How to hire an information systems administrator

How to hire an information systems administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step information systems administrator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an information systems administrator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new information systems administrator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an information systems administrator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the information systems administrator you need to hire. Certain information systems administrator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An information systems administrator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, information systems administrators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of information systems administrators.

   Type of Information Systems Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Information Systems Administrator	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$28-50
   Systems Support	A systems support agent is responsible for resolving system applications and network issues, performing technical configuration, and upgrading systems infrastructure. A systems support representative conducts regular maintenance and diagnostic tests on the computer applications to ensure its optimal performance and efficiency to support business operations and avoid delays in deliverables... Show more	$21-42
   LAN Administrator	LAN administrators are responsible for maintaining the local area network of an organization. These administrators manage the server that connects an organization's network to computers and equipment that need them... Show more	$20-41

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Linux
   • Troubleshoot
   • OS
   • Unix
   • Virtualization
   • Java
   • Provisioning
   • Ruby
   • Tcp Ip
   • TCP/IP
   • Customer Service
   • Customer Support
   • VMware
   • Windows Server

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage mission critical Linux systems which track all data relating to rotary wing aircraft.
   • Institute, manage, and document procedures for UNIX systems security, maintenance, and backup.
   • Install/Configure managed switches to increase network speed
   • Manage the company Novell network including relate equipment.
   • Manage network infrastructure spanning multiple geographically-distribute sites, including VPN / remote access systems and firewalls.
   • Ensure adequate security protections for proprietary data and intellectual property; manage and configure firewalls and security posture.

   More information systems administrator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the information systems administrator job description is a good way to get more applicants. An information systems administrator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for an information systems administrator in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level information systems administrator. Additionally, an information systems administrator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average information systems administrator salary

   $79,194yearly

   $38.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level information systems administrator salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average information systems administrator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$103,494	$50
   2	Massachusetts	$94,514	$45
   3	New Jersey	$87,605	$42
   4	Nevada	$86,736	$42
   5	Ohio	$86,165	$41
   6	District of Columbia	$83,341	$40
   7	New York	$81,202	$39
   8	Pennsylvania	$80,777	$39
   9	Virginia	$80,221	$39
   10	Maryland	$78,741	$38
   11	Connecticut	$77,337	$37
   12	Illinois	$76,506	$37
   13	Utah	$74,291	$36
   14	Montana	$73,880	$36
   15	Michigan	$73,505	$35
   16	Texas	$73,451	$35
   17	Missouri	$71,021	$34
   18	Georgia	$70,992	$34
   19	Wisconsin	$69,809	$34
   20	Colorado	$67,908	$33

   Average information systems administrator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Cadence Design Systems	$116,503	$56.01	16
   2	UBS	$115,047	$55.31	7
   3	Agilent Technologies	$114,401	$55.00	2
   4	Altar'd State	$111,950	$53.82
   5	Amgen	$109,964	$52.87	15
   6	W. R. Grace & Co	$109,909	$52.84
   7	Citrix	$109,894	$52.83
   8	Model N	$109,691	$52.74
   9	Wilmington Health	$108,517	$52.17	1
   10	Oracle	$104,273	$50.13	3,002
   11	Poly	$102,790	$49.42
   12	Nationstar Mortgage	$102,229	$49.15
   13	I.h.c.	$96,105	$46.20
   14	General Dynamics Mission Systems	$95,111	$45.73	88
   15	OUC	$94,339	$45.36	4
   16	Tris Pharma	$93,991	$45.19
   17	Northwest Bank	$93,446	$44.93	17
   18	Northrop Grumman	$92,952	$44.69	389
   19	Lockheed Martin	$92,204	$44.33	736
   20	Nova Southeastern University	$91,853	$44.16	10

4. Writing an information systems administrator job description

   A good information systems administrator job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an information systems administrator job description:

   Information systems administrator job description example

   Hawai'i Pacific Health is a not-for-profit health care network with over 70 locations statewide including medical centers, clinics, physicians and other caregivers serving Hawai'i and the Pacific Region with high quality, compassionate care. Its four medical centers - Kapi'olani, Pali Momi, Straub and Wilcox - specialize in innovative programs in women's health, pediatric care, cardiovascular services, cancer care, bone and joint services and more. Hawai'i Pacific Health is recognized nationally for its excellence in patient care and the use of electronic health records to improve quality and patient safety.
   
   Information Technology (IT) implements, supports and maintains all systems at Hawai'i Pacific Health facilities. The department encompasses the people, records and activities that process the data and information in the organization. The team provides support to users, and acts as the key liaison between the business community and vendors. It also codes, defines criteria, performs testing and debugging, and maintains programs in order to meet the informational needs of Hawai'i Pacific Health's numerous facilities and administrative offices. Our Networks Systems team is responsible for the support and maintenance of the enterprise-wide network infrastructure.
   
   As a Server Systems Administrator, you will administer enterprise-wide Windows server systems in order to accomplish business objectives. You will design, install, configure, maintain, and perform system integration of primarily Windows servers, VMware datacenter infrastructure, Citrix systems, email systems, and associated components, providing Tier 3 on call support for these systems. We are looking for someone systematic and dedicated, with the ability to work effectively under minimal supervision and a commitment to creating a healthier Hawai'i.
   
   _*Under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Federal Vaccination Mandate, all health care workers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved medical or religious exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.*_
   **Work Schedule:** Day - 8 Hours
   
   **Work Type:** Full Time Regular
   
   FTE: 1.000000
   
   Bargaining Unit: Non-Bargaining
   
   **Exempt:** Yes
   
   **Minimum Qualifications:** Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Two (2) years working experience with IT systems.
   
   **Preferred Qualifications:** Experience with system analysis, design, implementation and management of Microsoft Window Server, Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Azure, VMware datacenter products, Citrix products.
   
   EOE/AA/Disabled/Vets
   
   **Position** Server Systems Administrator - IT
   
   **Category** Information Technology
   
   **Employment Type** Employee
   
   **Location** Hawaii Pacific Health, Honolulu, HI
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right information systems administrator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with information systems administrators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit information systems administrators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your information systems administrator job on Zippia to find and recruit information systems administrator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit information systems administrators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   If your interviews with information systems administrator applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new information systems administrator

   Once you've decided on a perfect information systems administrator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new information systems administrator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an information systems administrator?