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Systems engineer/systems administrator salary
Average systems engineer/systems administrator salary
$95,271
Understanding the Salary of Systems Engineers/System Administrators
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Systems Engineer/Systems Administrator stands at $95,271 annually. This figure represents a significant opportunity for individuals entering the tech sector, particularly in roles focused on systems management and IT support.
Salary levels can vary based on experience, geographic location, and the specific industry in which one is employed. For example, professionals in states like California and New York often see higher wages compared to their counterparts in less populated areas.
In addition, cities with a high concentration of tech firms, such as San Francisco and Seattle, tend to offer the highest salaries for Systems Engineers and Administrators. As technology continues to evolve, the demand for skilled workers in this field is expected to increase, making now an ideal time to pursue a career in systems engineering.
For those considering a move into this career, understanding the salary landscape can assist in making informed decisions. Researching specific industries and geographic markets will provide insights into potential earnings and job opportunities.
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Where can a Systems Engineer/Systems Administrator earn more?
Average systems engineer/systems administrator salary by state
The average systems engineer/systems administrator salary in California, Louisiana, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average systems engineer/systems administrator salary states are Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for systems engineers/systems administrator
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $112,319 | $54.00 |
| 2 | Washington | $99,111 | $47.65 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $95,614 | $45.97 |
| 4 | Nevada | $97,261 | $46.76 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $97,785 | $47.01 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $91,479 | $43.98 |
| 7 | Virginia | $91,364 | $43.92 |
| 8 | Louisiana | $104,129 | $50.06 |
| 9 | Arizona | $87,474 | $42.05 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $90,246 | $43.39 |
| 11 | Nebraska | $89,810 | $43.18 |
| 12 | Maryland | $91,254 | $43.87 |
| 13 | Texas | $87,085 | $41.87 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $90,391 | $43.46 |
| 15 | Delaware | $90,870 | $43.69 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $90,104 | $43.32 |
| 17 | South Dakota | $85,112 | $40.92 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $83,137 | $39.97 |
| 19 | New York | $91,127 | $43.81 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $86,233 | $41.46 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $85,031 | $40.88 |
| 22 | Vermont | $83,480 | $40.13 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $86,587 | $41.63 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $83,795 | $40.29 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $81,754 | $39.30 |
| 26 | Maine | $85,774 | $41.24 |
| 27 | Alabama | $77,901 | $37.45 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $81,893 | $39.37 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $88,215 | $42.41 |
| 30 | Kansas | $81,802 | $39.33 |
| 31 | Indiana | $82,382 | $39.61 |
| 32 | Ohio | $79,760 | $38.35 |
| 33 | Oregon | $80,694 | $38.80 |
| 34 | Georgia | $81,468 | $39.17 |
| 35 | Michigan | $77,854 | $37.43 |
| 36 | Florida | $78,675 | $37.82 |
| 37 | Montana | $79,295 | $38.12 |
| 38 | Missouri | $80,378 | $38.64 |
| 39 | Illinois | $79,870 | $38.40 |
| 40 | Utah | $73,147 | $35.17 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $73,326 | $35.25 |
| 42 | Alaska | $67,274 | $32.34 |
| 43 | Colorado | $72,257 | $34.74 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $77,246 | $37.14 |
| 45 | Idaho | $74,686 | $35.91 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $73,920 | $35.54 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $74,178 | $35.66 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $74,601 | $35.87 |
| 49 | Iowa | $73,744 | $35.45 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $71,658 | $34.45 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $71,229 | $34.24 |
Highest paying cities for systems engineers/systems administrator
The highest-paying cities for systems engineers/systems administrator are Palo Alto, CA, Seattle, WA, and Arlington, VA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $122,636 | $58.96 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $99,548 | $47.86 |
| 3 | Arlington, VA | $92,099 | $44.28 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $91,299 | $43.89 |
| 5 | Bowie, MD | $91,255 | $43.87 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $90,420 | $43.47 |
| 7 | Bellevue, NE | $90,215 | $43.37 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,357 | $42.48 |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $87,946 | $42.28 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $87,559 | $42.10 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $86,567 | $41.62 |
| 12 | Columbus, MS | $84,863 | $40.80 |
| 13 | Jacksonville, NC | $82,904 | $39.86 |
| 14 | Bismarck, ND | $81,600 | $39.23 |
| 15 | Atlanta, GA | $81,330 | $39.10 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $80,400 | $38.65 |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | $79,620 | $38.28 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $79,567 | $38.25 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $78,164 | $37.58 |
| 20 | Huntsville, AL | $77,245 | $37.14 |
Systems engineer/systems administrator salary details
A systems engineer/systems administrator's salary ranges from $70,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $128,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a systems engineer/systems administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $128,000 | $10,667 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $111,000 | $9,250 | $53 |
| Average | $95,271 | $7,939 | $46 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
Highest paying systems engineer/systems administrator jobs
The highest paying types of systems engineers/systems administrator are lead systems engineer, senior unix systems administrator, and senior systems engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Integration Engineer | $106,065 | $8,839 | $50.99 | 217,599 |
| Technical Systems Engineer | $101,163 | $8,430 | $48.64 | 192,058 |
| Software Systems Engineer | $107,102 | $8,925 | $51.49 | 370,518 |
| LAN Administrator | $60,942 | $5,079 | $29.30 | 92,931 |
| Systems Support Engineer | $82,561 | $6,880 | $39.69 | 182,434 |
| Network Administrator | $71,357 | $5,946 | $34.31 | 106,886 |
Top companies hiring systems engineers/systems administrator now:
Which companies pay systems engineers/systems administrator the most?
