How to hire a senior unix systems administrator

How to hire a senior unix systems administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior unix systems administrator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior unix systems administrator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior unix systems administrator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the senior unix systems administrator you need to hire. Certain senior unix systems administrator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect senior unix systems administrator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior unix systems administrators.

   Type of Senior Unix Systems Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Unix Systems Administrator	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$43-72
   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... Show more	$20-41
   Lead Administrator	Lead administrators are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for managing and troubleshooting departmental computer operations of an organization. These IT professionals must manage and approve access to their online score data as well as create new users directly in the portal to allow access to the score data... Show more	$30-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Production Servers
   • Solaris
   • Troubleshoot
   • VMware
   • OS
   • Windows
   • Red Hat
   • Disaster Recovery
   • Disk
   • Perl
   • Veritas Netbackup
   • System Administration
   • DNS
   • System Performance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Install and manage DB2 servers on AIX.
   • Manage user accounts and groups on a large scale in LDAP and NIS environments.
   • Write shell, Perl, python, ruby scripts to automate daily repetitive activities.
   • Create and maintain shell and PERL scripts to automate and monitor within the UNIX environment.
   • Manage hardware replacements such as disks, modules, shelves on NetApp and BlueArc storage.
   • Team's lead change management process coordinator - manage changes, resources, and schedules during change windows.

   More senior unix systems administrator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior unix systems administrator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior unix systems administrator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior unix systems administrators' average salary in hawaii is 37% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior unix systems administrators earn 40% less than senior-level senior unix systems administrators.
   • Certifications. A senior unix systems administrator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior unix systems administrator's salary.

   Average senior unix systems administrator salary

   $116,752yearly

   $56.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior unix systems administrator salary

   $90,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average senior unix systems administrator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$145,407	$70
   2	California	$143,823	$69
   3	Maryland	$135,251	$65
   4	New York	$134,313	$65
   5	New Jersey	$133,113	$64
   6	Oregon	$130,072	$63
   7	Connecticut	$125,448	$60
   8	Rhode Island	$124,789	$60
   9	Pennsylvania	$116,935	$56
   10	Texas	$111,896	$54
   11	District of Columbia	$109,958	$53
   12	Tennessee	$109,045	$52
   13	Illinois	$108,854	$52
   14	North Carolina	$108,689	$52
   15	Missouri	$108,555	$52
   16	Colorado	$107,931	$52
   17	Georgia	$106,471	$51
   18	Virginia	$106,289	$51
   19	Florida	$103,113	$50
   20	Arizona	$100,742	$48

   Average senior unix systems administrator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PayPal	$156,069	$75.03	4
   2	Varian Medical Systems	$140,870	$67.73
   3	AARP	$138,142	$66.41
   4	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center	$136,498	$65.62
   5	Unisys	$133,248	$64.06	2
   6	Informatica	$132,158	$63.54
   7	UBS	$131,994	$63.46	6
   8	BJ's Wholesale Club	$129,831	$62.42
   9	John Wiley & Sons	$125,864	$60.51
   10	T-Mobile	$125,573	$60.37	3
   11	Stryker	$124,452	$59.83	2
   12	CCC Intelligent Solutions	$124,212	$59.72
   13	Kforce	$122,386	$58.84	40
   14	Sagarsoft	$121,669	$58.49
   15	SMX Convention Center	$120,095	$57.74	29
   16	TriNet	$119,107	$57.26
   17	C&S Wholesale Grocers	$119,055	$57.24
   18	API Systems	$118,599	$57.02
   19	Alliance Data	$118,363	$56.91
   20	Payless ShoeSource	$118,301	$56.88

4. Writing a senior unix systems administrator job description

   A senior unix systems administrator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior unix systems administrator job description:

   Senior unix systems administrator job description example

   **Introduction**
   
   System Administrators are the gatekeepers to the many systems that run our company and our clients. As a System Admin with IBM, you will have the opportunity to provide high-value IT services and leverage our leading-edge technology portfolio in our global network. Your work has a direct impact on the day-to-day productivity of our business by ensuring integrity of, and access to, our most important resource: data.
   
   **Your Role and Responsibilities**
   
   Systems Administrator-UNIX Operating Systems LINUX / Advanced knowledge and experience for Tier 3 level support of Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions 4 - 8. In-depth knowledge of server technologies and platforms, including underlying hardware, as well as a history of working with a diverse set of applications sharing a complex infrastructure. Advanced experience with creating and managing storage infrastructures with LVM and Veritas Infoscale. Familiarity and use of VMware vCenter for Linux VM operations. Troubleshooting capabilities of complex outage and performance-management/tuning issues is needed. Knowledge and experience of reviewing user requests around user access management, sudo privileges, and security compliance exceptions. Familiarity with identifying and creating automation possibilities and capabilities with development experience (Ansible, CFEngine, shell scripting, Python, PERL). A strong and self-started learner of new technologies, managing multiple tasks and responsibilities, as well as demonstrating a sense of ownership, pride and responsibility of the assigned servers is also required.
   
   Columbia, MO
   
   **Required Technical and Professional Expertise**
   
   Prior experience with people and workload management in IT Operations, with emphasis on workload distribution between multiple teams of varying disciplines and tiers. Experience with leading incident resolution and documentation / presentation of root cause investigations to partner organizations. Ability to demonstrate leadership and act decisively to keep a managed team working towards organizational objectives. Experience with setting and managing employee individual goals, performing regular reviews to assure individual objectives are met within a team.
   
   **Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise**
   
   Experience working with Linux/UNIX platforms in an Enterprise IT Operations environment. Deep technical understanding of Linux/UNIX administration, with experience in OS and Hardware configurations, server storage management (local disk / SAN) and volume management. Ability to work independently as well as within a team environment. Solid communication and ability with a focus on client support for critical incident engagement as well as daily user requests. Prior experience with Trouble / Change / Incident management responsibilities from a system administration perspective.
   
   **About Business Unit**
   
   At Global Technology Services (GTS), we help our clients envision the future by offering end-to-end IT and technology support services, supported by an unmatched global delivery network. It's a unique blend of bold new ideas and client-first thinking. If you can restlessly reinvent yourself and solve problems in new ways, work on both technology and business projects, and ask, "What else is possible?" GTS is the place for you!
   
   **Your Life @ IBM**
   
   What matters to you when you're looking for your next career challenge?
   
   Maybe you want to get involved in work that really changes the world? What about somewhere with incredible and diverse career and development opportunities - where you can truly discover your passion? Are you looking for a culture of openness, collaboration and trust - where everyone has a voice? What about all of these? If so, then IBM could be your next career challenge. Join us, not to do something better, but to attempt things you never thought possible.
   
   Impact. Inclusion. Infinite Experiences. Do your best work ever.
   
   **About IBM**
   
   IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that progress is made through progressive thinking, progressive leadership, progressive policy and progressive action. IBMers believe that the application of intelligence, reason and science can improve business, society and the human condition. Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are the largest technology and consulting employer in the world, with more than 380,000 IBMers serving clients in 170 countries.
   
   **Location Statement**
   
   For additional information about location requirements, please discuss with the recruiter following submission of your application.
   
   IBM intends this job to be performed entirely outside of Colorado.
   
   **Being You @ IBM**
   
   IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior unix systems administrator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior unix systems administrators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior unix systems administrators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior unix systems administrator job on Zippia to find and attract quality senior unix systems administrator candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit senior unix systems administrators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a senior unix systems administrator applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior unix systems administrator

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior unix systems administrator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new senior unix systems administrator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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