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Unix/linux administrator salary
Average unix/linux administrator salary
$80,041
Average Unix/Linux Administrator Salary
The average salary for a Unix/Linux Administrator is approximately $80,041 annually. Factors affecting salary include location, experience level, and the specific industry. For example, administrators in technology companies may see higher wages compared to those in other sectors.
Salary by State
Salary can vary significantly by state. States with higher living costs generally offer better compensation. For instance, states like California and New York often feature salaries exceeding the national average.
Opportunities for Growth
With the ongoing shift towards cloud computing and increased reliance on Linux systems, opportunities in this field are expanding. Experienced Unix/Linux Administrators can pursue roles that offer not only competitive salaries but also benefits like remote work and career advancement.
Conclusion
As a Unix/Linux Administrator, staying updated with the latest technologies and certifications can enhance your job prospects and earning potential. Explore further to find the best job opportunities that align with your skills.
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Where can a Unix/Linux Administrator earn more?
Average unix/linux administrator salary by state
The highest-paying states for unix/linux administrators are Washington, California, and New Jersey. The lowest average unix/linux administrator salary states are Kansas, Montana, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for unix/linux administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $100,539 | $48.34 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $85,555 | $41.13 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| 4 | Idaho | $82,884 | $39.85 |
| 5 | California | $94,397 | $45.38 |
| 6 | Oregon | $83,506 | $40.15 |
| 7 | Vermont | $82,792 | $39.80 |
| 8 | North Carolina | $81,527 | $39.20 |
| 9 | Maryland | $84,448 | $40.60 |
| 10 | Delaware | $86,781 | $41.72 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $81,451 | $39.16 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $79,808 | $38.37 |
| 13 | Maine | $83,429 | $40.11 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $87,190 | $41.92 |
| 15 | Virginia | $80,393 | $38.65 |
| 16 | Alabama | $77,065 | $37.05 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $84,037 | $40.40 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $80,339 | $38.62 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $77,878 | $37.44 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $80,666 | $38.78 |
| 21 | Missouri | $78,790 | $37.88 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $78,132 | $37.56 |
| 23 | Indiana | $77,474 | $37.25 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $74,058 | $35.60 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $74,786 | $35.95 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $76,453 | $36.76 |
| 27 | Arizona | $73,288 | $35.23 |
| 28 | Georgia | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| 29 | Texas | $73,898 | $35.53 |
| 30 | Michigan | $74,568 | $35.85 |
| 31 | Alaska | $73,243 | $35.21 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $73,986 | $35.57 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| 34 | Ohio | $73,153 | $35.17 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $71,741 | $34.49 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $72,655 | $34.93 |
| 37 | Illinois | $73,685 | $35.43 |
| 38 | New York | $75,316 | $36.21 |
| 39 | Nevada | $70,725 | $34.00 |
| 40 | Iowa | $73,139 | $35.16 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $73,248 | $35.22 |
| 42 | Utah | $67,458 | $32.43 |
| 43 | Florida | $69,128 | $33.23 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $71,946 | $34.59 |
| 45 | Colorado | $65,679 | $31.58 |
| 46 | Kansas | $68,590 | $32.98 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $70,933 | $34.10 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $67,626 | $32.51 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $67,446 | $32.43 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $69,783 | $33.55 |
| 51 | Montana | $68,179 | $32.78 |
Highest paying cities for unix/linux administrators
The highest-paying cities for unix/linux administrators are Seattle, WA, Folsom, CA, and Edison, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,244 | $48.67 |
| 2 | Folsom, CA | $100,008 | $48.08 |
| 3 | Edison, NJ | $87,176 | $41.91 |
| 4 | Wilmington, DE | $86,811 | $41.74 |
| 5 | Rockville, MD | $84,397 | $40.58 |
| 6 | Springfield, VA | $80,655 | $38.78 |
| 7 | Saint Louis, MO | $79,026 | $37.99 |
| 8 | Eagan, MN | $76,475 | $36.77 |
| 9 | Southfield, MI | $74,695 | $35.91 |
| 10 | Utica, NY | $74,489 | $35.81 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $73,857 | $35.51 |
| 12 | Fort Worth, TX | $73,816 | $35.49 |
| 13 | Menomonee Falls, WI | $73,330 | $35.25 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $72,684 | $34.94 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $71,122 | $34.19 |
| 16 | Fort Collins, CO | $65,865 | $31.67 |
Unix/linux administrator salary details
A unix/linux administrator's salary ranges from $62,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a unix/linux administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $80,041 | $6,670 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
Highest paying unix/linux administrator jobs
The highest paying types of unix/linux administrators are senior unix systems administrator, systems administrator lead, and senior system administrator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Administrator Lead | $99,956 | $8,330 | $48.06 | 132,285 |
| Network/Server Administrator | $78,919 | $6,577 | $37.94 | 167,546 |
| Help Desk Administrator | $49,798 | $4,150 | $23.94 | 130,180 |
| Systems Administrator | $77,156 | $6,430 | $37.09 | 134,500 |
| Operations Administrator | $50,962 | $4,247 | $24.50 | 115,828 |
| Maintenance Administrator | $39,393 | $3,283 | $18.94 | 107,366 |
Top companies hiring unix/linux administrators now:
Which companies pay unix/linux administrators the most?
