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Job outlook for linux systems administrators in the United States
Linux systems administrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected linux systems administrator job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for linux systems administrators are projected over the next decade.
Linux systems administrator salaries have increased 9% for linux systems administrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 145,501 linux systems administrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 109,091 active linux systems administrator job openings in the US.
The average linux systems administrator salary is $83,032.
Are linux systems administrator jobs in demand?
Linux systems administrator job and salary trends over time
Linux systems administrator jobs over time
Linux systems administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145,501 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 124,872 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 121,264 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 47,021 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 48,150 | 0.01% |
Average linux systems administrator salary over time
Linux systems administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,032 | $39.92 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $80,296 | $38.60 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $78,479 | $37.73 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $77,570 | $37.29 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $76,231 | $36.65 | +2.4% |
Linux systems administrator jobs by state
Most common states for linux systems administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 316 | 46% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,748 | 25% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 171 | 23% |
| 4 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,857 | 22% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,304 | 22% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 137 | 22% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 148 | 20% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,093 | 19% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 259 | 19% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,245 | 18% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 193 | 18% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 102 | 18% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,295 | 17% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 168 | 17% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 149 | 17% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 866 | 16% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 669 | 16% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 337 | 16% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 295 | 15% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 432 | 14% |
Most common cities for linux systems administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax | 10 | 41% | $83,835 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 14 | 36% | $85,432 |
| 3 | Severn | 8 | 18% | $85,356 |
| 4 | Oakton | 6 | 18% | $83,839 |
| 5 | Greenville | 5 | 18% | $77,238 |
| 6 | Columbia | 12 | 12% | $85,294 |
| 7 | Huntsville | 13 | 7% | $78,547 |
| 8 | Melbourne | 6 | 7% | $74,442 |
| 9 | Pasadena | 9 | 6% | $91,784 |
| 10 | Longmont | 6 | 6% | $76,246 |
| 11 | Arlington | 11 | 5% | $83,916 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs | 13 | 3% | $76,143 |
| 13 | Aurora | 10 | 3% | $76,148 |
| 14 | Washington | 7 | 1% | $93,037 |
| 15 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $88,651 |
| 16 | New York | 6 | 0% | $83,372 |
Linux Systems Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of linux systems administrator experts
Bakersfield College
Ohio University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Tarleton State University
University of New Hampshire
Kennesaw State University
American Jewish University
Pennsylvania State University - Great Valley
Davenport University
Doane University
Appalachian State University
What will help Linux Systems Administrators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joseph Oluwole: My general advice is to seek out administrator and professor mentors who can provide a sounding board and encouragement through the emotional roller coaster that administration can be. I cannot overstate the importance of supportive mentors to the success of a new graduate beginning as an administrator. Even the State of New Jersey, for instance, recognizes the importance of mentoring and created a formal program for new assistant principals and principals to seek support from experienced mentors under the state's New Jersey Leaders to Leaders (NJL2L) program.
What general advice would you give to a Linux Systems Administrator?
Maryam Farahani: Thinking about the fields they want to experience or try. And to be intentional about their job search. The best advice is learning as much as they can about what company offers. Visualizing themselves in the next 5 years as a starting point. Do they want to travel a lot, or be in management positions? Do they want to be subject matter expert, or a hands-on engineer or technologist? Their goal may change as they progress in their career but having one makes a big difference in their career choices and keeping them on track.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Linux Systems Administrator job market given the pandemic?
Greg Kessler Ph.D.: I think the biggest trends we are likely to see include an increased acceptance and reliance upon online and virtual immersive technologies. Previously, only a handful of faculty felt comfortable using technologies beyond the simplest tools. Now that we are forced to interact with one another online more and more, people will want to be able to feel more like they are sharing a space with others. This would be supported by simulated immersive technologies such as virtual reality. While VR is somewhat familiar to people now, it will likely take on more diverse forms. These will also incorporate a variety of artificial intelligence that can help by performing automated assessments and providing automated feedback to students as they interact with content. If you think of movies like Ready Player One, you can imagine the kind of thing I am referring to.
Dr. T.S. Kalkur
Department ChairUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
What experience really stands out on Linux Systems Administrator resumes?
Dr. T.S. Kalkur: Internship experience and tools used in design.
Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy
Assistant ProfessorTarleton State University
Public Administration
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Linux Systems Administrator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy: I think one of the most significant changes to the job market is how the pandemic forced employers to do business virtually if they wanted to do business at all. For non-essential businesses, they had to find a way for employees to work at home if they wanted employees to keep working. This means that jobs that were originally considered location-bound were found to be done remotely, some with little to no modifications.
What this means is that some employers have reconsidered the costs of maintaining physical office space for workers that could telecommute and would rather work at home. Instead of paying rent and utilities for all employees to work in cubicles, they could export those costs to the employee using the spare bedroom they pay for, and home internet, phone, power, the water they pay for themselves. This cost-saving epiphany could affect employers and jobseekers alike in several ways. If a job can be done from anywhere, it means that those who are interested in a job can apply regardless of where they live.
This means a wider pool of talent for employers to choose from instead of just those willing to live within commuting distance. It also means more potential opportunities for jobseekers that might not be willing or able to relocate. But there is a downside, and that is that it increases competition for available jobs. The labor pool is no longer limited to those with skills and experience in a metro area, so those seeking a job are no longer just up against other locals anymore. This means those on the job market might have a more difficult job finding ways to set themselves apart. I think it means more opportunities, potentially, but greater challenges getting hired and a need to find ways to make themselves more marketable than they may have needed to be when labor pools were shallower.
Marc Lessard
ProfessorUniversity of New Hampshire
Physics and Astronomy Department and Space Science Center
What experience really stands out on Linux Systems Administrator resumes?
Marc Lessard: Students who have been significantly involved in research projects have a distinct advantage over those who haven't. Those who began such work (which is typically paid) as sophomores or juniors often will have played a significant role in these real-world research efforts, which can be very different than what might be tackled as part of a capstone project.
Written and oral presentation skills are also essential!
What experience really stands out on Linux Systems Administrator resumes?
Adeel Khalid Ph.D.: It is the age of diversity. A graduate can stand out when their resume shows a broad portfolio of experiences. In addition to a solid academic record, students who demonstrate that they can take on challenging tasks and work beyond a degree's basic requirements are more likely to be successful. I advise students to get involved in various activities, including undergraduate research projects, student design competitions, student organizations, internships, co-ops, etc. All of these should be highlighted on the resume. When a recruiter sees an overview of a student that shows relevant work experience in the form of work-study, internships, or co-op or research, their resume automatically comes to the top of the pile.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Linux Systems Administrators in the next 3-5 years?
David Groshoff: Robust virtual meeting technology, such as Zoom, will become increasingly crucial for workforce productivity. While Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms have provided much-needed capabilities during this time, they-and WiFi providers-could not fully keep up with the demands. Over the coming years, the technology will likely develop to engage in virtual meetings just as fully via mobile technology via desktop, including screen share functionality.
What experience really stands out on Linux Systems Administrator resumes?
Nil Ergin Ph.D.: Knowledge of analytical skills, methods, and tools for analysis, design, and management of complex systems and experience working with interdisciplinary teams are essential for systems engineering professionals. Experience in applying systems thinking and design thinking approaches to understanding organization, technical, and non-technical factors that influence the design and performance of complex systems stands out on resumes.
How do you envision technology impacting Linux Systems Administrators in the next 5 years?
Marjolijn Van der Velde Ph.D.: Strange as it sounds, the one constant we can count on changes. While we may not know exactly what tech skills will be necessary, knowing that we need to be continuous learners will help us keep up with the rapid rate of change we can expect over the next five years.
Bill Kostner
Adjunct InstructorDoane University
College of Business
How do you envision technology impacting Linux Systems Administrators in the next 5 years?
Bill Kostner: I believe we will become more involved with technology in all aspects of the HR process, from zoom messaging to self serve applications and benefits to remote disciplinary action to online training and development. Through technology, HR will become even more productive.
How do you envision technology impacting Linux Systems Administrators in the next 5 years?
David Marlett Ph.D.: The impact of technology is going to be massive in insurance like all other professions. Risk identification is going to be more accurate because of the new sources of data and better analytics. Claims will be handled faster using AI, remote working, and drones. Jobs are going to change; skill sets will need to be updated. It will be easier for the current students and recent graduates, in my opinion. We are racing to keep our curriculum current and doing our best to prepare students. They are also just more naturally comfortable with technology and not as upset about moving away from the traditional system.