What does an operations system administrator do?
In the information technology industry, an Operations System Administrator is responsible for overseeing and maintaining computer systems, including software, hardware, and applications. They are responsible for supervising staff, spearheading installations and repairs, troubleshooting problems, diagnosing and resolving technical issues and concerns, and ensuring data security and safety by implementing back-ups, firewalls, and other protocols. Moreover, as an operations system administrator, it is essential to lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing standards and regulations to maintain the smooth flow of operations.
Operations system administrator responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real operations system administrator resumes:
- Manage VOIP Digium phones for clients.
- Manage and update share drive and SharePoint.
- Manage DNS, SMTP for Webservers contacting customers.
- Manage LDAP accounts on across the enterprise system.
- Manage machines and accounts in active directory and dhcp.
- Lead a team of 5 engineers providing PC support to 1,000 customers and implement PC disaster recovery efforts for 400 customers.
- Maintain EMC iSCSI SAN system.
- Perform maintenance on SAN solution as required.
- Monitor and deploy JAVA and .NET base applications.
- Troubleshoot SCCM distribution point issues with system engineering team.
- Set up and maintain inter office connection using Citrix.
- Help to maintain and troubleshoot remote UNIX workstations for the client
- Design, build, and support of certification virtualization environment.
- Implement SCCM at the Irvine, Plano and Portland sites.
- Work closely with Citrix & packaging teams to resolve issues.
Operations system administrator skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Operations System Administrators are proficient in Technical Support, Linux, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Multitasking skills.
We break down the percentage of Operations System Administrators that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Technical Support, 9%
Performed microcomputer repairs/upgrades, software support, and technical support for over 250 microcomputers and additional peripherals.
- Linux, 8%
Managed the Linux High Performance Computing environment.
- Customer Service, 5%
Provided excellent customer service by personally taking calls from Securities Industry clients and worked cohesively to resolve problems.
- VMware, 4%
Lead Administrator for VMware implementation.
- SQL, 4%
Monitored, maintained the database on the SQL server was updated and free of duplicate entries utilizing Microsoft SQL Enterprise manager.
- Windows Server, 4%
Group Policy and System security policy implementation for all Windows servers.
Common skills that an operations system administrator uses to do their job include "technical support," "linux," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important operations system administrator responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an operations system administrator to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "administrators need to evaluate networks and systems to make sure that they perform reliably and to anticipate new requirements as customers’ needs change." Operations system administrators often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "developed applications to automated data entry, administrative tasks and file transfers to mainframe. "
Communication skills. Many operations system administrator duties rely on communication skills. "administrators must describe problems and their solutions to non-it workers.," so an operations system administrator will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways operations system administrator responsibilities rely on communication skills: "integrated requirements into the locally managed world-wide interactive communications network and the interface of local inter-active systems into dod level. "
Multitasking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of operations system administrators is multitasking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday operations system administrator duties, as "administrators may have to work on many problems and tasks at the same time." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "organized work flow while multitasking, critical thinking and solved technical issues troubleshooted and resolved network connectivity issues. "
Problem-solving skills. operations system administrator responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "administrators must quickly resolve problems that arise with computer networks." This resume example shows what operations system administrators do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "administered the hp unix backup solution using legato backup software. "
The three companies that hire the most operations system administrators are:
- General Dynamics209 operations system administrators jobs
- General Dynamics Mission Systems
118 operations system administrators jobs
- Belcan2 operations system administrators jobs
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Compare different operations system administrators
Operations system 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between operations system administrators and network/server administrator. For instance, operations system administrator responsibilities require skills such as "vmware," "sql," "technical issues," and "dod." Whereas a network/server administrator is skilled in "troubleshoot," "server administration," "microsoft windows," and "sql server." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Network/server administrators earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $84,609. On the other hand, operations system administrators are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $102,945.On average, network/server administrators reach similar levels of education than operations system administrators. Network/server administrators are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Operations system administrator vs. Lan administrator
LAN administrators are responsible for maintaining the local area network of an organization. These administrators manage the server that connects an organization's network to computers and equipment that need them. They install, configure, and troubleshoot the local area network or LAN in a corporate office. It is part of their job to ensure that the internet is available for everyone who uses computers to perform their roles. They also evaluate and recommend the computers, hardware and software, and the equipment needed to create a hack-proof server.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that operations system administrator responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "technical issues," "dod," and "data entry." But a lan administrator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "network hardware," "troubleshoot," "emerging technologies," and "network administration."
On average, lan administrators earn a lower salary than operations system administrators. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, lan administrators earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $74,033. Whereas operations system administrators have higher pay in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $102,945.lan administrators earn similar levels of education than operations system administrators in general. They're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Operations system administrator vs. Unix 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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, operations system administrators are more likely to have skills like "customer service," "vmware," "windows server," and "technical issues." But a unix administrator is more likely to have skills like "linux servers," "database," "web servers," and "nfs."
Unix administrators earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $93,829. Comparatively, operations system administrators have the highest earning potential in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $102,945.unix administrators typically earn similar educational levels compared to operations system administrators. Specifically, they're 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Operations system administrator vs. Network administrator
Types of operations system administrator
Updated January 8, 2025
