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The differences between systems administrators and assistant systems administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a systems administrator and an assistant systems administrator. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, which is higher than the $40,777 average annual salary of an assistant systems administrator.
The top three skills for a systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and windows server. The most important skills for an assistant systems administrator are customer service, patients, and payroll.
| Systems Administrator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $77,156 | $40,777 |
| Hourly rate | $37.09 | $19.60 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 134,500 | 104,311 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Systems administrators are employees who oversee information technology infrastructures in the office. They are skilled information technology professionals who are knowledgeable about the company's network systems and other technology-related infrastructures. They are responsible for installing, configuring, or updating network systems, software, and hardware. They also monitor the different systems and troubleshoot any issues that users may encounter. Systems administrators manage the access of users, ensure the security of the network, and address any challenges that users may have. They conduct repairs and routine maintenance to ensure that the systems in place are in the best shape.
Assistant systems administrators are responsible for supporting a team with their day-to-day operations of a company's computer systems and networks. They perform varied tasks, including monitoring, maintaining, and testing internet performance, ensuring the availability of computer networks for all users, and troubleshooting system failures and computer hardware and software issues. Assistant systems administrators may conduct training and support other network users within the organization. Additional tasks also include monitoring and evaluating the efficiency of operations and preparing systems and software documentation.
Systems administrators and assistant systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Administrator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Average salary | $77,156 | $40,777 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $100,000 | Between $23,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Chico, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Meta | City of Los Angeles |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a systems administrator and an assistant systems administrator in terms of educational background:
| Systems Administrator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Business |
| Most common college | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between systems administrators' and assistant systems administrators' demographics:
| Systems Administrator | Assistant Systems Administrator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% | Male, 38.6% Female, 61.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 11.5% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.7% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |