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The differences between computer administrators and systems support administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a computer administrator and a systems support administrator. Additionally, a systems support administrator has an average salary of $86,448, which is higher than the $86,150 average annual salary of a computer administrator.
The top three skills for a computer administrator include CAD, troubleshoot and printers. The most important skills for a systems support administrator are troubleshoot, linux, and SQL.
| Computer Administrator | Systems Support Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $86,150 | $86,448 |
| Hourly rate | $41.42 | $41.56 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 88,405 | 192,994 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Computer administrators oversee the daily operation of computer networks. These administrators manage the configuration and upkeep of such networks, including updating equipment and software and identifying and resolving issues. They determine what an organization requires in both a network and a computer system before setting it up and configuring it. Also, they are responsible for all installation tasks, recording data, evaluating problems identified by users, and making various troubleshooting attempts to solve them. The skills that they must excel in are technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
A system administrator acquires, installs, or upgrades computer software and components. System administrators perform routine automation of the computer system. They maintain the security policies of organizations or institutions. It is their job to supervise or train their staff or provide support for different projects. They also determine the problems found in the system, analyze the issues, and do repairs whenever necessary. The skills they need include scripting languages, security and monitoring, and account access management.
Computer administrators and systems support administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computer Administrator | Systems Support Administrator | |
| Average salary | $86,150 | $86,448 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $118,000 | Between $67,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Deft | |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Professional |
There are a few differences between a computer administrator and a systems support administrator in terms of educational background:
| Computer Administrator | Systems Support Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 50% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between computer administrators' and systems support administrators' demographics:
| Computer Administrator | Systems Support Administrator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.4% Female, 27.6% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 10.3% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 10.1% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |