Best states for a linux administrator

Q: What is the best state for linux administrators?

The best state to be a linux administrator is Oregon based on linux administrator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for linux administrators?

The highest paying state for linux administrators is Alabama based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for linux administrators?

The worst state for linux administrators is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Anna Frank

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for linux administrators in the United States. Linux administrator positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for linux administrators.In order to help you decide which state is the best for linux administrators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for linux administrator jobs.

To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for linux administrators. Oregon is the best state for linux administrators, where the median salary is $87,464.Oregon is the best state, and Salisbury is the city with the highest pay for linux administrators.

10 best states for linux administrators in 2025

1. Oregon
Total linux administrator jobs: 443
Average annual salary: $87,464
Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Linux administrator jobs in Oregon
2. Virginia
Total linux administrator jobs: 1,547
Average annual salary: $86,551
Lowest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1.73
Linux administrator jobs in Virginia
3. Maryland
Total linux administrator jobs: 1,271
Average annual salary: $90,201
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000
Location Quotient:
2.11
Linux administrator jobs in Maryland
4. Utah
Total linux administrator jobs: 412
Average annual salary: $83,300
Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.36
Linux administrator jobs in Utah
5. North Carolina
Total linux administrator jobs: 908
Average annual salary: $84,542
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $108,000
Location Quotient:
1
Linux administrator jobs in North Carolina
6. Alaska
Total linux administrator jobs: 101
Average annual salary: $86,495
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Linux administrator jobs in Alaska
7. Idaho
Total linux administrator jobs: 148
Average annual salary: $84,522
Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Linux administrator jobs in Idaho
8. Washington
Total linux administrator jobs: 766
Average annual salary: $85,456
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
Linux administrator jobs in Washington
9. Arizona
Total linux administrator jobs: 714
Average annual salary: $82,192
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000
Location Quotient:
1.29
Linux administrator jobs in Arizona
10. South Dakota
Total linux administrator jobs: 69
Average annual salary: $90,010
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $114,000
Location Quotient:
0.68
Linux administrator jobs in South Dakota

Linux administrator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a linux administrator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a linux administrator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Oregon	$87,464	$66,000	4,142,776	443
2	Virginia	$86,551	$67,000	8,470,020	1,547
3	Maryland	$90,201	$70,000	6,052,177	1,271
4	Utah	$83,300	$63,000	3,101,833	412
5	North Carolina	$84,542	$65,000	10,273,419	908
6	Alaska	$86,495	$72,000	739,795	101
7	Idaho	$84,522	$64,000	1,716,943	148
8	Washington	$85,456	$65,000	7,405,743	766
9	Arizona	$82,192	$62,000	7,016,270	714
10	South Dakota	$90,010	$70,000	869,666	69
11	Massachusetts	$84,548	$65,000	6,859,819	976
12	California	$88,762	$67,000	39,536,653	2,784
13	New Hampshire	$82,075	$63,000	1,342,795	169
14	Wisconsin	$84,301	$66,000	5,795,483	381
15	Maine	$84,852	$66,000	1,335,907	87
16	Ohio	$82,273	$64,000	11,658,609	792
17	Delaware	$84,747	$65,000	961,939	89
18	Pennsylvania	$80,509	$62,000	12,805,537	998
19	Michigan	$80,927	$63,000	9,962,311	571
20	Connecticut	$83,486	$64,000	3,588,184	274
21	Rhode Island	$78,763	$61,000	1,059,639	113
22	Nevada	$77,942	$59,000	2,998,039	185
23	North Dakota	$75,418	$59,000	755,393	91
24	Indiana	$79,602	$62,000	6,666,818	445
25	District of Columbia	$79,417	$61,000	693,972	274
26	Oklahoma	$80,166	$62,000	3,930,864	190
27	Texas	$76,255	$58,000	28,304,596	2,031
28	New Jersey	$82,256	$63,000	9,005,644	632
29	Kansas	$76,681	$59,000	2,913,123	246
30	New York	$80,229	$62,000	19,849,399	1,110
31	Illinois	$78,489	$61,000	12,802,023	1,044
32	Nebraska	$76,509	$59,000	1,920,076	178
33	Georgia	$76,785	$60,000	10,429,379	829
34	Colorado	$74,024	$57,000	5,607,154	844
35	Hawaii	$75,289	$61,000	1,427,538	93
36	Missouri	$76,012	$59,000	6,113,532	459
37	Montana	$74,796	$58,000	1,050,493	96
38	Vermont	$73,529	$57,000	623,657	75
39	West Virginia	$72,513	$56,000	1,815,857	108
40	New Mexico	$71,529	$55,000	2,088,070	201
41	Iowa	$74,804	$58,000	3,145,711	234
42	Kentucky	$72,875	$57,000	4,454,189	241
43	South Carolina	$72,650	$56,000	5,024,369	358
44	Florida	$70,080	$53,000	20,984,400	1,610
45	Tennessee	$70,138	$54,000	6,715,984	394
46	Wyoming	$67,904	$52,000	579,315	53
47	Alabama	$66,464	$51,000	4,874,747	416
48	Minnesota	$69,228	$54,000	5,576,606	563
49	Arkansas	$69,640	$54,000	3,004,279	146
50	Louisiana	$70,644	$54,000	4,684,333	181
51	Mississippi	$66,630	$51,000	2,984,100	155

