How to hire a windows system administrator

How to hire a windows system administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step windows system administrator hiring guide:

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

What does a windows system administrator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a windows system administrator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a windows system administrator to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a windows system administrator that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of windows system administrators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Windows System Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Windows System Administrator	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.	$28-50
   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
   Help Desk Administrator	Help desk administrator is responsible for handling activities related to system support for their company or organization. They are in charge of providing superb client experiences and working in resolving support issues in a professional and timely manner... Show more	$16-34

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Windows Server
   • Infrastructure
   • PowerShell
   • Troubleshoot
   • Linux
   • SCCM
   • OS
   • DNS
   • SAN
   • Group Policy
   • DHCP
   • System Administration
   • Microsoft Windows
   • Disk

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and configure VPN connections for the users.
   • Deploy and manage Panasonic PBX and VOIP phone systems and network connectivity.
   • Manage exchange stores, mailbox provisioning, active sync and monitoring the mailboxes.
   • Manage data usage, space, security and archival over servers, workstations and NAS machines.
   • Manage issues with server hardware, networking, web services, database, DNS, clustering, and e-mail.
   • Manage all OU's under domain at multiple sites across the country through a constant VPN tunnel per client rules.

   More windows system administrator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your windows system administrator job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A windows system administrator can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, windows system administrators' average salary in nebraska is 33% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level windows system administrators 42% less than senior-level windows system administrators.
   • Certifications. A windows system administrator with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a windows system administrator's salary.

   Average windows system administrator salary

   $79,845yearly

   $38.39 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level windows system administrator salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average windows system administrator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$99,587	$48
   2	South Carolina	$88,573	$43
   3	Washington	$87,658	$42
   4	New Jersey	$87,555	$42
   5	Pennsylvania	$84,040	$40
   6	Maryland	$83,524	$40
   7	District of Columbia	$83,147	$40
   8	Arizona	$82,369	$40
   9	Massachusetts	$81,869	$39
   10	North Carolina	$81,584	$39
   11	New York	$80,241	$39
   12	Delaware	$79,999	$38
   13	Virginia	$79,665	$38
   14	Ohio	$76,343	$37
   15	Indiana	$76,307	$37
   16	Illinois	$75,678	$36
   17	Georgia	$75,138	$36
   18	Texas	$75,048	$36
   19	Hawaii	$74,165	$36
   20	Iowa	$73,251	$35

   Average windows system administrator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$130,861	$62.91	221
   2	W. R. Berkley	$110,117	$52.94	2
   3	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$108,988	$52.40	40
   4	ING Financial Holdings Corporation	$108,455	$52.14
   5	Amazon	$105,978	$50.95	348
   6	Fortinet	$101,673	$48.88	10
   7	BMO Capital Markets	$99,058	$47.62
   8	CVS Health	$98,804	$47.50	5
   9	Unisys	$97,430	$46.84	3
   10	TEKsystems	$95,555	$45.94	88
   11	Johnson & Johnson	$93,626	$45.01	4
   12	T. Rowe Price	$93,413	$44.91	1
   13	McKesson	$92,760	$44.60	5
   14	PulsePoint	$92,009	$44.24
   15	Booz Allen Hamilton	$90,975	$43.74	162
   16	Verizon Communications	$90,917	$43.71
   17	Activehealth Management	$90,769	$43.64
   18	Arrow Electronics	$90,721	$43.62	3
   19	Choice Hotels	$90,604	$43.56
   20	Kinetic Concepts	$89,236	$42.90

4. Writing a windows system administrator job description

   A windows system administrator 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. Below, you can find an example of a windows system administrator job description:

   Windows system administrator job description example

   • Bachelors and a minimum of 2 years experience OR Masters with 0-2 years experience. May consider an additional 4 years experience in lieu of degree.
   • Must have knowledge and experience with the following:
     Active Directory / DNS / DHCP / Group Policy
     Backup and Recovery
     Configuration Management
     Windows Client and Server Systems
     Virtualization Technology
   • Must have a demonstrated ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders in various formats
   • Ability to obtain/maintain DOD 8570 IAT Level II/IAM level I certification within 6 months of hire
   • Must be willing and able to travel when required to support the mission
   • Active Secret clearance required. Must possess the ability to obtain/maintain an active DoD TS/SCI security clearance. US citizenship required.

   Preferred Qualifications

   • Active DoD TS /SCI clearance
   • Current DOD 8570 IAT Level 2 and IAM Level 1 certification
   • Knowledge and experience with the following:
     Cisco Networking Devices
     DoD Networks, Policies, and Procedures
     McAfee HBSS

   Peraton drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, civilian, health, and state and local markets. Every day, our employees do the can’t be done, solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers.

   An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/Veteran.

   Colorado Salary Minimum: $48,600
   Colorado Salary Maximum: $117,800
   
   The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position, and is just one component of Peraton's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Peraton provides a variety of benefits to employees.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right windows system administrator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with windows system administrators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit windows system administrators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your windows system administrator job on Zippia to find and attract quality windows system administrator 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 windows system administrators, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   If your interviews with windows system administrator applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • 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 windows system administrator

   Once you've selected the best windows system administrator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new windows system administrator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a windows system administrator?