Unix/linux administrator salaries at Excellus BCBS and Kforce are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average unix/linux administrator salary at companies like ICONMA and DXC Technology are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excellus BCBS | $105,292 | $50.62 |
| 2 | Kforce | $100,350 | $48.25 |
| 3 | ICONMA | $95,648 | $45.98 |
| 4 | DXC Technology | $94,874 | $45.61 |
| 5 | GATX | $90,029 | $43.28 |
| 6 | TALENT Software Services | $89,170 | $42.87 |
| 7 | NuAxis Innovations | $87,705 | $42.17 |
| 8 | Univera | $85,881 | $41.29 |
| 9 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $85,146 | $40.94 |
| 10 | System One | $83,151 | $39.98 |
| 11 | Gwinnett County Board of Education | $82,325 | $39.58 |
| 12 | Peraton | $81,451 | $39.16 |
| 13 | NorthgateArinso Inc | $81,434 | $39.15 |
| 14 | TWO95 International | $81,304 | $39.09 |
| 15 | Dizer | $80,851 | $38.87 |
| 16 | SAIC | $79,811 | $38.37 |
| 17 | Intelligent Transportation Society of America | $76,064 | $36.57 |
| 18 | DOLPHIN | $76,063 | $36.57 |
| 19 | Vencore | $73,329 | $35.25 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Unix/Linux Administrator salary by industry
The average unix/linux administrator salary varies across industries:
- The average unix/linux administrator salary in the retail industry is $94,896, the highest of any industry.
- The average unix/linux administrator salary in the finance industry is $94,769.
- Unix/linux administrators in the technology industry earn an average salary of $82,774, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for unix/linux administrators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | $94,896 | $45.62 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $94,769 | $45.56 |
| 3 | Health Care | $89,817 | $43.18 |
| 4 | Finance | $88,037 | $42.33 |
| 5 | Hospitality | $83,883 | $40.33 |
| 6 | Telecommunication | $83,416 | $40.10 |
| 7 | Technology | $82,774 | $39.80 |
High paying unix/linux administrator jobs
Unix/linux administrator salary trends
The average unix/linux administrator salary has risen by $14,605 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average unix/linux administrator earned $65,436 annually, but today, they earn $80,041 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for unix/linux administrators over the last decade.
Compare unix/linux administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average unix/linux administrator salary over time
Compare unix/linux administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Unix/linux administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,000 | $38.48 | +3.3% |
| 2025 | $77,400 | $37.21 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $75,700 | $36.37 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $74,800 | $35.95 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $73,500 | $35.33 | +2.4% |
Recently added unix/linux administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Dynamics | Scitls Unix/Linux OS Administrator | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 06/15/2025 | $110,614 |
| NES Associates | Scitls Unix/Linux OS Administrator | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 06/13/2025 | $110,614 |
| General Dynamics | Scitls Unix/Linux OS Administrator | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 05/30/2025 | $71,454 |
| Kyndryl Holding Inc. | CLS Infrastructure Unix/Linux | Downe, NJ | 05/14/2025 | $74,640 |
| Kyndryl | CLS Infrastructure Unix/Linux | Trenton, NJ | 05/14/2025 | $74,640 |
| NES Associates | Scitls Unix/Linux OS Administrator | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 04/26/2025 | $125,528 |
| General Dynamics | Unix/Linux SME | Sierra Vista, AZ | 03/21/2025 | $99,549 |
| NES Associates | Scitls Unix/Linux OS Administrator | Offutt Air Force Base, NE | 03/12/2025 | $125,528 |
| OMG Technology | Unix Administrator With Oracle Linux Experience | Philadelphia, PA | 02/23/2025 | $104,350 |
| Netstrive Consulting, LLC | Unix/Linux Administrator | Antioch, CA | 12/17/2024 | $124,426 |
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