Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between systems consultants and systems administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a systems consultant, becoming a systems administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a systems consultant has an average salary of $99,659, which is higher than the $77,156 average annual salary of a systems administrator.
The top three skills for a systems consultant include infrastructure, project management and C++. The most important skills for a systems administrator are linux, troubleshoot, and windows server.
| Systems Consultant | Systems Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $99,659 | $77,156 |
| Hourly rate | $47.91 | $37.09 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 134,337 | 134,500 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
A systems consultant is responsible for advising on the design, plan, and installation of information technology systems for clients. You will analyze data of an organization, determine the requirements of an information system, and define project objectives. Other duties include providing recommendations on the appropriate software, hardware, and systems, designing and installing new software, and organizing and conducting training for end-users. You will also be responsible for preparing test plans and test scripts needed for system testing.
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.
Systems consultants and systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Consultant | Systems Administrator | |
| Average salary | $99,659 | $77,156 |
| Salary range | Between $74,000 And $134,000 | Between $59,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Technology |
There are a few differences between a systems consultant and a systems administrator in terms of educational background:
| Systems Consultant | Systems Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems consultants' and systems administrators' demographics:
| Systems Consultant | Systems Administrator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.3% Female, 24.7% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.9% Asian, 14.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |