Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Senior Unix Systems Engineer stands at $97,641 annually, translating to approximately $47 per hour. This figure can vary based on factors such as experience, geographic location, and the specific employer. Professionals in this field often enjoy competitive compensation packages that can include benefits and bonuses.
Certain states offer higher salaries, reflecting the demand for expertise in Unix systems. For instance, states like California, New York, and Texas frequently report higher average salaries due to their robust technology sectors. Additionally, metropolitan areas with a high concentration of tech companies often present lucrative opportunities.
The demand for Senior Unix Systems Engineers is projected to grow as businesses increasingly rely on complex IT infrastructures. This role not only offers attractive salary prospects but also the chance to specialize in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, and system architecture. Continuous learning and certification can further enhance earning potential and career trajectory.
Let Zippia find your next senior unix systems engineer job
Let Zippia find your next senior unix systems engineer job
The highest-paying states for senior unix systems engineers are California, Washington, and Idaho. The lowest average senior unix systems engineer salary states are Vermont, North Dakota, and Montana.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $128,165 | $61.62 |
| 2 | Washington | $115,057 | $55.32 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $104,526 | $50.25 |
| 4 | Alaska | $103,810 | $49.91 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $106,068 | $50.99 |
| 6 | Michigan | $103,751 | $49.88 |
| 7 | Idaho | $109,554 | $52.67 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $105,005 | $50.48 |
| 9 | New York | $107,571 | $51.72 |
| 10 | Nevada | $102,922 | $49.48 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $91,686 | $44.08 |
| 12 | Georgia | $100,170 | $48.16 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $92,387 | $44.42 |
| 14 | Delaware | $94,332 | $45.35 |
| 15 | Oregon | $96,420 | $46.36 |
| 16 | Colorado | $92,606 | $44.52 |
| 17 | Maryland | $94,587 | $45.47 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $107,897 | $51.87 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $91,913 | $44.19 |
| 20 | Arizona | $88,396 | $42.50 |
| 21 | Virginia | $91,145 | $43.82 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $94,571 | $45.47 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $87,955 | $42.29 |
| 24 | Utah | $86,680 | $41.67 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $84,459 | $40.61 |
| 26 | Texas | $85,517 | $41.11 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $88,418 | $42.51 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $87,301 | $41.97 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $87,506 | $42.07 |
| 30 | Iowa | $86,357 | $41.52 |
| 31 | Florida | $84,496 | $40.62 |
| 32 | Ohio | $83,828 | $40.30 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $84,569 | $40.66 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $83,257 | $40.03 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $81,843 | $39.35 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $84,605 | $40.68 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $80,228 | $38.57 |
| 38 | Alabama | $79,160 | $38.06 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $83,914 | $40.34 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $82,595 | $39.71 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $83,916 | $40.34 |
| 42 | Missouri | $83,749 | $40.26 |
| 43 | Vermont | $78,172 | $37.58 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $77,266 | $37.15 |
| 45 | Kansas | $80,605 | $38.75 |
| 46 | Montana | $75,960 | $36.52 |
| 47 | New Jersey | $79,922 | $38.42 |
| 48 | Illinois | $79,218 | $38.09 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $74,733 | $35.93 |
| 50 | Indiana | $75,402 | $36.25 |
| 51 | Maine | $71,365 | $34.31 |
The highest-paying cities for senior unix systems engineers are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $143,297 | $68.89 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $118,295 | $56.87 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $107,958 | $51.90 |
| 4 | Reston, VA | $91,713 | $44.09 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $91,580 | $44.03 |
| 6 | Chandler, AZ | $88,368 | $42.48 |
| 7 | Andover, MA | $86,522 | $41.60 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $86,097 | $41.39 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $84,118 | $40.44 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE | $83,674 | $40.23 |
| 11 | Jersey City, NJ | $79,783 | $38.36 |
A senior unix systems engineer's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $134,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $134,000 | $11,167 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $115,000 | $9,583 | $55 |
| Average | $97,641 | $8,137 | $47 |
| 25th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
The highest paying types of senior unix systems engineers are principal systems engineer, lead systems engineer, and senior infrastructure engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Systems Operator | $38,182 | $3,182 | $18.36 | 91,037 |
| Network Security Engineer | $88,322 | $7,360 | $42.46 | 91,892 |
| Computer Engineer | $96,805 | $8,067 | $46.54 | 126,709 |
| Network Engineer | $83,557 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 72,346 |
| Systems Manager | $107,156 | $8,930 | $51.52 | 145,551 |
Top companies hiring senior unix systems engineers now:
Senior unix systems engineer salaries at Gap Inc. and Oriental Trading are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior unix systems engineer salary at companies like Salesforce and TeleCommunication Systems are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gap Inc. | $136,891 | $65.81 |
| 2 | Oriental Trading | $126,516 | $60.83 |
| 3 | Salesforce | $120,044 | $57.71 |
| 4 | TeleCommunication Systems | $111,975 | $53.83 |
| 5 | Samsung Electronics Device Solutions (Semiconductor & Display) | $107,627 | $51.74 |
| 6 | Navisite | $104,928 | $50.45 |
| 7 | Amkor Technology, Inc. | $104,673 | $50.32 |
| 8 | Clear Markets | $101,690 | $48.89 |
| 9 | Matlen Silver | $100,021 | $48.09 |
| 10 | Enterprise Holdings | $96,735 | $46.51 |
| 11 | Leidos | $89,080 | $42.83 |
| 12 | Pyramid Technology Solutions | $77,686 | $37.35 |
The average senior unix systems engineer salary has risen by $17,817 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior unix systems engineer earned $79,824 annually, but today, they earn $97,641 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for senior unix systems engineers over the last decade.
Compare senior unix systems engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior unix systems engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $97,600 | $46.94 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $94,400 | $45.40 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $92,300 | $44.37 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $91,200 | $43.85 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $89,600 | $43.10 | +2.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dev Technology | Senior Unix Administrator/Systems Engineer | Boone, CO | 10/23/2024 | $120,000 |
| Get It Recruit-Information Technology | Linux/Unix System Engineer Senior II-Security Clearance Required-Remote | WFH | Aberdeen, MD | 09/09/2024 | $84,000 |
| Constellation Energy Corp | SR. Systems Engineer-Linux/Unix (Remote) | Baltimore, MD | 07/19/2024 | $121,500 |
| Wells Fargo | Senior Specialty Systems Operations Engineer-Windows/Unix | Chandler, AZ | 04/09/2024 | $96,600 |
| Wells Fargo | Senior Specialty Systems Operations Engineer-Windows/Unix | Charlotte, NC | 04/09/2024 | $96,600 |
Search for senior unix systems engineer jobs