System Administrators play an essential role in the success of many businesses. The number of vacancies has grown significantly in recent years. Jobtensor uncovers the sometimes considerable differences in salary, shows what career starters should pay attention to and under what conditions a job change is really worthwhile.
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The salary range for System Administrator is between
and
for high earners, the average salary is around
But the devil is in the details. Some achieve significant salary increases after just a short time. Salary differences of 30% and more are not uncommon.
Thousands of salary reports, hundreds of user testimonials, current tech articles - all summarized for you in a single article. How much does a system administrator with and without work experience make? In which cities is the pay packet the largest? Which industries pay the most? We answer these and other questions for you.
System Administrator Salary, Starting Salary, and Top Pay
Depending on certain factors, salaries can vary widely. The biggest influencing factors are professional experience, education, industry, region and company size. Check how you compare to others and how much room for improvement there is.
Table of contents
- What is the starting salary of System Administrator?
- What are the biggest factors influencing the salary of a system administrator?
- How much do I get with my degree?
- Insurance companies make the most money
- Yes - size does matter
- Rich south - poor east. Why moving can really pay off
- Not all big cities are the same - who comes out on top when it comes to system administrator salaries?
- Conclusion - what remains in the end
What is the starting salary of System Administrator?
The starting salary of a system administrator ranges between
It is therefore particularly important to think about this early on and to do extensive research. A number of external factors also come into play, which are discussed below. Of course, work experience has a big impact.
- Junior System Administrator- The starting salary is between
and , the average is at - System Administratorwith professional experience: The starting salary is between
and , the average is at - Senior System Administrator: The starting salary is between
and , the average is at
experience level | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
Junior System Administrator | von | |
System Administrator with work experience | von | |
Senior System Administrator | von |
Terms like junior and senior are of course qualitative. Therefore, salary tables can also be drawn up according to specific years of professional experience.
- 3 years of professional experience: the salary is between
and , the mean at - 5 years of professional experience: the salary is between
and , the mean at - 10 years of professional experience: the salary is between
and , the mean at
Experience | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
System administrator with 0 years | ||
System administrator with 3 years | ||
System administrator at the age of 5 | ||
System administrator at the age of 10 |
Interesting: Your salary as a system administrator with 10 years of professional experience is about 25% higher than your salary with 3 years of professional experience. Your salary should therefore increase by an average of around 3.5% per year over these seven years, which is roughly the same as the average increase for other professional groups in Germany.
Expected salary dependent on work experience
What are the biggest factors influencing the salary of a system administrator?
The professional experience already mentioned has the greatest influence on the development of your salary. In addition, there are a number of other external factors that you can specifically influence to bring your earnings to a higher level. This includes:
- The type of training or your studies and your degree
- the industry
- and the company size
- the region or city in which you live
How much do I get with my degree?
That's what a system administrator earns with training, after completing a degree and with a successful doctorate
Three years for an apprenticeship. At least as long to acquire a bachelor's degree. The master's requires two more years, the doctorate another three years - how are these sometimes considerable investments of time reflected in the wallet later? As a general trend, the wage opportunities naturally increase with the level of training. However, statistical evaluations show that these differences are slowly beginning to blur and are of little relevance in some sectors. You have to weigh these tendencies against each other when making one of the most important decisions in your life.
If you decide to do an apprenticeship or study to later work as a system administrator, make sure that you have at least some of the following skills:
The longer training of a master's degree compared to the bachelor's degree and also the additional years of a doctorate, which ultimately lead to the doctorate degree, are of course also noticeable in terms of salary:
- The salary of a system administrator with training is between
and , the average is at - The salary of a system administrator with a bachelor’s is between
and , the average is at - The salary of a system administrator with a master's degree is between
and , the average is at - The salary of a Systems Administrator with Doctorate (PHD) is between
and , the average is at
Training | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
With education | von | |
Bachelor myth | von | |
With masters | von | |
With Doctor (PHD) | von |
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Enter how much you want to earn and in the next step let us check how you can achieve your goal.
