 25% $84,270 10% $75,557 90% $102,170 75% $98,200 $93,840 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Systems Administrator - Experienced Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $98,200 $8,183 $1,888 $47
Average $93,840 $7,820 $1,805 $45
25th Percentile $84,270 $7,023 $1,621 $41
Check out Systems Administrator - Experienced Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Systems Administrator - Experienced Salaries

A Systems Administrator - Experienced'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, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Systems Administrator - Experienced Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems Administrator - Experienced'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:

  • Operating Systems Administrator I (0-2 years): $73,662
  • Systems Administrator - Experienced (2-4 years): $93,835
  • Operating Systems Administrator III (4-7 years): $111,123
  • Operating Systems Administrator IV (7+ years): $129,117
  • Operating Systems Administrator V (7-10 years): $151,735
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Operating Systems Administrator I0-2 years$73,662
Systems Administrator - Experienced2-4 years$93,835
Operating Systems Administrator III4-7 years$111,123
Operating Systems Administrator IV7+ years$129,117
Operating Systems Administrator V7-10 years$151,735
$73,662 Operating...
$93,835 Systems A...
$111,123 Operating...
$129,117 Operating...
$151,735 Operating...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Systems Administrator - Experienceds

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: $118,360
  • San Francisco: $117,060
  • Oakland: $114,600

What Skills Can Increase a Systems Administrator - Experienced's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 8.06% 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.
  • Installation (Mentioned in 2.98% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.
  • Technical Support (Mentioned in 1.92% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.06%
Installation 2.98%
Technical Support 1.92%
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 a Systems Administrator - Experienced's salary.
  • Medical Imaging: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • VPN: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Medical Imaging
$97,594
4%
AWS
$97,594
4%
VPN
$96,655
3%
Linux
$96,655
3%
Innovation
$96,655
3%
Insight
$96,655
3%
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Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Systems Administrator - Experienced salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $105,048. While startup companies pay approximate $88,869.

Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$88,869
Growth Stage51~500$93,989
Established501~5000$101,443
Enterprise5000+$105,048

Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Systems Administrator - Experienced roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 41% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Systems Administrator - Experienced positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Systems Administrator - Experienced as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Systems Administrator - Experienced

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$112,608$54.020%
Biotechnology$107,916$52.015%
Insurance$105,101$51.012%
Energy & Utilities$103,224$50.010%
Financial Services$103,224$50.010%

How Education impacts a Systems Administrator - Experienced's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Systems Administrator - Experienceds enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Systems Administrator - Experienced with a Associate's Degree is between $86,502 and $92,267).

Systems Administrator - Experienced Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems Administrator - Experienced
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 22.6%
Associates 20.8%
Bachelors 47.6%
Masters 7.8%
Doctorate 0.2%
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Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Systems Administrator - Experienced'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 August 01, 2026

Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Systems Administrator - Experienced, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Systems Administrator - Experienced Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Operating Systems Administrator III $111,200 18%
UNIX Operating Systems Administrator III $124,700 33%

Salary Trends for Systems Administrator - Experienced

Salaries for a Systems Administrator - Experienced can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,516 in 2023 to around $80,832 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Systems Administrator - Experienced salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Systems Administrator - Experienced Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,516
2024
$81,400
2025
$80,832
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,516
2024 $81,400
2025 $80,832
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Systems Administrator - Experienced

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Systems Administrator - Experienced

Here are companies hiring for Systems Administrator - Experienced and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Systems Administrator - Experienced Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Systems Administrator - Experienced job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    13 Days Ago

  • Titan Medical Group, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Titan Medical Group, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Travel Or Position. Titan Medical is looking for travelers to fill a travel OR position for a 13-week assignment in Columbus, OH more

    13 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    16 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    23 Days Ago

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FAQ about Systems Administrator - Experienced

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Systems Administrator - Experienced?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Systems Administrator - Experienced roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. How much does a System Administrator earn in the USA?

A Systems Administrator in the USA typically earns between $81,630 and $103,460 annually, with a median salary of around $91,820. This reflects a range of experience and expertise, with top earners making significantly more.

3. How much does a Tier 3 System Administrator make?

As of January 23, 2025, the salary for a Tier 3 System Administrator in the United States ranges from $81,630 to $103,460 annually, with a median salary of $91,820. This translates to approximately $39.23 to $49.75 per hour, or $1,570 to $1,950 per week.

4. Do system administrators make good money?

As of August 2023, experienced system administrators earn between $81,630 and $103,460 annually, with a median salary of $91,820. This range indicates that system administrators can make a competitive income, reflecting their essential role in managing and maintaining IT systems.

5. What is the highest paid System Administrator?

The highest paid Systems Administrator can earn up to $103,460 annually. This role typically offers a minimum salary of $81,630, with a mid-range salary of $91,820, reflecting the experience and expertise required in the field.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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