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Linux systems administrator salary
Average linux systems administrator salary
$83,032
Average Linux Systems Administrator Salary
The average salary for a Linux Systems Administrator is approximately $83,032 per year, with variations based on factors like location, years of experience, and industry. For instance, Linux Systems Administrators in high-demand regions or specialized industries often command higher salaries. Understanding these nuances can help professionals navigate their career paths and make informed decisions about their future.
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed the national average, reflecting local market conditions and demand for skilled professionals. Additionally, industries such as technology and finance typically offer more competitive compensation for Linux Systems Administrators.
Highest Paying States
Some of the highest-paying states for this role include:
- California
- Washington
- New York
- Massachusetts
These states not only provide better salary opportunities but also boast a vibrant job market for Linux Systems Administrators, making them attractive locations for job seekers.
Let Zippi find your next linux systems administrator job
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Where can a Linux Systems Administrator earn more?
Linux systems administrator salary estimates from across the web
Average linux systems administrator salary by state
The highest-paying states for linux systems administrators are Washington, California, and South Dakota. The lowest average linux systems administrator salary states are Missouri, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for linux systems administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $98,968 | $47.58 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $92,455 | $44.45 |
| 3 | Oregon | $90,040 | $43.29 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $88,679 | $42.63 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $90,161 | $43.35 |
| 6 | Alaska | $86,883 | $41.77 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $85,736 | $41.22 |
| 8 | Iowa | $92,031 | $44.25 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $93,006 | $44.71 |
| 10 | Idaho | $85,181 | $40.95 |
| 11 | Arizona | $81,593 | $39.23 |
| 12 | Virginia | $83,839 | $40.31 |
| 13 | Nevada | $83,120 | $39.96 |
| 14 | Maryland | $85,278 | $41.00 |
| 15 | Michigan | $83,139 | $39.97 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $82,098 | $39.47 |
| 17 | Maine | $85,714 | $41.21 |
| 18 | Utah | $82,019 | $39.43 |
| 19 | California | $94,174 | $45.28 |
| 20 | Delaware | $84,517 | $40.63 |
| 21 | Vermont | $80,273 | $38.59 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $80,310 | $38.61 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $82,165 | $39.50 |
| 24 | New Jersey | $85,561 | $41.14 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $77,405 | $37.21 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $79,905 | $38.42 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $80,217 | $38.57 |
| 28 | New York | $83,243 | $40.02 |
| 29 | Illinois | $80,717 | $38.81 |
| 30 | Alabama | $78,354 | $37.67 |
| 31 | Texas | $77,840 | $37.42 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $79,959 | $38.44 |
| 33 | Kansas | $78,905 | $37.94 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $74,573 | $35.85 |
| 35 | Montana | $78,077 | $37.54 |
| 36 | Colorado | $76,177 | $36.62 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $77,545 | $37.28 |
| 38 | Ohio | $75,895 | $36.49 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $76,965 | $37.00 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $76,790 | $36.92 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $71,679 | $34.46 |
| 42 | Florida | $73,964 | $35.56 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $70,241 | $33.77 |
| 44 | Georgia | $76,426 | $36.74 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $71,895 | $34.56 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $70,068 | $33.69 |
| 47 | Missouri | $71,570 | $34.41 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $73,519 | $35.35 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $69,468 | $33.40 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $69,175 | $33.26 |
| 51 | Indiana | $69,177 | $33.26 |
Highest paying cities for linux systems administrators
The highest-paying cities for linux systems administrators are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $100,739 | $48.43 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $99,648 | $47.91 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $93,037 | $44.73 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,473 | $43.50 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $88,651 | $42.62 |
| 6 | Jersey City, NJ | $85,516 | $41.11 |
| 7 | Annapolis, MD | $85,432 | $41.07 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $83,916 | $40.34 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $83,372 | $40.08 |
| 10 | Phoenix, AZ | $81,752 | $39.30 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $80,930 | $38.91 |
| 12 | Huntsville, AL | $78,547 | $37.76 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $78,235 | $37.61 |
| 14 | Alpharetta, GA | $76,563 | $36.81 |
| 15 | Boulder, CO | $76,242 | $36.65 |
| 16 | Gainesville, FL | $74,898 | $36.01 |
| 17 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,684 | $34.46 |
| 18 | Columbia, MO | $71,608 | $34.43 |
| 19 | Omaha, NE | $70,223 | $33.76 |
Linux systems administrator salary details
A linux systems administrator's salary ranges from $64,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a linux systems administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $83,032 | $6,919 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
Highest paying linux systems administrator jobs
The highest paying types of linux systems administrators are senior unix systems administrator, senior administrator, and systems administrator lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Engineer | $82,834 | $6,903 | $39.82 | 145,936 |
| Network/Server Administrator | $78,919 | $6,577 | $37.94 | 167,546 |
| Network Administrator | $71,357 | $5,946 | $34.31 | 106,886 |
| Clinic Administrator | $71,242 | $5,937 | $34.25 | 70,844 |
| LAN Administrator | $60,942 | $5,079 | $29.30 | 92,931 |
| Storage Administrator | $92,434 | $7,703 | $44.44 | 71,753 |
Top companies hiring linux systems administrators now:
Which companies pay linux systems administrators the most?