There is a lot of money in the financial sector
How much does which industry pay for me as a system administrator
In addition to professional experience, the industry often has the greatest influence on salary development. Traditionally, some areas simply pay more than others. These include insurance companies, banks and the pharmaceutical industry. So it is quite possible that you as a system administrator in an insurance company
industry | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
Banks / Financial Industry | von | |
insurances | von | |
Medical technology / pharmaceuticals | von | |
mechanical engineering | von | |
Handel | von | |
paper industry | von | |
Education | von | |
Advertising | von |
The table shows:
- on average, you can work for an insurance company with an annual salary of
calculate euros - Interestingly, the annual salary in the advertising industry is even lower than in the education industry. Here you often go with only
home
Yes - size does matter
That's how much you earn as a system administrator in small and medium-sized companies or in a group.
Rule of thumb: The bigger the company, the better your salary prospects. Exceptions prove the rule. On average, large companies pay about 10% more than medium-sized companies and even 25% more than small companies.
company size | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
Small business (up to 500 employees) | von | |
Medium-sized companies (up to 1000 employees) | von | |
Large companies (1000+ employees) | von |
- if you prefer the cozy atmosphere of a small business, you have to be willing to make compromises. The average annual salary here is only
Euro - but if you like to earn a lot and have no problem fitting into large structures, you can work in a large company (more than 1000 employees).
calculate euros per year
Rich south - poor east. Why moving can really pay off
That's how much you earn as a system administrator in the 16 federal states
Germany's heatmap of the top earners
Germany's heatmap of the top earners
- top field
- upper third
- midfield
- Lower third
- tail light
It will probably not come as a surprise to you that you can earn a lot more in Baden-Württemberg than in Saxony-Anhalt, which is at the bottom. In the top up to
Federal State | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
Baden-Wuerttemberg | von | |
Bayern | von | |
Berlin | von | |
Brandenburg | von | |
Bremen | von | |
Hamburg | von | |
Hesse | von | |
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | von | |
Lower Saxony | von | |
North Rhine-Westphalia | von | |
Rhineland-Palatinate | von | |
Saarland | von | |
Saxony | von | |
Saxony-Anhalt | von | |
Schleswig-Holstein | von | |
Thuringia | von |
The table shows:
- the salary leaders for System Administrator live in Baden-Württemberg (on average
euros), Bavaria ( euros) and Hesse ( Euro) - Those who live in the new federal states, on the other hand, have to reckon with significant cutbacks. The new federal states carry the red lantern: Saxony-Anhalt (on average
euros), Thuringia ( euros) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ( Euro)
Not all big cities are the same - who comes out on top when it comes to system administrator salaries?
That's how much you earn in the largest German cities
The salary gap between major German cities is less pronounced than between the individual federal states. The reason for this is that a comparison at federal state level also includes the salaries in small towns and communities, which are naturally lower than those in large cities. However, a comparison of the major cities still reveals significant differences. Munich is the leader here (in the top up to
Top 3 cities
City | Salary range / euros | avg Starting salary / euros |
---|---|---|
München | von | |
Stuttgart | von | |
Nuremberg | von | |
Frankfurt am Main | von | |
Hamburg | von | |
Bielefeld | von | |
Münster | von | |
Düsseldorf | von | |
Wuppertal | von | |
Dortmund | von | |
Bochum | von | |
Essen | von | |
Duisburg | von | |
Bonn | von | |
Bremen | von | |
Hannover | von | |
Berlin | von | |
Dresden | von | |
Leipzig | von |
- If maximizing your annual salary is your top priority, look for open vacancies inMünchen(average annual salary
Euro),Stuttgart( euros) orNuremberg( Euro). Of course, you also have to reckon with higher living costs here, which partially eat up the increase in salary. - standing at the very backBerlin(
Euro),Dresden( euros) andLeipzig( Euro).
Conclusion - what remains in the end
Overall, as a system administrator, your salary is good compared to other professional groups. However, there is always room to grow and there are things you can do if you want to strategically maximize your salary. It may be convenient to simply maintain your current status quo and settle for the occasional small raise your employer allows you. However, effects accumulate over time (compound interest effect). Here is an example calculation:
- let's say you achieve a salary increase of only 5,000 euros per year in the next few months, which is a rather moderate goal for a system administrator
- wages in Germany have grown by more than 4% on average since 2010. Let's assume that they grow by an average of 3% for the rest of your working life.
