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Job outlook for unix systems administrators in the United States
Unix systems administrator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected unix systems administrator job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for unix systems administrators are projected over the next decade.
Unix systems administrator salaries have increased 9% for unix systems administrators in the last 5 years.
There are over 172,057 unix systems administrators currently employed in the United States.
There are 110,185 active unix systems administrator job openings in the US.
The average unix systems administrator salary is $87,936.
Are unix systems administrator jobs in demand?
Unix systems administrator job and salary trends over time
Unix systems administrator jobs over time
Unix systems administrator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 172,057 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 143,873 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 144,495 | 0.04% |
| 2018 | 56,174 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 57,533 | 0.02% |
Average unix systems administrator salary over time
Unix systems administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $87,936 | $42.28 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $85,039 | $40.88 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $83,113 | $39.96 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $82,151 | $39.50 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $80,733 | $38.81 | +2.4% |
Unix systems administrator jobs by state
Most common states for unix systems administrators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 373 | 54% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,249 | 27% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,663 | 27% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 155 | 25% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 174 | 24% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 309 | 23% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 172 | 23% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 120 | 21% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,138 | 20% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,102 | 20% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 213 | 20% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 188 | 20% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,401 | 19% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,286 | 19% |
| 15 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 941 | 19% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 400 | 19% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 168 | 19% |
| 18 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,235 | 18% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 760 | 18% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 350 | 18% |
Most common cities for unix systems administrators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon | 2 | 8% | $94,495 |
| 2 | Stamford | 2 | 2% | $83,572 |
| 3 | Towson | 1 | 2% | $90,301 |
| 4 | Columbia | 1 | 1% | $90,266 |
| 5 | New York | 5 | 0% | $87,378 |
| 6 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $90,326 |
| 7 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $94,626 |
| 8 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $80,300 |
| 9 | Charlotte | 1 | 0% | $75,994 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh | 1 | 0% | $79,859 |
| 11 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $125,056 |
| 12 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $86,027 |
Unix Systems Administrator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of unix systems administrator experts
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Tarleton State University
What Unix Systems Administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Whalen P.E.: Many system engineers enjoy working across all technologies at a higher organizational level, and interacting with all types of technologists to manage and implement complex technical systems.
Many system engineers can feel challenged by their lack of depth of understanding of particular technologies compared to technical specialists.
What will help Unix Systems Administrators increase their earning potential?
Mark Whalen P.E.: There are many complex systems in existence or being developed that require knowledge and experience across many different technologies. Also, system engineering careers can often lead to managerial positions like becoming a project manager, operations manager or chief engineer.
Dr. Jacqueline Abernathy
Assistant ProfessorTarleton State University
Public Administration
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Unix Systems 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.