Highest paying states for linux administrators

Rank	State	Avg. Linux Administrator Salary
1	Oregon	$87,464
2	Virginia	$86,551
3	Maryland	$90,201
4	Utah	$83,300
5	North Carolina	$84,542
6	Alaska	$86,495
7	Idaho	$84,522
8	Washington	$85,456
9	Arizona	$82,192
10	South Dakota	$90,010
11	Massachusetts	$84,548
12	California	$88,762
13	New Hampshire	$82,075
14	Wisconsin	$84,301
15	Maine	$84,852
16	Ohio	$82,273
17	Delaware	$84,747
18	Pennsylvania	$80,509
19	Michigan	$80,927
20	Connecticut	$83,486
21	Rhode Island	$78,763
22	Nevada	$77,942
23	North Dakota	$75,418
24	Indiana	$79,602
25	District of Columbia	$79,417
26	Oklahoma	$80,166
27	Texas	$76,255
28	New Jersey	$82,256
29	Kansas	$76,681
30	New York	$80,229
31	Illinois	$78,489
32	Nebraska	$76,509
33	Georgia	$76,785
34	Colorado	$74,024
35	Hawaii	$75,289
36	Missouri	$76,012
37	Montana	$74,796
38	Vermont	$73,529
39	West Virginia	$72,513
40	New Mexico	$71,529
41	Iowa	$74,804
42	Kentucky	$72,875
43	South Carolina	$72,650
44	Florida	$70,080
45	Tennessee	$70,138
46	Wyoming	$67,904
47	Alabama	$66,464
48	Minnesota	$69,228
49	Arkansas	$69,640
50	Louisiana	$70,644
51	Mississippi	$66,630

Expert opinions on the best states for linux administrators

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for linux administrators to find work opportunities?
Dr. Anna Frank
Exercise Science, DePaul University
This was on ZipRecruiter-outdoor jobs.
Try the Top Five
If location isn't a factor in your outdoor job search, then consider heading to one of the top five states who offer the most employment opportunities to be had under the sun (and stars). Those are:
1. California
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. New York
5. North Carolina

Linux administrator best states FAQs

What is the best state for linux administrators?

What is the highest paying state for linux administrators?

What is the worst state for linux administrators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common computer and mathematical questions.

Search for linux administrator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse computer and mathematical jobs

Total linux administrator jobs:	443
Average annual salary:	$87,464
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$66,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$115,000
Location Quotient:	1.13

Best states for a linux administrator

10 best states for linux administrators in 2025

1. Oregon

2. Virginia

3. Maryland

4. Utah

5. North Carolina

6. Alaska

7. Idaho

8. Washington

9. Arizona

10. South Dakota