- if you still have 30 years of work ahead of you before you retire, the compound interest effect alone on these 5,000 euros at the end of your working life amounts to 364,000 euros (gross)!
- So you see: It's not just about having more right now, although that's nice of course. The right decisions you make today (as well as your bad decisions) multiply to the end of your career and can make a really big difference after a few decades.
The following levers are available to you when you are a
- The type of training or your studies and your degree. If necessary, further training should also be considered here. System Administrator represents a rather moderate goal
- the region or city in which you live
- the choice of industry
- the company size
Tipp
Make a concrete written plan of how much more you want to earn and what you can do today to get closer to your goal.
I wish you success!
System administrator metrics
top earnings:
€ avg Starting Salary:
€ Fields of study:
computer science,Business Informatics,software development,media informatics
Related professions:
Technology Engineer,Systemingenieur,Data engineer
FAQs
Salary - what will a system administrator earn in 2023? | job tensor? ›
As of Jun 22, 2023, the average annual pay for a Systems Administrator in the United States is $84,901 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $40.82 an hour.
What is the highest salary of System Administrator? ›Highest salary that a System Administrator can earn is ₹8.0 Lakhs per year (₹66.7k per month).
What is the future of System Administrator? ›As computers grow in importance in virtually every sector of the economy, system administrators play a vital role in making sure computer systems are running smoothly and securely. They are likely to be an important part of the IT sector for the foreseeable future.
How much do system administrators make entry level? ›While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $129,500 and as low as $39,500, the majority of Entry Level System Administrator salaries currently range between $67,500 (25th percentile) to $99,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $117,000 annually across the United States.
What is a Tier 3 System Administrator? ›DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Systems Administrator III is the advanced-level in the series. Positions at this level are distinguished from the journey-level Information Systems Administrators, by the greater difficulty and complexity of the analytical tasks.
Is it stressful to be a system administrator? ›Even if you love the job, its demands can take a toll. Toxic workplaces, sexism, and gatekeeping can add to the already high stress levels. “The bad days can be REALLY BAD.”
Is there a demand for system administrator? ›Sysadmins are in demand 📈
According to the BLS, demand for information technology (IT) workers should continue to grow as firms invest in newer, faster technology and mobile networks.
Given all these points in its favor, we'd have to say that network administration is a good career. It provides a high salary, low barriers to entry, and the promise of growth in the future. This trifecta is the perfect reason to start a career in network administration today.
What is the step above a systems administrator? ›A sysadmin can level up to architect expertise by pursuing both. This is especially important if you are looking to change jobs, but not companies. To be an architect, you need to have a pretty broad knowledge of technology stacks. At a minimum, I would consider networking, security, storage, and data to be essential.
What are the 4 types of administrator? ›- Network Administrators. Network administrators manage the entire network infrastructure of an organization. ...
- Database Administrators. ...
- Server/Web Administrators. ...
- Security Systems Administrators.
Do I need a degree to be a system administrator? ›
Do Systems Administrators Need a Degree? Sysadmins are qualified IT professionals with a background in software development or engineering. It is necessary to have a bachelor's degree in computer science or IT to become a systems administrator.
What is the average salary of a system administrator in the US? ›The average system administrator salary in the USA is $87,749 per year or $42.19 per hour. Entry level positions start at $70,004 per year while most experienced workers make up to $124,867 per year.
What is a Level 1 system administrator? ›Configures and manages UNIX and Windows operating systems and installs/loads operating system software, troubleshoots, maintains integrity and configures network components along with implementing operating systems enhancements to improve reliability and performance.
What is the difference between DBA and system administrator? ›An Oracle Applications System Administrator administers the user interface or applications side of Oracle Applications. An Oracle Database Administrator (DBA) administers the data that users enter, update, and delete while using Oracle Applications.
What is systems admin vs DBA? ›The system administrator sets up hardware and deploys the operating system for the database server, then the DBA installs the database software and configures it for use. As updates and patches are required, the DBA handles this on-going maintenance.
