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.
Information technology administrator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real information technology administrator resumes:
- 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.
- Serve as an audit and regulation technical resource, including HIPAA and PCI.
- Map business processes and implement audit controls, ensuring future compliance with SOX requirements.
- Experience rolling out security patches, services, and other server administrations in LDAP, DNS and DHCP.
- Monitor and maintain all network devices including firewalls, routing, switches, SAN's, and VoIP/PBX.
- Network administration, administration of VPN routers and switches, installation repair/replacement of hardware.
- Implemented/Configure off-site disaster recovery methods, troubleshot various software applications, installed/test workstations, and research and implement a VMWare environment.
- Install HP-UX, Solaris, and AIX.
- Administer NFS on Solaris servers.
- Perform AIX commands and navigation.
Information technology administrator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Information Technology Administrators are proficient in Customer Service, Troubleshoot, and Linux. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Information Technology Administrators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 10%
Coordinated and performed the training of all order management, customer service, and collections personnel during Oracle application implementation.
- Troubleshoot, 6%
Coordinated with program managers and application support staff to troubleshoot and correct system errors and schedule software testing and implementation.
- Linux, 5%
Full access and administration of Linux based security system controlling employee building access and security cameras.
- Database, 4%
Maintained Database format; maintained user account; provided critical coordination between Intelligence Analyst and Contract Programmers contributing to zero discrepancies.
- VMware, 4%
Implemented/configured off-site disaster recovery methods, troubleshot various software applications, installed/tested workstations, and researched and implemented a VMWare environment.
- Windows Server, 4%
Implemented Testing Environment under Windows Server 2012 Hyper V. Implemented Disaster Recovery plan, Implemented security policy and procedure for compliance.
Most information technology administrators use their skills in "customer service," "troubleshoot," and "linux" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential information technology administrator responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an information technology administrator to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Information technology administrators often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "design and implementation of it solutions for backing up data and service provisioning. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform information technology administrator duties is communication skills. Information technology administrators responsibilities require that "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." Information technology administrators also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "coordinated with the building's facilities management team regarding security policies, telecommunications issues, space consolidation, new construction. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of information technology administrators is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday information technology administrator duties, as "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assist in development, improvement and maintenance of imaging, deployment solution using sccm and manageengine desktop central. "
See the full list of information technology administrator skills
The three companies that hire the most information technology administrators are:
- Uline34 information technology administrators jobs
- SoutheastHEALTH
8 information technology administrators jobs
- Abbott7 information technology administrators jobs
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Compare different information technology administrators
Information technology administrator vs. Administrative technical support
Administrative technical support maintains every technical set-up used in a company. Their primary responsibility is to inspect a company's systems, evaluate for issues, and repair any problems immediately. Administrative technical support is typically on call at the start of the day and, when they are not responding to calls, they conduct regular check-ups on all company systems. They are also responsible for creating technical reports and offering recommendations for improvements.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, information technology administrator responsibilities require skills like "database," "switches," "pc," and "os." Meanwhile a typical administrative technical support has skills in areas such as "phone calls," "data entry," "email accounts," and "customer support." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Administrative technical supports tend to reach similar levels of education than information technology administrators. In fact, administrative technical supports are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Information technology administrator vs. Systems administrator
Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that information technology administrator responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "vmware," "system administration," and "excellent interpersonal." But a systems administrator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "powershell," "java," "system performance," and "red hat."
Systems administrators earn a higher average salary than information technology administrators. But systems administrators earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $86,962. Additionally, information technology administrators earn the highest salaries in the finance with average pay of $93,678 annually.In general, systems administrators achieve similar levels of education than information technology administrators. They're 1.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for information technology administrators in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.
Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.
Information technology administrator vs. 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. They install, configure, and troubleshoot the local area network or LAN in a corporate office. It is part of their job to ensure that the internet is available for everyone who uses computers to perform their roles. They also evaluate and recommend the computers, hardware and software, and the equipment needed to create a hack-proof server.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, information technology administrators are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "database," "pc," and "os." But a lan administrator is more likely to have skills like "network hardware," "desktop support," "emerging technologies," and "network administration."
Lan administrators earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $74,033. Information technology administrators earn the highest pay from the finance industry, with an average salary of $93,678.When it comes to education, lan administrators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to information technology administrators. In fact, they're 1.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Information technology administrator vs. Help desk administrator
Help desk administrator is responsible for handling activities related to system support for their company or organization. They are in charge of providing superb client experiences and working in resolving support issues in a professional and timely manner. One of their primary tasks includes providing login resets and passwords for end-users. In addition, they will also perform innovative systems and network repairs, as well as assist computer information responses as required. Moreover, they support complete equipment set-up, renewal, or termination of a user account, handle server, and domain account changes.
Types of information technology administrator
Updated January 8, 2025
