System Administrator III Salary in the United States

How much does a System Administrator III make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a System Administrator III in the United States is $111,564 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.

However, a System Administrator III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,609
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,700 to $121,533
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $92,719
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $101,700 10% $92,719 90% $130,609 75% $121,533 $111,564 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

System Administrator III Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $121,533 $10,128 $2,337 $58
Average $111,564 $9,297 $2,145 $54
25th Percentile $101,700 $8,475 $1,956 $49
Check out System Administrator III Job Openings in the United States
Controls System Technician III

Cynet Systems - Dublin, OH

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ProMedica - Toledo, OH

Windows System Administrator

Encore Talent Solutions - Cincinnati, OH

Security System Administrator

Marvin - Oakwood, OH

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Key Factors That Influence System Administrator III Salaries

A System Administrator III'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 System Administrator III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a System Administrator III'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $75,320
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,947
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,619
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $132,015
  • Expert (over 8 years): $155,148
Levels Salary
Systems A... Level System Administrator III$75,320
Systems A... Level System Administrator III$95,947
System Ad... Level System Administrator III$113,619
Systems A... Level System Administrator III$132,015
Systems A... Level System Administrator III$155,148
$75,320 0 yr
$95,947 < 2 yrs
$113,619 2-4 yrs
$132,015 5-8 yrs
$155,148 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for System Administrator IIIs

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: $140,716
  • San Francisco: $139,175
  • Oakland: $136,242

What Skills Can Increase a System Administrator III'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.
  • Azure (Mentioned in 3.46% Job Postings): Microsoft Azure, often referred to as Azure, is a cloud computing service operated by Microsoft for application management via Microsoft-managed data centers.
  • Help Desk (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): The activities involved in handling and resolving customer grievances and issues faster and efficient by a ticketing system.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 8.06%
Azure 3.46%
Help Desk 2.18%
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 System Administrator III's salary.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation
 $114,911
3%
AWS
 $114,911
3%
Insight
 $113,795
2%
Collaboration
 $113,795
2%
Dedication
 $113,795
2%
Initiative
 $112,680
1%
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System Administrator III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For System Administrator III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, System Administrator positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view System Administrator III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a System Administrator III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$122,720$59.010%

How Education impacts a System Administrator III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many System Administrator IIIs 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 System Administrator III with a Associate's Degree is between $108,161 and $115,046).

System Administrator III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for System Administrator III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.5%
High School 22.5%
Associates 15.5%
Bachelors 48.0%
Masters 12.1%
Doctorate 0.3%
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System Administrator III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a System Administrator III'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$101,700
Average $111,564/year
$121,533
$8,475
Average $9,297/month
$10,128
$1,956
Average $2,145/week
$2,337
$49
Average $54/hour
$58
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $121,533 $10,128 $2,337 $58
Average $111,564 $9,297 $2,145 $54
25th Percentile $101,700 $8,475 $1,956 $49

Salaries of jobs related to System Administrator III

Salary Trends for System Administrator III

Salaries for a System Administrator III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $103,626 in 2023 to around $102,314 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of System Administrator III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of System Administrator III Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$103,626
2024
$103,840
2025
$102,314
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $103,626
2024 $103,840
2025 $102,314
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for System Administrator III

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for System Administrator III

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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.)

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