What level is a senior Administrator? ›Senior-level administrative jobs belong to executives who are responsible for guiding their companies to growth and profitability. They are typically accountable only to each other, company owners, the board of directors and shareholders. They often hold the highest-paying jobs in an organization.
Can you work from home as a system administrator? ›As a remote systems administrator, you work from home to install, customize, configure, and update software, networks, and other computer systems for a company or organization. Your duties also include ensuring network security, backing up data, and troubleshooting when IT issues arise.
What is the life of a systems administrator? ›A Day in the Life of a Systems Administrator. A systems administrator installs computers and their operating systems, as well as the software that relates to the Internet, including Web servers-the heart of the system that delivers information to the Internet.
How long does IT take to learn system administrator? ›Hiring managers expect a systems administrator to have soft skills such as analytical skills, communication skills, and multitasking skills. Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of 3-6 months of job training to become a systems administrator.
What degree do systems administrators have? ›Most employers require network and computer systems administrators to have a bachelor's degree in a field related to computer or information science. Others may require only a postsecondary certificate or an associate's degree.
What makes you to qualify a system administrator? ›
You usually need a bachelor or postgraduate degree in a related information technology field (such as systems administration) to work as a Systems Administrator. Training may also be available through Vocational Education and Training (VET).
What skills do system administrators need? ›- In-depth Knowledge of Operating Systems. ...
- Familiarity With Hardware. ...
- Knowledge of Coding and Networking. ...
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills. ...
- Gain Practical Experience. ...
- Problem-Solving and Administration. ...
- Networking. ...
- Cloud Computing.
Openings were down 384,000, the lowest level since April 2021. In an April survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an industry group for recruiters and higher ed professionals, businesses said they expected to hire 4% more graduates from the class of 2023 than they did from the class of 2022.
What is another name for a system administrator? ›Depending upon an organization's specialty, information system administrator job titles may include a data center administrator, computer network administrator, virtualization administrator, server administrator or database administrator.
Where do I go after system administrator? ›- Information Technology Manager Jobs.
- Network Engineer Jobs.
- Information Technology Specialist Jobs.
- Network Technician Jobs.
- Information Technology Consultant Jobs.
- Technical Support Engineer Jobs.
- Engineer Jobs.
- Director Of Information Jobs.
The SysAdmin, or Systems Administrator, is the person responsible for configuring and managing a company's entire infrastructure, including all of the hardware, software, and operating systems that are necessary to support the running of the business.
What exactly does a system administrator do? ›What does a System Administrator do? System Administrators organize, install and support an organization's computer systems. These include local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN) and other data communication systems such as intranets or internet cafes within their company.
What are the three skills for administrator? ›They include communication and organizational skills, as well as project management skills, bookkeeping skills, and time management skills. Administrative skills are important to the following roles: Office managers.
What position is higher than administrator? ›Vice President of Administration
This is the one of the most senior administrative roles available within an organization, reporting directly to the president. The role is sometimes referred to as the Vice President of Finance & Operations or the Chief of Staff, depending on the workplace.
- Get Training, Even If You Don't Certify. ...
- Sysadmin Certifications: Microsoft, A+, Linux. ...
- Be Invested in Your Support Job. ...
- Seek Out a Mentor in Your Specialization. ...
- Keep Learning about Systems Administration. ...
- Earn More Certifications: CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco.
What is the highest paying IT job? ›
- Principal software engineer. ...
- Systems architect. ...
- Cybersecurity engineer/architect. ...
- Cloud architect/engineer. ...
- Program analyst/manager. ...
- Product manager. ...
- DevOps engineer. ...
- MIS manager.
Annual Salary | Weekly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $84,000 | $1,615 |
75th Percentile | $70,000 | $1,346 |
Average | $60,092 | $1,155 |
25th Percentile | $47,500 | $913 |
Job Title | Salary |
---|---|
Systems Engineer | ₹4,02,845 /yr |
Senior Systems Engineer | ₹4,22,000 /yr |
Systems Engineer IV | ₹5,23,308 /mo |
Mid to Senior Level (Tier 3) Systems Administrator / Virtualization Lead.
