Active Directory Administrator Salary in the United States

How much does an Active Directory Administrator make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Active Directory Administrator in the United States is $75,281 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, an Active Directory Administrator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $83,862
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,045 to $79,773
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,366
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View as table View as graph 25% $69,045 10% $63,366 90% $83,862 75% $79,773 $75,281 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Active Directory Administrator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,773 $6,648 $1,534 $38
Average $75,281 $6,273 $1,448 $36
25th Percentile $69,045 $5,754 $1,328 $33
Check out Active Directory Administrator Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Active Directory Administrator Salaries

An Active Directory Administrator'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 Active Directory Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Active Directory Administrator'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): $74,951
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $95,477
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,068
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $131,377
  • Expert (over 8 years): $154,390
Levels Salary
Active Di... Level Active Directory Administrator$74,951
Systems A... Level Active Directory Administrator$95,477
Systems A... Level Active Directory Administrator$113,068
Systems A... Level Active Directory Administrator$131,377
Systems A... Level Active Directory Administrator$154,390
$74,951 0 yr
$95,477 < 2 yrs
$113,068 2-4 yrs
$131,377 5-8 yrs
$154,390 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Active Directory Administrators

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: $94,952
  • San Francisco: $93,913
  • Oakland: $91,934

What Skills Can Increase an Active Directory Administrator'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 an Active Directory Administrator'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
$82,057
9%
Cisco
$79,798
6%
AWS
$79,798
6%
VMware
$78,293
4%
Azure
$78,293
4%
Coordination
$78,293
4%
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Active Directory Administrator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Active Directory Administrator 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, Active Directory Administrator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Active Directory Administrator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Active Directory Administrator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$97,866$47.030%
Biotechnology$91,843$44.022%
Pharmaceuticals$88,832$43.018%
Internet$86,573$42.015%
Software & Networking$86,573$42.015%

Active Directory Administrator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Active Directory Administrator'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

Salary Trends for Active Directory Administrator

Salaries for an Active Directory Administrator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $65,480 in 2023 to around $64,450 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Active Directory Administrator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Active Directory Administrator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$65,480
2024
$64,700
2025
$64,450
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $65,480
2024 $64,700
2025 $64,450
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Active Directory Administrator

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

Here are companies hiring for Active Directory Administrator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Active Directory Administrator Job

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

United States
  • 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. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Active Directory Administrator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Active Directory Administrator?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Active Directory Administrator roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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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