How to hire a systems administrator lead

How to hire a systems administrator lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step systems administrator lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a systems administrator lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new systems administrator lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a systems administrator lead do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The systems administrator lead hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect systems administrator lead also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of systems administrator leads and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Systems Administrator Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Systems Administrator Lead	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$37-62
   Lead Systems Engineer	A lead systems engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the systems infrastructure and improving the stability of the operating systems to support business operations. Lead systems engineers install and upgrade software applications and ensure that the technical strategies meet the quality standards and business requirements... Show more	$43-75
   Information Technology Administrator	An Information Technology (IT) administrator is a professional responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of an organization's IT systems and ensuring that the systems are running effectively. IT administrators must conduct consistent analyses of the computer system and install updates when needed... Show more	$24-50

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Linux
   • Project Management
   • Windows Server
   • System Performance
   • Technical Support
   • Database
   • PC
   • DOD
   • Unix
   • SAN
   • OS
   • Microsoft Windows
   • Technical Issues
   • Switches

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all Citrix user connections and issues, print network, server environment and supplies.
   • Manage printers on the print servers and re-serve IP addresses for devices from the DHCP servers.
   • Manage software development group SharePoint portal.
   • Save company many hours of manual testing and developing by engineering Java applications to automate tedious tasks.
   • Manage development, manufacturing, test and delivery of custom broadband RF electronic test systems for military and aerospace customers.
   • Perform day-to-day management of system applications and services (NTP, DNS, LDAP, etc .).

   More systems administrator lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your systems administrator lead job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A systems administrator lead salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, systems administrator leads' average salary in arkansas is 40% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level systems administrator leads earn 40% less than senior-level systems administrator leads.
   • Certifications. A systems administrator lead with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a systems administrator lead's salary.

   Average systems administrator lead salary

   $99,956yearly

   $48.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level systems administrator lead salary

   $77,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average systems administrator lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$129,110	$62
   2	District of Columbia	$105,229	$51
   3	Washington	$104,383	$50
   4	Massachusetts	$102,756	$49
   5	New Jersey	$99,165	$48
   6	Connecticut	$98,315	$47
   7	North Carolina	$98,007	$47
   8	New York	$95,163	$46
   9	Arizona	$95,109	$46
   10	Georgia	$93,514	$45
   11	Texas	$92,637	$45
   12	Virginia	$89,551	$43
   13	Colorado	$88,499	$43
   14	Minnesota	$88,047	$42
   15	Ohio	$86,337	$42
   16	Florida	$84,426	$41
   17	Missouri	$83,424	$40
   18	Wisconsin	$81,975	$39

   Average systems administrator lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kabam	$137,590	$66.15
   2	Amazon	$131,957	$63.44	301
   3	Appian	$121,854	$58.58	1
   4	Cargill	$120,672	$58.02	5
   5	Ecolab	$120,103	$57.74	4
   6	Brookdale Senior Living	$117,430	$56.46	11
   7	Biogen	$117,210	$56.35	1
   8	The Motley Fool	$115,505	$55.53
   9	WebMD	$115,422	$55.49	2
   10	Pattern Energy Group	$114,910	$55.25	9
   11	Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants	$114,866	$55.22	2
   12	BJ's Wholesale Club	$114,280	$54.94	3
   13	Medline	$114,118	$54.86	13
   14	Interval International	$113,657	$54.64
   15	FactSet	$112,160	$53.92
   16	Magna International	$112,135	$53.91	9
   17	Under Armour	$111,052	$53.39	8
   18	Mercy Health	$109,775	$52.78	2
   19	Kelly Services	$109,475	$52.63	13
   20	NW Natural	$109,196	$52.50

4. Writing a systems administrator lead job description

   A systems administrator lead job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a systems administrator lead job description:

   Systems administrator lead job description example

   Provide system administration for workstations, servers, and various network and infrastructure devices, to include installation/imaging, patching, maintenance, and troubleshooting of systems to resolution on the required Operating System (Windows, Linux/UNIX, Solaris, Macintosh, etc.).
   
   Ensure all servers, workstations, and various network and infrastructure devices adhere to DoD, Navy, and NIWC Pacific security and compliance requirements. Performing configuration changes, conducting log analysis, system hardening in accordance with Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Security Technical Implementation Guidelines (STIGs), and managing/maintaining endpoint security compliance.
   
   Provide design, deployment, management, maintenance, and troubleshooting of systems in the below environments: Enterprise software distribution and management tools (such as Microsoft Endpoint Manager Configuration Manager); Directory structure management (such as Microsoft Active Directory or Lightweight Active Directory Protocol); Virtualization infrastructure; Storage arrays; Endpoint security servers (such as Host Based Security System); and Databases.
   
   Design and build data communication networks, which can include but are not limited to: Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and intranets.
   
   Design, secure, maintain, and deploy solutions to a multi-cloud environment composed of, but not limited to, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. The contractor shall understand the Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide and cloud computing industry best practices and utilize these tools to advise on business rules for operating in cloud environments, and design/implement technical controls to enforce these business rules. Support Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions, and other cloud technologies as determined by the government.
   
   This position is responsible for providing for professional and technical Information Technology (IT) system administrators to Navy RDT&E Networks, in the following areas: General system administration; Specialized system administration; Network administration; and Cloud administration.
   Mandatory Skill Requirements (must have) for System Administrator Level III: Eight+ years of experience performing installation, management, and troubleshooting of computer and infrastructure devices on an enterprise network Eight+ years of experience with ensuring/maintaining compliance with cybersecurity policies and practices Proficiency writing and managing scripts and utilities to automate routine systems administration tasks Experience developing and integrating new hardware/software systems into enterprise infrastructure Education/Equivalent : Bachelor's Degree in an Information Technology (IT) related field from an accredited University AND at eight or more years of relevant work experience High school diploma and 12 years or more of relevant work experience. Special Considerations or Comments : Secret Level Clearance

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find systems administrator leads for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any systems administrator leads they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level systems administrator leads with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your systems administrator lead job on Zippia to find and attract quality systems administrator lead candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit systems administrator leads, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview systems administrator lead candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new systems administrator lead

   Once you have selected a candidate for the systems administrator lead position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new systems administrator lead first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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