Information systems administrator vs information systems manager

The differences between information systems administrators and information systems managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an information systems administrator, becoming an information systems manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an information systems manager has an average salary of $137,275, which is higher than the $79,194 average annual salary of an information systems administrator.

The top three skills for an information systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and OS. The most important skills for an information systems manager are customer service, project management, and data entry.

Information systems administrator vs information systems manager overview

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Systems Manager
Yearly salary	$79,194	$137,275
Hourly rate	$38.07	$66.00
Growth rate	5%	16%
Number of jobs	176,724	151,862
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age	43	47
Years of experience	2	8

What does an information systems administrator do?

Businesses today are mostly dependent heavily on the internet and computer systems for their daily transactions. The information systems administrator is a person that monitors, configures, and upgrades these systems to adapt to the constant advancement in technology. The information systems administrator maintains networks used inside the company, making access to information efficient and fast. A company with a fast and reliable information system will have an edge against competitive companies.

What does an information systems manager do?

An information systems manager is typically in charge of overseeing the information technology (IT) systems and networks in a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are directly responsible for managing IT workers such as analysts and programmers, delegating tasks, assessing performance, managing schedules, handling budgets, and spearheading installations and upgrades. Furthermore, as an information systems manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Information systems administrator vs information systems manager salary

Information systems administrators and information systems managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Systems Manager
Average salary	$79,194	$137,275
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $104,000	Between $95,000 And $198,000
Highest paying City	Pleasanton, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	New Hampshire
Best paying company	Cadence Design Systems	Baker McKenzie
Best paying industry	Finance	Professional

Differences between information systems administrator and information systems manager education

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

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Systems Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Carnegie Mellon University

Information systems administrator vs information systems manager demographics

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

	Information Systems Administrator	Information Systems Manager
Average age	43	47
Gender ratio	Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7%	Male, 79.5% Female, 20.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	9%	11%

Differences between information systems administrator and information systems manager duties and responsibilities

Information systems administrator example 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.

Information systems manager example responsibilities.

Manage the administration of the ERP system host on the cloud.
Integrate several off-the-shelf and SaaS systems to automate and streamline common transactions.
Manage process and provide a long-term roadmap from a PMO and technology perspective.
Manage all purchasing and approval of hardware/software for the facility including RFP's and RFI's.
Implement and manage the newspaper's and corporate office's first help desk solution following ITIL standards.
Lead the planning and implementation of an automate document control system for ISO 9002 in a FDA environment.

Information systems administrator vs information systems manager skills

Common information systems administrator skills

Linux, 13%
Troubleshoot, 10%
OS, 8%
Unix, 7%
Virtualization, 6%
Java, 4%

Common information systems manager skills

Customer Service, 17%
Project Management, 9%
Data Entry, 7%
Technical Support, 4%
SQL Server, 3%
PC, 3%

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Information Systems Administrator vs Information Systems Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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