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What is a senior windows systems administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

Many companies rely on Windows systems to do their work. This can include using enterprise management software based on Windows servers, centralizing data storage, or communicating using Windows technology. A technological failure would be catastrophic, which is why many companies rely on a senior Windows systems administrator to maintain their IT systems.

The day-to-day tasks of a senior Windows systems administrator might differ depending on the needs of the system. One day they could monitor network security and make sure that the system is immune to viruses. On other days, they might take care of data backup and make sure that the SQL database is in tune so workers can easily retrieve data.

In addition to taking care of all the back-end needs of a Windows system, the senior Windows systems administrator is also a manager of people. They usually supervise a team of systems administrators doing similar work. With such great responsibility, it's no wonder that senior Windows systems administrators are usually expected to have many years of experience.

ScoreSenior Windows Systems AdministratorUS Average
Salary
7.9

Avg. Salary $110,427

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 11.09%

Black or African American 8.79%

Hispanic or Latino 12.48%

Unknown 5.08%

White 62.26%

Gender

female 7.61%

male 92.39%

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 windows systems administrator career paths

Key steps to become a senior windows systems administrator

  1. Explore senior windows systems administrator education requirements

    Most common senior windows systems administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.5 %

    Associate

    24.6 %

    Master's

    8.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior windows systems administrator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    PowerShell8.75%
    Windows Server7.31%
    Infrastructure7.13%
    Windows Systems4.37%
    SCCM4.06%
  3. Complete relevant senior windows systems administrator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior windows systems administrators 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 windows systems administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior windows systems administrator resumes.
  4. Research senior windows systems administrator duties and responsibilities

    • Maintain and support internal database repository and manage the service and application creation/deletion and association with SQL sever instances.
    • Provide enterprise validation input to support the engineering review board to generate and manage mitigation plans for the overall mission architecture.
    • Experience with DNS, DHCP, TCP/IP technologies.
    • Administer OS patch deployment for all corporate endpoints using SCCM.
  5. Get senior windows systems administrator experience

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

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior windows systems administrator 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 windows systems administrator 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 windows systems administrator resume templates

    Build a professional senior windows systems administrator 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 windows systems administrator resume.
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
    Senior Windows Systems Administrator Resume
  7. Apply for senior windows systems administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior windows systems administrator 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 windows systems administrator job

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Average senior windows systems administrator salary

The average senior windows systems administrator salary in the United States is $110,427 per year or $53 per hour. Senior windows systems administrator salaries range between $85,000 and $142,000 per year.

Average senior windows systems administrator salary
$110,427 Yearly
$53.09 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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