Computer systems administrator vs junior systems administrator

The differences between computer systems administrators and junior systems 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 a junior systems administrator. Additionally, a computer systems administrator has an average salary of $72,247, which is higher than the $62,225 average annual salary of a junior systems administrator.

The top three skills for a computer systems administrator include computer system, linux and customer service. The most important skills for a junior systems administrator are windows server, troubleshoot, and technical support.

Computer systems administrator vs junior systems administrator overview

	Computer Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Yearly salary	$72,247	$62,225
Hourly rate	$34.73	$29.92
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	136,907	154,134
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
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 a junior systems administrator do?

A junior systems administrator is primarily responsible for handling and maintaining systems for users while under the supervision of a more experienced systems administrator. Their responsibilities often revolve around assisting senior administrators, troubleshooting support, providing installations and configurations, and handling inquiries and concerns, providing them with corrective measures. Aside from support tasks, one may also have administrative duties such as producing reports and presentations, managing schedules, and maintaining accurate data of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the policies and regulations of the company.

Computer systems administrator vs junior systems administrator salary

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

	Computer Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Average salary	$72,247	$62,225
Salary range	Between $53,000 And $97,000	Between $51,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Meta	Jacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between computer systems administrator and junior systems administrator education

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

	Computer Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Pennsylvania

Computer systems administrator vs junior systems administrator demographics

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

	Computer Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 82.7% Female, 17.3%	Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6%
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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 12.1% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between computer systems administrator and junior systems 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.

Junior systems administrator example responsibilities.

Manage Linux servers, running primarily CentOS.
Manage customer accounts and cases in Salesforce.
Load and manage customer provide encryption files.
Create, run and manage server back-ups monthly.
Develop PowerShell scripts to revamp and automate server build process.
Maintain and manage windows 2012 R2 in a virtual environment.

Computer systems administrator vs junior systems administrator skills

Common computer systems administrator skills

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

Common junior systems administrator skills

Windows Server, 7%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Technical Support, 5%
System Administration, 5%
Switches, 5%
OS, 4%

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Computer Systems Administrator vs Junior Systems Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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