Computer Systems Administrator Salary in the United States

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

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Computer Systems Administrator in the United States is $73,375 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,666
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,292 to $77,715
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,753
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View as table View as graph 25% $67,292 10% $61,753 90% $81,666 75% $77,715 $73,375 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Computer Systems Administrator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $77,715 $6,476 $1,495 $37
Average $73,375 $6,115 $1,411 $35
25th Percentile $67,292 $5,608 $1,294 $32
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Key Factors That Influence Computer Systems Administrator Salaries

A Computer Systems 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 Computer Systems Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Computer Systems 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): $73,056
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,059
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $110,183
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,012
  • Expert (over 8 years): $150,471
Levels Salary
Computer ... Level Computer Systems Administrator$73,056
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Administrator$93,059
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Administrator$110,183
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Administrator$128,012
Systems A... Level Computer Systems Administrator$150,471
$73,056 0 yr
$93,059 < 2 yrs
$110,183 2-4 yrs
$128,012 5-8 yrs
$150,471 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Computer Systems 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: $92,548
  • San Francisco: $91,638
  • Oakland: $89,605

What Skills Can Increase a Computer Systems 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 a Computer Systems 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
$79,978
9%
Cisco
$77,777
6%
AWS
$77,777
6%
VMware
$76,310
4%
Azure
$76,310
4%
Coordination
$76,310
4%
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Computer Systems Administrator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Computer Systems 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 March 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Computer Systems Administrator

Salaries for a Computer Systems Administrator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $63,819 in 2023 to around $62,816 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Computer Systems Administrator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Computer Systems Administrator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$63,819
2024
$63,060
2025
$62,816
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $63,819
2024 $63,060
2025 $62,816
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Computer Systems Administrator

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

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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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