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Unix systems administrator salary
Average unix systems administrator salary
$87,936
Average Unix Systems Administrator Salary
A Unix Systems Administrator plays a crucial role in managing Unix-based systems, ensuring their reliability and security. The average salary stands at $87,936 annually, but this figure can vary significantly based on several factors. For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher salaries due to the demand for skilled IT professionals. Additionally, experience greatly impacts earnings, with entry-level positions typically starting below the average and seasoned professionals earning considerably more.
Salary by State
When examining salaries across the nation, locations such as Washington and Texas also show competitive compensation. Industries such as finance and technology often provide higher salaries compared to non-profit sectors. Understanding these dynamics can help job seekers target their applications effectively and negotiate better offers.
Opportunities for Advancement
As technology evolves, Unix Systems Administrators can further their careers by specializing in areas like cloud computing or cybersecurity. Continuous learning and obtaining relevant certifications can lead to increased earning potential and job security in a rapidly changing job market.
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Where can a Unix Systems Administrator earn more?
Unix systems administrator salary estimates from across the web
Average unix systems administrator salary by state
The highest-paying states for unix systems administrators are California, Washington, and South Carolina. The lowest average unix systems administrator salary states are Wyoming, North Dakota, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for unix systems administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $109,866 | $52.82 |
| 2 | Oregon | $95,213 | $45.78 |
| 3 | Virginia | $94,387 | $45.38 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $96,874 | $46.57 |
| 5 | Nevada | $94,117 | $45.25 |
| 6 | Idaho | $89,884 | $43.21 |
| 7 | California | $115,162 | $55.37 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $88,553 | $42.57 |
| 9 | South Carolina | $97,055 | $46.66 |
| 10 | Maryland | $90,155 | $43.34 |
| 11 | Alabama | $81,315 | $39.09 |
| 12 | Utah | $85,446 | $41.08 |
| 13 | Arizona | $82,600 | $39.71 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $83,688 | $40.23 |
| 15 | Maine | $87,480 | $42.06 |
| 16 | Delaware | $88,088 | $42.35 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $90,795 | $43.65 |
| 18 | Alaska | $85,887 | $41.29 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $85,974 | $41.33 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $83,771 | $40.27 |
| 21 | Kansas | $83,080 | $39.94 |
| 22 | Vermont | $82,248 | $39.54 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $84,027 | $40.40 |
| 24 | Montana | $83,492 | $40.14 |
| 25 | New York | $87,238 | $41.94 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $79,668 | $38.30 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $80,984 | $38.93 |
| 28 | Texas | $80,427 | $38.67 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $88,014 | $42.31 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $83,480 | $40.13 |
| 31 | Iowa | $82,032 | $39.44 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $88,896 | $42.74 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $81,392 | $39.13 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $77,753 | $37.38 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $80,975 | $38.93 |
| 36 | Indiana | $80,021 | $38.47 |
| 37 | Wyoming | $75,397 | $36.25 |
| 38 | Ohio | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| 39 | Florida | $77,707 | $37.36 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $78,262 | $37.63 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $74,800 | $35.96 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $76,666 | $36.86 |
| 43 | Illinois | $78,528 | $37.75 |
| 44 | Colorado | $76,227 | $36.65 |
| 45 | Georgia | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $75,662 | $36.38 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $77,209 | $37.12 |
| 48 | Michigan | $73,924 | $35.54 |
| 49 | Missouri | $74,651 | $35.89 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $70,479 | $33.88 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $72,090 | $34.66 |
Highest paying cities for unix systems administrators
The highest-paying cities for unix systems administrators are San Francisco, CA, Bothell, WA, and Columbia, SC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $125,056 | $60.12 |
| 2 | Bothell, WA | $110,172 | $52.97 |
| 3 | Columbia, SC | $97,362 | $46.81 |
| 4 | Newport News, VA | $94,637 | $45.50 |
| 5 | Stoughton, MA | $91,096 | $43.80 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $90,326 | $43.43 |
| 7 | Jersey City, NJ | $88,071 | $42.34 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $87,378 | $42.01 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $86,027 | $41.36 |
| 10 | Stamford, CT | $83,572 | $40.18 |
| 11 | Woonsocket, RI | $83,443 | $40.12 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $82,849 | $39.83 |
| 13 | Bartlesville, OK | $80,978 | $38.93 |
| 14 | Irving, TX | $80,822 | $38.86 |
| 15 | Indianapolis, IN | $79,967 | $38.45 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $78,798 | $37.88 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $78,701 | $37.84 |
| 18 | Alpharetta, GA | $78,582 | $37.78 |
| 19 | Columbus, OH | $77,844 | $37.42 |
| 20 | Boulder, CO | $76,305 | $36.69 |
Unix systems administrator salary details
A unix systems administrator's salary ranges from $64,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $119,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a unix systems administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| Average | $87,936 | $7,328 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 10th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
Highest paying unix systems administrator jobs
The highest paying types of unix systems administrators are senior unix systems administrator, systems integration engineer, and systems administrator lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Engineer | $82,834 | $6,903 | $39.82 | 145,936 |
| Systems Integration Engineer | $106,065 | $8,839 | $50.99 | 217,599 |
| Information Technology Administrator | $73,195 | $6,100 | $35.19 | 159,499 |
| Network/Server Administrator | $78,919 | $6,577 | $37.94 | 167,546 |
| Network Administrator | $71,357 | $5,946 | $34.31 | 106,886 |
| LAN Administrator | $60,942 | $5,079 | $29.30 | 92,931 |
Top companies hiring unix systems administrators now:
Which companies pay unix systems administrators the most?
