Computer systems administrator vs information technology administrator

The differences between computer systems administrators and information technology 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 systems administrator and an information technology administrator. Additionally, an information technology administrator has an average salary of $73,195, which is higher than the $72,247 average annual salary of a computer systems administrator.

The top three skills for a computer systems administrator include computer system, linux and customer service. The most important skills for an information technology administrator are customer service, troubleshoot, and linux.

Computer systems administrator vs information technology administrator overview

	Computer Systems Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Yearly salary	$72,247	$73,195
Hourly rate	$34.73	$35.19
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	136,907	159,499
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does a computer systems administrator do?

Computer systems administrators are responsible for organizing and installing a company's computer system, including the WAN, LAN, and other data for communication. They gather information from the users to determine where to improve and troubleshoot hardware and software issues. These administrators ensure that the system they design for a company meets the needs of their users. They maintain the security of their systems and provide technical support for projects. They mainly administer a company's network, database, and security systems.

What does an information technology administrator do?

An Information Technology (IT) administrator is an individual responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of an organization's IT systems and ensuring that the systems are running effectively. IT administrators must conduct consistent analyses of the computer system and install updates when needed. They are required to assess the organization's security programs and run the system for viruses and spyware. IT administrators also extend support to the organization's end-users and train them on desktop applications.

Computer systems administrator vs information technology administrator salary

Computer systems administrators and information technology administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Computer Systems Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Average salary	$72,247	$73,195
Salary range	Between $53,000 And $97,000	Between $50,000 And $105,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Meta	Databricks
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between computer systems administrator and information technology administrator education

There are a few differences between a computer systems administrator and an information technology administrator in terms of educational background:

	Computer Systems Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Computer systems administrator vs information technology administrator demographics

Here are the differences between computer systems administrators' and information technology administrators' demographics:

	Computer Systems Administrator	Information Technology Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 82.7% Female, 17.3%	Male, 81.6% Female, 18.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.8% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between computer systems administrator and information technology administrator duties and responsibilities

Computer systems administrator example responsibilities.

Create SNP pipeline script in Perl to automate SNP prediction.
Manage static IP address reservations in the corporate and DHCP in the production network.
Manage a mix facility of IBM and DEC mainframe computers, VAX super-mini computers and PDP-11 mini computers.
Design, install, configure and manage Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop environment.
Manage & monitor database servers and perform weekly/monthly data backup schedules and recovery strategies.
Convert manual offices to computerize environment using standalone PCs and UNIX systems.

Information technology administrator example responsibilities.

Define, document and project manage the implementation and configuration changes to HRIS applications.
Manage the migration from ADP to Lawson software; adapt HRIS to fit organizational needs.
Manage PC trainers and develop high quality internal instructor-le courses.
Manage host peripheral hardware including disk files and space utilization.
Manage and maintain corporate telecommunications and LAN; recommend repairs as needed.
Manage administration for SharePoint websites including account creation or modifying existing user accounts and site settings.

Computer systems administrator vs information technology administrator skills

Common computer systems administrator skills

Computer System, 12%
Linux, 8%
Customer Service, 5%
Troubleshoot, 5%
DOD, 4%
User Accounts, 3%

Common information technology administrator skills

Customer Service, 10%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Linux, 5%
Database, 4%
VMware, 4%
Windows Server, 4%

Computer Systems Administrator vs. similar jobs

Computer Systems Administrator related careers

Computer Systems Administrator related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Computer and Mathematical Industry
Computer Systems Administrator
Computer Systems Administrator vs Information Technology Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs