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Job outlook for unix administrators in the United States
Unix administrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected unix administrator job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for unix administrators are projected over the next decade.
Unix administrator salaries have increased 9% for unix administrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 36,558 unix administrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 56,547 active unix administrator job openings in the US.
The average unix administrator salary is $83,208.
Are unix administrator jobs in demand?
Unix administrator job and salary trends over time
Unix administrator jobs over time
Unix administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 36,558 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 21,570 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 24,308 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 11,814 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 12,098 | 0.00% |
Average unix administrator salary over time
Unix administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $83,208 | $40.00 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $80,467 | $38.69 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $78,645 | $37.81 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $77,734 | $37.37 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $76,392 | $36.73 | +2.4% |
Unix administrator jobs by state
Most common states for unix administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 263 | 38% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,004 | 17% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,324 | 16% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 789 | 14% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 99 | 13% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 811 | 12% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 73 | 12% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 354 | 11% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 141 | 11% |
| 10 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 678 | 10% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 106 | 10% |
| 12 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 79 | 10% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 669 | 9% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 380 | 9% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 87 | 9% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 472 | 8% |
| 17 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 401 | 8% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 151 | 8% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 85 | 8% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 47 | 8% |
Most common cities for unix administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrisburg | 1 | 2% | $81,598 |
| 2 | Santa Clara | 1 | 1% | $103,126 |
| 3 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $84,339 |
| 4 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $80,422 |
Unix Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of unix administrator experts
Tarleton State University
What will help Unix Administrators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joseph Oluwole: My general advice is to seek out administrator and professor mentors who can provide a sounding board and encouragement through the emotional roller coaster that administration can be. I cannot overstate the importance of supportive mentors to the success of a new graduate beginning as an administrator. Even the State of New Jersey, for instance, recognizes the importance of mentoring and created a formal program for new assistant principals and principals to seek support from experienced mentors under the state's New Jersey Leaders to Leaders (NJL2L) program.
Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy
Assistant ProfessorTarleton State University
Public Administration
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Unix Administrator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy: I think one of the most significant changes to the job market is how the pandemic forced employers to do business virtually if they wanted to do business at all. For non-essential businesses, they had to find a way for employees to work at home if they wanted employees to keep working. This means that jobs that were originally considered location-bound were found to be done remotely, some with little to no modifications.
What this means is that some employers have reconsidered the costs of maintaining physical office space for workers that could telecommute and would rather work at home. Instead of paying rent and utilities for all employees to work in cubicles, they could export those costs to the employee using the spare bedroom they pay for, and home internet, phone, power, the water they pay for themselves. This cost-saving epiphany could affect employers and jobseekers alike in several ways. If a job can be done from anywhere, it means that those who are interested in a job can apply regardless of where they live.
This means a wider pool of talent for employers to choose from instead of just those willing to live within commuting distance. It also means more potential opportunities for jobseekers that might not be willing or able to relocate. But there is a downside, and that is that it increases competition for available jobs. The labor pool is no longer limited to those with skills and experience in a metro area, so those seeking a job are no longer just up against other locals anymore. This means those on the job market might have a more difficult job finding ways to set themselves apart. I think it means more opportunities, potentially, but greater challenges getting hired and a need to find ways to make themselves more marketable than they may have needed to be when labor pools were shallower.