Unix systems administrator salaries at PayPal and StubHub are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average unix systems administrator salary at companies like eBay and Apple are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PayPal | $159,497 | $76.68 |
| 2 | StubHub | $157,980 | $75.95 |
| 3 | eBay | $157,063 | $75.51 |
| 4 | Apple | $148,760 | $71.52 |
| 5 | PlayStation | $140,728 | $67.66 |
| 6 | NVIDIA | $137,509 | $66.11 |
| 7 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $130,089 | $62.54 |
| 8 | NetApp | $124,366 | $59.79 |
| 9 | Open Systems Technologies | $119,249 | $57.33 |
| 10 | The Coca-Cola Company | $116,110 | $55.82 |
| 11 | Deutsche Bank | $116,002 | $55.77 |
| 12 | Barclays | $113,917 | $54.77 |
| 13 | UPS | $111,397 | $53.56 |
| 14 | Philips Medical Systems | $110,269 | $53.01 |
| 15 | Alliance Data | $107,048 | $51.47 |
| 16 | TEKsystems | $106,227 | $51.07 |
| 17 | UBS | $105,548 | $50.74 |
| 18 | Envision Healthcare | $104,646 | $50.31 |
| 19 | Booking Holdings | $104,277 | $50.13 |
| 20 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $103,228 | $49.63 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Unix Systems Administrator salary by industry
The average unix systems administrator salary varies across industries:
- The average unix systems administrator salary in the finance industry is $110,380, the highest of any industry.
- The average unix systems administrator salary in the finance industry is $89,922.
- Unix systems administrators in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $85,540, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for unix systems administrators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $110,380 | $53.07 |
| 2 | Telecommunication | $89,922 | $43.23 |
| 3 | Technology | $89,127 | $42.85 |
| 4 | Retail | $88,599 | $42.60 |
| 5 | Non Profits | $85,540 | $41.13 |
High paying unix systems administrator jobs
Unix systems administrator salary trends
The average unix systems administrator salary has risen by $16,046 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average unix systems administrator earned $71,890 annually, but today, they earn $87,936 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for unix systems administrators over the last decade.
Compare unix systems administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average unix systems administrator salary over time
Compare unix systems administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Unix systems administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,900 | $42.28 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $85,000 | $40.88 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $83,100 | $39.96 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $82,200 | $39.50 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $80,700 | $38.81 | +2.4% |
Recently added unix systems administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin Corporation | Linux/Unix Systems Administrator, STF-Ts/Sci W/Poly | Sunnyvale, CA | 06/20/2025 | $120,100 |
| Woongjin | Linux/Unix System Admin | San Jose, CA | 06/13/2025 | $104,350 |
| Smartronix | Unix System Administrator (4388) | Lexington Park, MD | 06/11/2025 | $86,000 |
| Southern Maryland Careers | Unix System Administrator (4388) | Maryland | 06/11/2025 | $86,000 |
| SMX | Unix System Administrator (4388) | Lexington Park, MD | 06/10/2025 | $86,000 |
| Woongjin, Inc. | Linux/Unix System Admin | San Jose, CA | 06/10/2025 | $104,350 |
| Crystal Equation | Linux/Unix System Admin | San Jose, CA | 06/03/2025 | $93,915 |
| Concept Solutions | Unix Systems Administrator | Atlantic City, NJ | 05/29/2025 | $125,000 |
| Lockheed Martin | Linux/Unix Systems Administrator, STF-Ts/Sci W/Poly | Sunnyvale, CA | 05/26/2025 | $120,100 |
| Btisolutions | Linux/Unix System Admin | San Jose, CA | 03/28/2025 | $87,654 |
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