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The differences between systems managers and systems administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a systems manager, becoming a systems administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a systems manager has an average salary of $107,156, which is higher than the $77,156 average annual salary of a systems administrator.
The top three skills for a systems manager include customer service, project management and patients. The most important skills for a systems administrator are linux, troubleshoot, and windows server.
| Systems Manager | Systems Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $107,156 | $77,156 |
| Hourly rate | $51.52 | $37.09 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 145,551 | 134,500 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
A systems manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the information technology department, evaluating staff performance, developing strategic procedures to maximize productivity, and identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenues and profitability for the company. Systems managers inspect company networks to ensure the efficiency of the technology systems, conducting regular diagnostic tests, and installing upgrades to boost optimization. A systems manager must have excellent knowledge of the technology industry, as well as a strong command in programming languages and system codes to maintain the security of the company's database.
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 managers and systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Systems Manager | Systems Administrator | |
| Average salary | $107,156 | $77,156 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $152,000 | Between $59,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a systems manager and a systems administrator in terms of educational background:
| Systems Manager | Systems Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Carnegie Mellon University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between systems managers' and systems administrators' demographics:
| Systems Manager | Systems Administrator | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2% | Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 12.6% White, 65.1% 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 | 11% | 9% |