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What does an infrastructure administrator do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.

Infrastructure administrators are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for implementing and maintaining the telecommunication and data systems of an organization. These administrators must coordinate the implementations of IT procedures and policies of the organization as well as perform daily monitoring, maintenance, and backups. They are required to assist in network troubleshooting and provide end-user support about their hardware and software problems. Infrastructure administrators must also implement policies regarding security, network usage, and disaster recovery.

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Infrastructure administrator responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real infrastructure administrator resumes:

  • Manage allocate SAN storage and HBA configuration.
  • Manage, upgrade, and troubleshot ShoreTel VOIP network.
  • Manage all SSL certificates as well as internal and external DNS services for the organization.
  • Used SCCM to manage resources, software distribution, inventory, build software packages, and troubleshoot fail installs.
  • Authore and maintain shell and Perl scripts to automate administration tasks for infrastructure management.
  • Resolve network issues using DHCP, and DNS.
  • Standardize existing LAN to DISA STIG standards.
  • Add new DHCP scope, set forwarder on Cisco.
  • Work with vendor to migrate PACS system to new SAN.
  • Administer a mid-size Citrix XenApp 5.0 and XenApp 6.0 Farm.
  • Troubleshoot issues relate to digital certificates, browsers and other TCP/IP issues.
  • Single point of contact for the Linux team and face customers on a regular basis.
  • Prioritize, align and schedule OS and other infrastructure changes, deployments and upgrades as needed.
  • Configure and optimize multiple Cisco devices including routers, switches, call-managers, and monitoring applications.
  • Monitor systems, applications and file servers for stability and resource utilization; implement, tune and troubleshoot systems and applications.

Infrastructure administrator skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Infrastructure Administrators are proficient in Troubleshoot, Linux, and Windows Server. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Infrastructure Administrators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Troubleshoot, 10%

    Monitored systems, applications and file servers for stability and resource utilization; implement, tune and troubleshoot systems and applications.

  • Linux, 7%

    Provide Windows and Linux infrastructure management across the organization.

  • Windows Server, 6%

    Assist in Windows server 2003 and 2008 R2 maintenance, monitoring, equipment failure replacements, and vendor management.

  • OS, 4%

    Propagate all OS changes throughout all UIT, SIT, UAT, Performance and Production servers.

  • PowerShell, 4%

    Administer Active Directory environment using Group Policy and Powershell.

  • SAN, 4%

    Coordinate with project teams for server SAN migration and visualization EMC storage via IBM SVC to IBM XIV storage arrays.

Common skills that an infrastructure administrator uses to do their job include "troubleshoot," "linux," and "windows server." You can find details on the most important infrastructure administrator responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an infrastructure administrator to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Additionally, an infrastructure administrator resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "administered symantec backup exec software integrated with datadomain. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling infrastructure administrator duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers." According to an infrastructure administrator resume, here's how infrastructure administrators can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "deployed company-wide open source voip telephony system (asterisk), vastly reducing communication costs between satellite offices. "

Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of infrastructure administrators is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday infrastructure administrator duties, as "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "designed and developed virtual desktop subscription solution for ad-hoc use of engineering applications by remote users. "

All infrastructure administrator skills

The three companies that hire the most infrastructure administrators are:

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Compare different infrastructure administrators

Infrastructure 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.

If we compare the average infrastructure administrator annual salary with that of a help desk administrator, we find that help desk administrators typically earn a $43,281 lower salary than infrastructure administrators make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both infrastructure administrator and help desk administrator positions are skilled in troubleshoot, linux, and windows server.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an infrastructure administrator are more likely to require skills like "powershell," "san," "switches," and "disaster recovery." On the other hand, a job as a help desk administrator requires skills like "customer service," "desk support," "phone calls," and "remote desktop." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Help desk administrators tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $56,503. In contrast, infrastructure administrators make the biggest average salary, $114,798, in the finance industry.On average, help desk administrators reach lower levels of education than infrastructure administrators. Help desk administrators are 8.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Infrastructure administrator vs. Network/server administrator

A Network Administrator ensures an organizations' network is operational and up to date. They solve problems that arise within computer networks, maintaining computer networks, interacting with clients, and consulting with them to determine their system requirements.

