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Linux administrator salary
Average linux administrator salary
$79,996
Average Linux Administrator Salary
The average salary for a Linux Administrator stands at $79,996 annually, translating to approximately $38 per hour. This figure reflects the current job market and demand for Linux professionals across the United States. Factors influencing this salary include years of experience, certifications, and the specific industry in which one is employed.
Where Can Linux Administrators Earn More?
Some states offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for technical skills. For instance, states like California and New York are known for competitive pay, often exceeding the national average. Additionally, specialized roles within major tech companies can lead to significantly higher compensation.
Job Opportunities
Linux Administrators can find positions in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and technology. These roles often involve system maintenance, troubleshooting, and security management. By enhancing skills through certifications like RHCE or Linux+, professionals can increase their marketability and salary potential, positioning themselves for growth in this evolving field.
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Where can a Linux Administrator earn more?
Linux administrator salary estimates from across the web
Average linux administrator salary by state
The highest-paying states for linux administrators are Maryland, South Dakota, and California. The lowest average linux administrator salary states are Florida, Arkansas, and Minnesota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for linux administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $87,464 | $42.05 |
| 2 | Virginia | $86,551 | $41.61 |
| 3 | Maryland | $90,201 | $43.37 |
| 4 | Utah | $83,300 | $40.05 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $84,542 | $40.65 |
| 6 | Alaska | $86,495 | $41.58 |
| 7 | Idaho | $84,522 | $40.64 |
| 8 | Washington | $85,456 | $41.08 |
| 9 | Arizona | $82,192 | $39.52 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $90,010 | $43.27 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $84,548 | $40.65 |
| 12 | California | $88,762 | $42.67 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $82,075 | $39.46 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $84,301 | $40.53 |
| 15 | Maine | $84,852 | $40.79 |
| 16 | Ohio | $82,273 | $39.55 |
| 17 | Delaware | $84,747 | $40.74 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $80,509 | $38.71 |
| 19 | Michigan | $80,927 | $38.91 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $83,486 | $40.14 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $78,763 | $37.87 |
| 22 | Nevada | $77,942 | $37.47 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $75,418 | $36.26 |
| 24 | Indiana | $79,602 | $38.27 |
| 25 | District of Columbia | $79,417 | $38.18 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $80,166 | $38.54 |
| 27 | Texas | $76,255 | $36.66 |
| 28 | New Jersey | $82,256 | $39.55 |
| 29 | Kansas | $76,681 | $36.87 |
| 30 | New York | $80,229 | $38.57 |
| 31 | Illinois | $78,489 | $37.74 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $76,509 | $36.78 |
| 33 | Georgia | $76,785 | $36.92 |
| 34 | Colorado | $74,024 | $35.59 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $75,289 | $36.20 |
| 36 | Missouri | $76,012 | $36.54 |
| 37 | Montana | $74,796 | $35.96 |
| 38 | Vermont | $73,529 | $35.35 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $72,513 | $34.86 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $71,529 | $34.39 |
| 41 | Iowa | $74,804 | $35.96 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $72,875 | $35.04 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $72,650 | $34.93 |
| 44 | Florida | $70,080 | $33.69 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $70,138 | $33.72 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $67,904 | $32.65 |
| 47 | Alabama | $66,464 | $31.95 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $69,228 | $33.28 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $70,644 | $33.96 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $66,630 | $32.03 |
Highest paying cities for linux administrators
The highest-paying cities for linux administrators are Palo Alto, CA, Baltimore, MD, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $93,458 | $44.93 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $90,400 | $43.46 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $86,916 | $41.79 |
| 4 | Redmond, WA | $85,916 | $41.31 |
| 5 | Newark, DE | $84,747 | $40.74 |
| 6 | Charlotte, NC | $83,740 | $40.26 |
| 7 | Middletown, NJ | $82,401 | $39.62 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,259 | $39.55 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $82,180 | $39.51 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $80,803 | $38.85 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $80,341 | $38.63 |
| 12 | Washington, DC | $79,503 | $38.22 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $79,402 | $38.17 |
| 14 | Mundelein, IL | $78,686 | $37.83 |
| 15 | Alpharetta, GA | $76,874 | $36.96 |
| 16 | San Antonio, TX | $76,721 | $36.89 |
| 17 | Boulder, CO | $74,155 | $35.65 |
| 18 | Columbia, SC | $72,796 | $35.00 |
| 19 | Charleston, WV | $72,068 | $34.65 |
| 20 | Pensacola, FL | $71,607 | $34.43 |
Linux administrator salary details
A linux administrator's salary ranges from $62,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $101,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a linux administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $79,996 | $6,666 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
Highest paying linux administrator jobs
The highest paying types of linux administrators are senior unix systems administrator, systems administrator lead, and senior system administrator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology Administrator | $73,195 | $6,100 | $35.19 | 159,499 |
| Network/Server Administrator | $78,919 | $6,577 | $37.94 | 167,546 |
| Systems Administrator Lead | $99,956 | $8,330 | $48.06 | 132,285 |
| Windows System Administrator | $79,845 | $6,654 | $38.39 | 94,648 |
| Facilities Administrator | $70,272 | $5,856 | $33.78 | 64,826 |
| Systems Administrator | $77,156 | $6,430 | $37.09 | 134,500 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for linux administrators, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Richard Huff Ph.D.
