System Administrator I Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a System Administrator I in the United States is $75,956 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $84,615
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,671 to $80,488
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,948
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View as table View as graph 25% $69,671 10% $63,948 90% $84,615 75% $80,488 $75,956 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

System Administrator I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $80,488 $6,707 $1,548 $39
Average $75,956 $6,330 $1,461 $37
25th Percentile $69,671 $5,806 $1,340 $33
Check out System Administrator I Job Openings in the United States
Windows System Administrator

Encore Talent Solutions - Cincinnati, OH

Security System Administrator

Marvin - Oakwood, OH

Security System Administrator

Marvin - Minerva Park, OH

Security System Administrator

Marvin - Akron, OH

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Key Factors That Influence System Administrator I Salaries

A System 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects System Administrator I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a System 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $75,622
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $96,332
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,075
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $132,544
  • Expert (over 8 years): $155,770
Levels Salary
System Ad... Level System Administrator I$75,622
Systems A... Level System Administrator I$96,332
Systems A... Level System Administrator I$114,075
Systems A... Level System Administrator I$132,544
Systems A... Level System Administrator I$155,770
$75,622 0 yr
$96,332 < 2 yrs
$114,075 2-4 yrs
$132,544 5-8 yrs
$155,770 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for System 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: $95,803
  • San Francisco: $94,754
  • Oakland: $92,757

What Skills Can Increase a System Administrator I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 6.75% 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 2.62% 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.
  • Cisco (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Cisco Systems, Inc., commonly known as Cisco, is an American-based multinational technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 6.75%
Azure 2.62%
Cisco 1.75%
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 I's salary.
  • Long Term Care: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Cisco: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • AWS: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Long Term Care
 $82,792
9%
Cisco
 $80,513
6%
AWS
 $80,513
6%
VMware
 $78,994
4%
Azure
 $78,994
4%
Coordination
 $78,994
4%
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System Administrator I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For System Administrator I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, System Administrator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view System Administrator I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a System Administrator I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$98,742$47.030%
Biotechnology$92,666$45.022%
Pharmaceuticals$89,628$43.018%
Internet$87,349$42.015%
Software & Networking$87,349$42.015%

System Administrator I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a System 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$69,671
Average $75,956/year
$80,488
$5,806
Average $6,330/month
$6,707
$1,340
Average $1,461/week
$1,548
$33
Average $37/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $80,488 $6,707 $1,548 $39
Average $75,956 $6,330 $1,461 $37
25th Percentile $69,671 $5,806 $1,340 $33

Salaries of jobs related to System Administrator I

Salary Trends for System Administrator I

Salaries for a System Administrator I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,065 in 2023 to around $65,026 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of System Administrator I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of System Administrator I Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,065
2024
$65,279
2025
$65,026
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,065
2024 $65,279
2025 $65,026
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for System Administrator I

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

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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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