A career as a network/server administrator brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of an infrastructure administrator. In fact, network/server administrators salary is $14,160 lower than the salary of infrastructure administrators per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both infrastructure administrators and network/server administrators have skills such as "troubleshoot," "linux," and "windows server. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real infrastructure administrator resumes. While infrastructure administrator responsibilities can utilize skills like "java," "desktop," "lan wan," and "client facing," network/server administrators use skills like "customer service," "server administration," "microsoft windows," and "server hardware."

Network/server administrators may earn a lower salary than infrastructure administrators, but network/server administrators earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $84,609. On the other hand, infrastructure administrators receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $114,798.In general, network/server administrators achieve lower levels of education than infrastructure administrators. They're 6.5% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for infrastructure administrators in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant professor, assistant chair, Virginia Commonwealth University

The emphasis on data-driven public policy, management, and decision making will continue to require a creative and ethical approach to data analytics. Public agencies will have a need for technical expertise tempered with the recognition of the increasing demands for high levels of trust among stakeholders for how data is safeguarded and managed.

As custodians of sensitive data, in many cases, there is a demand for a high level of trustworthiness to be earned by public officials. I would expect agencies will need to set a high bar for ethical standards and communicate them consistently. This will be particularly true for developing and using artificial intelligence (AI). While the future public servant will need a grounding in understanding, interpreting, and using data in meaningful ways, there will continue to be a critical need for ethical sensitivity and reasoning to ensure public policies and programs heed increasing demands for social equity and justice. Technology advancements are unavoidable for the foreseeable future and need to be harnessed and applied appropriately by professional, principled, and ethical public servants.

Infrastructure administrator vs. Network administrator

A network administrator is responsible for managing an organization's computer systems, ensuring its smooth operations and highest efficiency. Network administrators' duties include inspecting network malfunctions, troubleshooting unresponsive programs, improving system processes, analyzing client's specifications, upgrading existing applications, coordinating with the technology department, and creating a report of network issues resolutions. A network administrator should display a strong command of programming languages. Extensive knowledge in the technology industry and analytical and problem-solving skills to manage network problems immediately is also necessary.

An average network administrator eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of infrastructure administrators. The difference in salaries amounts to network administrators earning a $21,722 lower average salary than infrastructure administrators.Using the responsibilities included on infrastructure administrators and network administrators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "troubleshoot," "linux," and "windows server.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, infrastructure administrators are more likely to have skills like "powershell," "qa," "virtualization," and "java." But a network administrator is more likely to have skills like "network hardware," "routers," "firewall," and "network security."

Network administrators earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $74,936. Comparatively, infrastructure administrators have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $114,798.network administrators typically earn lower educational levels compared to infrastructure administrators. Specifically, they're 5.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Infrastructure administrator vs. Senior infrastructure engineer

A senior infrastructure engineer specializes in designing and developing systems and infrastructures based on client preferences and industry standards. They have the duty to identify and understand the project's needs, streamline project requirements, produce drafts, create prototypes and models, and establish tests to identify potential issues and ensure the projects' quality. Additionally, a senior infrastructure engineer has the authority to make decisions, train and supervise junior engineers, establish goals and timelines, provide technical support, and implement policies and guidelines.

Senior infrastructure engineers tend to earn a higher pay than infrastructure administrators by an average of $24,686 per year.While both infrastructure administrators and senior infrastructure engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like troubleshoot, linux, and windows server, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between infrastructure administrators and senior infrastructure engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an infrastructure administrator might have more use for skills like "client facing," "web services," "nfs," and "centos." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior infrastructure engineers require skills like "cloud," "aws," "customer service," and "ruby. "

The hospitality industry tends to pay the highest salaries for senior infrastructure engineers, with average annual pay of $123,360. Comparatively, the highest infrastructure administrator annual salary comes from the finance industry.The average resume of senior infrastructure engineers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to infrastructure administrators. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of infrastructure administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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