Linux systems administrator salaries at Apple and NVIDIA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average linux systems administrator salary at companies like Sony Interactive Entertainment America and Walmart are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | $135,827 | $65.30 |
| 2 | NVIDIA | $123,775 | $59.51 |
| 3 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America | $121,884 | $58.60 |
| 4 | Walmart | $120,195 | $57.79 |
| 5 | Anaplan | $118,544 | $56.99 |
| 6 | Open Systems Technologies | $118,122 | $56.79 |
| 7 | Citi | $116,916 | $56.21 |
| 8 | Morgan Stanley | $109,876 | $52.83 |
| 9 | TEKsystems | $109,052 | $52.43 |
| 10 | AT&T | $107,465 | $51.67 |
| 11 | Ukpeagvik IOoOupiat Corporation | $107,182 | $51.53 |
| 12 | J. Morrissey & Company | $106,702 | $51.30 |
| 13 | UT Health East Texas | $106,391 | $51.15 |
| 14 | Florida Power and Light | $106,368 | $51.14 |
| 15 | Adobe | $106,303 | $51.11 |
| 16 | Envision Healthcare | $104,687 | $50.33 |
| 17 | University of Washington | $104,665 | $50.32 |
| 18 | ServiceNow | $103,643 | $49.83 |
| 19 | Rotech Healthcare | $102,864 | $49.45 |
| 20 | KLA | $102,437 | $49.25 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Linux Systems Administrator salary by industry
The average linux systems administrator salary varies across industries:
- The average linux systems administrator salary in the finance industry is $101,017, the highest of any industry.
- The average linux systems administrator salary in the finance industry is $92,508.
- Linux systems administrators in the health care industry earn an average salary of $83,634, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for linux systems administrators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $101,017 | $48.57 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $92,508 | $44.48 |
| 3 | Technology | $87,457 | $42.05 |
| 4 | Health Care | $83,634 | $40.21 |
High paying linux systems administrator jobs
Linux systems administrator salary trends
The average linux systems administrator salary has risen by $15,151 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average linux systems administrator earned $67,881 annually, but today, they earn $83,032 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for linux systems administrators over the last decade.
Compare linux systems administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average linux systems administrator salary over time
Compare linux systems administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Linux systems administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,000 | $39.92 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $80,300 | $38.60 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $78,500 | $37.73 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $77,600 | $37.29 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $76,200 | $36.65 | +2.4% |
Recently added linux systems administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perspecta | Systems Administrator-Linux | Annapolis, MD | 06/29/2025 | $86,000 |
| Perspecta | Linux System Administrator | Boone, CO | 06/29/2025 | $66,000 |
| ZP Group | Linux System Administrator | Aberdeen, MD | 06/29/2025 | $85,000 |
| ZP Group | Linux Systems Administrator | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Aa270 | Linux Systems Administrator (Telework) | Austin, TX | 06/29/2025 | $72,000 |
| General Dynamics | Linux System Administrator-Secret Clearance Preferred (On-Site) | Oakton, VA | 06/28/2025 | $114,750 |
| Barnard College | Systems Administrator-Windows & Linux | Fine, NY | 06/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| NES Associates | Linux System Administrator-Secret Clearance Preferred (On-Site) | Oakton, VA | 06/28/2025 | $114,750 |
| Cypress HCM | Linux System Administrator | Boise, ID | 06/27/2025 | $88,051 |
| Govcio | Linux Systems Administrator | San Antonio, TX | 06/27/2025 | $75,000 |
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