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What is a senior unix systems engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.
The average senior unix systems engineer salary is $97,641. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an computer science major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a senior unix systems engineer. Senior unix systems engineers with a Certified UNIX System Administrator (CUSA) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a senior unix systems engineer?

Dr. Ariful Azad Ph.D.

Director of Graduate Studies for the Dept. of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Assistant Professor of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington

Look for a job that you would enjoy doing, even if it takes some time to find such a position. Internships are great to explore various options.
ScoreSenior Unix Systems EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $97,641

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 13.80%

Black or African American 7.93%

Hispanic or Latino 11.65%

Unknown 5.00%

White 61.31%

Gender

female 7.30%

male 92.70%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Senior unix systems engineer career paths

Key steps to become a senior unix systems engineer

  1. Explore senior unix systems engineer education requirements

    Most common senior unix systems engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.7 %

    Associate

    17.3 %

    Master's

    14.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior unix systems engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Unix6.99%
    Linux6.99%
    Infrastructure5.96%
    Server Builds3.90%
    Red Hat3.12%
  3. Complete relevant senior unix systems engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior unix systems engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior unix systems engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior unix systems engineer resumes.
  4. Research senior unix systems engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Develop scripts to upgrade java ear files and to automate maintenance tasks.
    • Manage development, manufacturing, test and delivery of custom broadband RF electronic test systems for military and aerospace customers.
    • Upgrade the internal and external DNS servers.
    • Recover OS and help bring applications back online quickly.
  5. Get senior unix systems engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior unix systems engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior unix systems engineer include unix systems administrator, senior unix systems administrator team lead and systems administrator.
  6. Prepare your senior unix systems engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior unix systems engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior unix systems engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior unix systems engineer resume templates

    Build a professional senior unix systems engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior unix systems engineer resume.
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
    Senior Unix Systems Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for senior unix systems engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior unix systems engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior unix systems engineer job

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Average senior unix systems engineer salary

The average senior unix systems engineer salary in the United States is $97,641 per year or $47 per hour. Senior unix systems engineer salaries range between $70,000 and $134,000 per year.

Average senior unix systems engineer salary
$97,641 Yearly
$46.94 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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