Systems administrator vs junior systems administrator

The differences between systems administrators and junior 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 a junior systems administrator. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, which is higher than the $62,225 average annual salary of a junior systems administrator.

The top three skills for a systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and windows server. The most important skills for a junior systems administrator are windows server, troubleshoot, and technical support.

Systems administrator vs junior systems administrator overview

	Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Yearly salary	$77,156	$62,225
Hourly rate	$37.09	$29.92
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	134,500	154,134
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does a systems administrator do?

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.

What does a junior systems administrator do?

A junior systems administrator is primarily responsible for handling and maintaining systems for users while under the supervision of a more experienced systems administrator. Their responsibilities often revolve around assisting senior administrators, troubleshooting support, providing installations and configurations, and handling inquiries and concerns, providing them with corrective measures. Aside from support tasks, one may also have administrative duties such as producing reports and presentations, managing schedules, and maintaining accurate data of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the policies and regulations of the company.

Systems administrator vs junior systems administrator salary

Systems administrators and junior systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Average salary	$77,156	$62,225
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $100,000	Between $51,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Meta	Jacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industry	Technology	Finance

Differences between systems administrator and junior systems administrator education

There are a few differences between a systems administrator and a junior systems administrator in terms of educational background:

	Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	University of Pennsylvania

Systems administrator vs junior systems administrator demographics

Here are the differences between systems administrators' and junior systems administrators' demographics:

	Systems Administrator	Junior Systems Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%	Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6%
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, 8.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.3% Asian, 12.1% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between systems administrator and junior systems administrator duties and responsibilities

Systems administrator example responsibilities.

Used Jenkins to automate most of the build relate tasks.
Manage windows file servers, messaging, and SQL databases.
Lead the project which integrate internal DNS into the corporate LDAP infrastructure for end user host management prior to deployment.
Lead business-critical information security initiatives involving encryption of customer data.
Authore and maintain shell and Perl scripts to automate administration tasks for infrastructure management.
Configure & manage all switches and servers responsible for providing WLAN connectivity and authentication services.

Junior systems administrator example responsibilities.

Manage Linux servers, running primarily CentOS.
Manage customer accounts and cases in Salesforce.
Load and manage customer provide encryption files.
Create, run and manage server back-ups monthly.
Develop PowerShell scripts to revamp and automate server build process.
Maintain and manage windows 2012 R2 in a virtual environment.

Systems administrator vs junior systems administrator skills

Common systems administrator skills

Linux, 7%
Troubleshoot, 7%
Windows Server, 6%
Database, 5%
Technical Support, 4%
PowerShell, 3%

Common junior systems administrator skills

Windows Server, 7%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Technical Support, 5%
System Administration, 5%
Switches, 5%
OS, 4%

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Systems Administrator vs Junior Systems Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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