Systems Administrator Salary in 2026
The median annual salary for a Systems Administrator is $96,800 per year. Job growth is projected at -4.2% over the next decade.
How Much Do Systems Administrators Make?
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $96,800 |
| 10-Year Job Growth | -4.2% |
| Total Employment | 318,570 |
| Typical Education | Bachelor's degree |
| SOC Code | 15-1244 |
What Do Top Companies Pay Systems Administrators?
Base salaries from employer disclosure filings — excludes equity and bonuses.
| Company | Median H1B Salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Systems Inc | $114,300 | 63 |
Which Skills Increase Systems Administrator Pay?
Systems Administrators with these high-demand tools and technologies typically command higher salaries.
Amazon Web Services AWS softwareAnsible softwareAtlassian JIRABashFirewall softwareLinuxMicrosoft Active DirectoryMicrosoft Azure softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office software
Full skills breakdown →
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the average salary for a Systems Administrator?
- The median annual salary for a Systems Administrator is $96,800 per year, based on the most recent national wage survey data.
- Is Systems Administrator a growing career?
- Employment for Systems Administrator roles is projected to grow -4.2% over the 2024–2034 decade. Total employment is currently 318,570 workers nationally.
- What skills increase Systems Administrator pay?
- Systems Administrators who demonstrate skills like Amazon Web Services AWS software, Ansible software, Atlassian JIRA, Bash typically command higher salaries. Certifications and advanced tools expertise can further boost compensation.
Salary and employment figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES May 2024) and Employment Projections 2024–2034. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.