Is system administrator a engineer? ›A system engineer is someone who focuses on the implementation of a network system, while a system administrator is a professional who manages the ongoing support of a system. System engineers deal mostly with the planning, design, design changes, and implementation of a network or system.
What is a Grade 2 administrator? ›Task-Focused Competencies. Applying Technical Skills. Definition: Administrators provide generalist admin as well as specific expertise to support the functioning of the organisation.
Is DBA still a good career? ›Database administration is a gainful career. DBAs earn just over $70,000 a year, on average.
What is the salary of a database administrator vs system administrator? ›Database administrators earn an average salary of $90,558 per year, while system administrators earn an average salary of $82,947 per year. Both of these salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.
Is Windows administrator and system administrator same? ›Windows Administrators, also known as Windows Systems Administrators, are responsible for installing, managing, and upgrading Windows-based systems and servers within a company. They are also responsible for managing data security, configuring user access, and maintaining the stability of the system.
Is system admin same as system analyst? ›What's the Difference Between Systems Analysts & Systems Administrators? While a systems administrator focuses on setting up and maintaining the networks associated with a computer system, a systems analyst configures specific software and hardware to solve problems and improve the performance of computer systems.
What is a Level 4 administrator? ›
APS 4 - Business Administration Officers
Multiple roles working with financial data and undertaking business processes including asset management, procurement and management information systems.
1. Executive Assistant. Executive assistants provide administrative support to executives, directors, and other higher level personnel. However, the tasks they perform vary depending on the company they work for.
What is level 6 administration? ›Administration Officer Level 6 . Possess well developed communication skills and the ability to bring a creative approach to problem solving and conflict resolution. Formulate policies that reflect current and future organisational requirements. Ability to develop policy and advice for senior and line management.
What job is above system administrator? ›A sysadmin can level up to architect expertise by pursuing both. This is especially important if you are looking to change jobs, but not companies. To be an architect, you need to have a pretty broad knowledge of technology stacks.
What is a higher position as an administrator? ›The Chief Administrative Officer is sometimes called the Head of Administration or the Chief Business Officer. This professional is at the top of the hierarchy and oversees most administrative duties within a corporation.
What is a high level administrator? ›Any high-level administrator will probably find themselves:
Consulting to improve operations and workflows for entire departments. Performing a variety of strategic Human Resource functions related to employee hiring, retention, and policy development. Managing other department heads and managers.
Here are the highest paying jobs of 2023:
Surgeon: $208,000. Orthodontist: $208,000. Physician: $208,000. Psychiatrist: $208,000.
- Data Scientist.
- Database Architect.
- Software Developer.
- Full-Stack Developer.
- Web Developer.
- Software Engineering Manager.
- Machine Learning Engineer.
- Information Security Analyst.
- Data Scientist.
- DevOps Engineer.
- Big Data Engineer.
- Machine Learning Engineer.
- AI/ML Architect.
- IoT Solutions Architect.
- Cloud Architect.
- Blockchain Developer.
As of October 2021, the average salary for a network administrator is $60,517 per year, while system administrators make an average of $62,958 per year. Below are some job titles related to system and network administration and their median salaries: IT Support: $43,381. System Engineer: $95,978.
Is system administrator a difficult job? ›
Is it easy to become a system administrator? Since becoming a system administrator requires you to have technical knowledge in the field of computer sciences, it is generally not very difficult to become a system administrator if computer sciences interest you.
What are the levels of systems administrator? ›There are three primary degree types you can earn if you want to work as a sysadmin: associate, bachelor's, and master's.
Is an administrator a boss? ›An administrator is simply a person who does administrative work (working with documents, paperwork, information and data, etc.) An administrator can also be a manager or boss if he or she is the leader of a team of employees… or an administrator can simply be a regular employee.
What is my job title if I do everything? ›A job title for someone who does everything is a "Jack of all Trades". Other job titles for someone who does everything include: Generalist.
Is an administrator higher than a manager? ›In numerous businesses, an administrator typically has more authority than a manager. This individual often faces little competition and reviews the manager's work to determine whether a company is growing. An administrator who's also a shareholder possesses a higher authority and has additional benefits.
What are the two types of administrator? ›- Technical administrator.
- Business administrator.