Assistant professor, assistant chair, Virginia Commonwealth University
These groups likely present varying degrees of salary requirements and qualifications. In the federal service, an MPA qualifies as one at the GS-9 entry-level. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes salary tables at Link The beginning salary varies by location from $53K to $61K, with the higher amount near large metropolitan areas. Higher salaries are common in overseas areas. Progression is based on performance with opportunities to achieve salaries of $150K and over at the executive levels. Overall, beginning salaries for the MPA considering nonprofits and government agencies is estimated at $53K.
Top companies hiring linux administrators now:
Which companies pay linux administrators the most?
Linux administrator salaries at Medline and Avid are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average linux administrator salary at companies like OmniVision Technologies and Children's Hospital Colorado are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medline | $110,103 | $52.93 |
| 2 | Avid | $109,588 | $52.69 |
| 3 | OmniVision Technologies | $108,341 | $52.09 |
| 4 | Children's Hospital Colorado | $105,372 | $50.66 |
| 5 | TEKsystems | $105,170 | $50.56 |
| 6 | Kforce | $105,051 | $50.51 |
| 7 | Nabors Holding Company | $104,532 | $50.26 |
| 8 | Highmark | $99,940 | $48.05 |
| 9 | Addison Group | $99,855 | $48.01 |
| 10 | Populus Group | $98,407 | $47.31 |
| 11 | MaxLinear | $96,732 | $46.51 |
| 12 | Corning Incorporated | $94,600 | $45.48 |
| 13 | Avtech | $93,377 | $44.89 |
| 14 | Compass Pointe | $93,274 | $44.84 |
| 15 | BI WORLDWIDE | $90,953 | $43.73 |
| 16 | Pace Inc | $89,681 | $43.12 |
| 17 | Hired | $88,842 | $42.71 |
| 18 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $88,737 | $42.66 |
| 19 | Westinghouse Appliances Australia | $87,331 | $41.99 |
| 20 | Capricorn Systems | $87,288 | $41.97 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Linux administrator salary trends
The average linux administrator salary has risen by $14,597 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average linux administrator earned $65,399 annually, but today, they earn $79,996 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for linux administrators over the last decade.
Compare linux administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average linux administrator salary over time
Compare linux administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Linux administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80,000 | $38.46 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $77,400 | $37.19 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $75,600 | $36.35 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $74,700 | $35.93 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $73,400 | $35.31 | +2.4% |
Recently added linux administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeppesen | Mid-Level Linux Administrator | Berkeley, MO | 06/30/2025 | $88,400 |
| Boeing | Mid-Level Linux Administrator | Berkeley, MO | 06/28/2025 | $88,400 |
| Teksystems | Linux Administrator *NO C2C* | Nunez, GA | 06/28/2025 | $68,000 |
| Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. | Linux Administrator | McLean, VA | 06/26/2025 | $62,000 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | Linux Administrator | Atlanta, GA | 06/26/2025 | $100,000 |
| Caci International Inc. | Linux Administrator | Rowe, MA | 06/25/2025 | $75,200 |
| Caci International Inc. | Linux Administrator | Lackland Air Force Base, TX | 06/25/2025 | $75,200 |
| Caci International Inc. | Linux Administrator | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/25/2025 | $75,200 |
| Caci International Inc. | Linux Administrator | McConnell Air Force Base, KS | 06/25/2025 | $75,200 |
| Caci International Inc. | Linux Administrator | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH | 06/25/2025 | $75,200 |
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