System Administrator Salary: 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

• System administrator salary data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows a median salary of $96,800 [1].

• A junior system administrator salary for someone with four or fewer years of experience ranges from $84,000 to $88,000, which represents median total pay [2].

• A system administrator salary is influenced by factors like education, experience, location, and industry.

With a bachelor’s degree, the average salary for a system administrator is $82,424, while someone with an associate degree may earn $76,033, on average, according to Zippia [3]. Discover more about what you can earn as a system administrator and the different factors that can affect your earning potential.

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System administrator salary

Given the demand for IT systems in the increasingly digital world of business, system administrators can work across a number of different industries. As of July 2026, system administrators earn a median annual income of $96,800, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [1].

Here are the base salary ranges given by five different organizations that track system administrator salaries [1, 3, 2, 4, 5]:

The Glassdoor salary information represents the median total pay as of July 2026. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

What does a system administrator do?

System administrators are IT professionals responsible for maintaining, configuring, and ensuring the reliable operation of computer systems, networks, and servers for a company. This role tends to pay well, given the technical knowledge needed to be successful.

Factors that affect a system administrator's salary

Factors like your education level and experience in the field can boost your potential computer system administrator earnings. Your location could also impact your salary due to the demand for system administrators or the cost of living in a particular area. Some industry sectors will earn more than others, depending on your particular interests or specialties.

Education

System administrators usually need a bachelor’s degree, although some employers may accept an associate and others require a master’s. Common degree fields include computer and information technologies. Additionally, computer system administrators should also consider certification for the products they use.

Here are the average system administrator salaries based on education level, according to Zippia, as of July 2026 [3]:

• Associate degree: $76,033

• Bachelor's degree: $82,424

• Master's degree: $84,844

Experience

Your previous experience as a system administrator can impact your salary, as more experience can lead to a higher annual income. As of July 2026, here is the estimated median total pay you can expect based on your previous experience, according to Glassdoor [2]:

• 0–1 year: $84,000

• 1–3 years: $88,000

• 4–6 years: $99,000

• 7–9 years: $101,000

• 10–14 years: $105,000

• 15+ years: $115,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of July 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Location

Where you live can affect your earnings as a system administrator because of factors such as the cost of living, demand for work in the area, and other regional issues.

Here are the five top-paying states (by average salary) for system administrators, based on data collected by the BLS in May 2025 [6]:

• Maryland: $123,570

• New Jersey: $119,390

• Massachusetts: $118,240

• District of Columbia: $116,920

• Virginia: $116,130

Some cities may have higher earnings than others based on the cost of living or the number of system administrator positions. You can earn more if you live in these areas or are able to move to a region with higher earning potential.

For example, the San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara (California) area has the highest average income at $136,400 for network and computer system administrators. In Silicon Valley, workers in the San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont areas can earn an average annual income of $134,080, according to the BLS [6].

On the East Coast, a system administrator in the New York, Newark, and Jersey City areas can earn an average annual income of $122,580, while system administrators working in the Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson metro area earn an average salary of $126,740 [6].

Industry

Income can vary from industry to industry, with workers in some fields earning higher salaries as system administrators than others. For example, as of May 2024, working with finance and insurance can yield a median annual income of $99,420 [7]. Jobs at information companies can earn you $101,140 in median yearly salary, according to the BLS [7].

Glassdoor also lists the following five industries as the highest-paying (by median pay) for system administrators in July 2026. Note that all Glassdoor salaries are median total pay [2]:

• Financial services: $125,000

• Management and consulting: $118,000

• Information technology: $118,000

• Human resources and staffing: $117,000

• Health care: $114,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of July 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Related job titles

Other positions in the networks and computer systems field can help you gain additional experience as a system administrator, or you can find a job that better fits your interests if you want to specifically become a system administrator.

A computer network architect can design and build communications networks that system administrators take over and maintain. Your job includes creating plans for data communications networks, presenting network plans to management, and upgrading hardware and software. You can earn a median annual wage of $151,000 as a computer network architect [8].

A computer hardware engineer can create plans and build the hardware needed for computer networks and components. You’re responsible for designing computer hardware, testing the designs, and updating existing equipment. Expect to earn a median annual wage of $101,000 as a computer hardware engineer [9].

Learn more: System Administrator vs. Network Administrator: Navigating Your Career Choices

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