Systems engineer/systems administrator salaries at Google and Apple are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average systems engineer/systems administrator salary at companies like Stanford University and Open Systems Technologies are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $144,161 | $69.31 | |
| 2 | Apple | $137,065 | $65.90 |
| 3 | Stanford University | $119,621 | $57.51 |
| 4 | Open Systems Technologies | $116,629 | $56.07 |
| 5 | Ball | $113,056 | $54.35 |
| 6 | Syniverse | $112,359 | $54.02 |
| 7 | TEKsystems | $112,134 | $53.91 |
| 8 | Goldbelt Falcon | $110,651 | $53.20 |
| 9 | Mercury Insurance | $109,685 | $52.73 |
| 10 | The Walt Disney Company | $108,061 | $51.95 |
| 11 | Progress Rail | $107,661 | $51.76 |
| 12 | MDU Resources | $107,509 | $51.69 |
| 13 | Mercy Corps | $106,611 | $51.26 |
| 14 | Philips | $105,700 | $50.82 |
| 15 | Nebraska Medicine | $105,561 | $50.75 |
| 16 | Audible | $105,497 | $50.72 |
| 17 | Innovative Management & Technology Approaches | $105,318 | $50.63 |
| 18 | KLA | $105,063 | $50.51 |
| 19 | Genesis Networks | $103,024 | $49.53 |
| 20 | Prime Care Tech | $102,627 | $49.34 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Systems engineer/systems administrator salary trends
The average systems engineer/systems administrator salary has risen by $17,385 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average systems engineer/systems administrator earned $77,886 annually, but today, they earn $95,271 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for systems engineers/systems administrator over the last decade.
Compare systems engineer/systems administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average systems engineer/systems administrator salary over time
Compare systems engineer/systems administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Systems engineer/systems administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $95,300 | $45.80 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $92,100 | $44.29 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $90,000 | $43.29 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $89,000 | $42.79 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $87,500 | $42.05 | +2.4% |
Recently added systems engineer/systems administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perspecta | Cyber Systems Administrator/Engineer | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $104,000 |
| Perspecta | Systems Administrator/Scripting Engineer | Washington, DC | 06/29/2025 | $86,000 |
| ZP Group | System Administrator/Engineer | Annapolis, MD | 06/29/2025 | $145,000 |
| Sierra Space | Systems Engineer III-Linux Administrator | Mission Systems IT | Louisville, CO | 06/27/2025 | $116,160 |
| Monolithic Power Systems | CRM System Admin and Data Engineer | San Jose, CA | 06/25/2025 | $130,000 |
| Tata Consulting Services | Data Movement Engineer System Administrator | Bloomfield, CT | 06/24/2025 | $90,000 |
| Peraton | Systems Administrator/Scripting Engineer | Washington, DC | 06/15/2025 | $86,000 |
| Peraton | Cyber Systems Administrator/Engineer | San Diego, CA | 06/11/2025 | $104,000 |
| Hyundai Autoever America | 10846-Engineering Systems Admin II, Cloud | Fountain Valley, CA | 06/10/2025 | $83,940 |
| Parsons | System Administrator/System Engineer | Annapolis, MD | 05/25/2025 | $128,700 |
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