Systems administrator vs operator

The differences between systems administrators and operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a systems administrator, becoming an operator takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a systems administrator has an average salary of $77,156, which is higher than the $37,928 average annual salary of an operator.

The top three skills for a systems administrator include linux, troubleshoot and windows server. The most important skills for an operator are safety procedures, CDL, and emergency calls.

Systems administrator vs operator overview

	Systems Administrator	Operator
Yearly salary	$77,156	$37,928
Hourly rate	$37.09	$18.23
Growth rate	5%	7%
Number of jobs	134,500	159,077
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	4

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 an operator do?

Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.

Systems administrator vs operator salary

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

	Systems Administrator	Operator
Average salary	$77,156	$37,928
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $100,000	Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	California	North Dakota
Best paying company	Meta	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Technology	Technology

Differences between systems administrator and operator education

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

	Systems Administrator	Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 60%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	-

Systems administrator vs operator demographics

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

	Systems Administrator	Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%	Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0%
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, 16.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 2.5% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	9%	4%

Differences between systems administrator and operator 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.

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Operator example responsibilities.

Assist in developing the company s short and long term training plans and managing yearly ammunition allocation.
Assist and manage the extrusion process of polyester raw material in pellet or chip form to produce finish rolls of plastic.
Manage day-to-day transportation and logistics services for multinational account base.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Job require basic math skills: fractions and decimals.
Ensure safety of all equipment during production in compliance with strict OSHA and safety regulations.

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Systems administrator vs operator skills

Common systems administrator skills

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

Common operator skills

Safety Procedures, 15%
CDL, 6%
Emergency Calls, 6%
Preventative Maintenance, 4%
Quality Checks, 4%
Dozer, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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