Windows system administrator vs linux systems administrator

The differences between windows system administrators and linux systems administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a windows system administrator and a linux systems administrator. Additionally, a linux systems administrator has an average salary of $83,032, which is higher than the $79,845 average annual salary of a windows system administrator.

The top three skills for a windows system administrator include windows server, infrastructure and powershell. The most important skills for a linux systems administrator are python, windows, and red hat.

Windows system administrator vs linux systems administrator overview

	Windows System Administrator	Linux Systems Administrator
Yearly salary	$79,845	$83,032
Hourly rate	$38.39	$39.92
Growth rate	5%	5%
Number of jobs	94,648	109,091
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

What does a windows system administrator do?

A Windows System Administrator maintains the systems and servers of a Windows operating system. They evaluate and modify the system's performance.

What does a linux systems administrator do?

A Linux systems administrator is primarily in charge of managing and overseeing Linux operating systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around installing and conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, performing repairs, and monitoring systems performance to ensure optimal operations. They must also develop back-up and security systems as preventive measures should there be any issues or emergencies. Furthermore, as an administrator, it is essential to manage and encourage team members to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Windows system administrator vs linux systems administrator salary

Windows system administrators and linux systems administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Windows System Administrator	Linux Systems Administrator
Average salary	$79,845	$83,032
Salary range	Between $60,000 And $104,000	Between $64,000 And $107,000
Highest paying City	Sunnyvale, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Meta	Apple
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between windows system administrator and linux systems administrator education

There are a few differences between a windows system administrator and a linux systems administrator in terms of educational background:

	Windows System Administrator	Linux Systems Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Computer Science	Computer Science
Most common college	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Windows system administrator vs linux systems administrator demographics

Here are the differences between windows system administrators' and linux systems administrators' demographics:

	Windows System Administrator	Linux Systems Administrator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 88.3% Female, 11.7%	Male, 90.3% Female, 9.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.6% Asian, 13.7% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 11.7% Asian, 14.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between windows system administrator and linux systems administrator duties and responsibilities

Windows system administrator example 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.

Linux systems administrator example responsibilities.

Create and manage FTP web interface to manage and send files to customer FTP site using PHP.
Manage F5, JVM & JBOSS, JBOSS EWS.
Configure and manage NetApp storage array.
Manage NetApp storage devices and user administration.
Manage systems volume using SVM, LVM, NAS, VERITAS volume manager.
Manage Blackduck servers - configure on 8 quad cpu and 32gB memory and 16TB storage.

Windows system administrator vs linux systems administrator skills

Common windows system administrator skills

Windows Server, 9%
Infrastructure, 7%
PowerShell, 7%
Troubleshoot, 6%
Linux, 5%
SCCM, 4%

Common linux systems administrator skills

Python, 7%
Windows, 7%
Red Hat, 5%
Troubleshoot, 4%
OS, 4%
System Administration, 4%

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Windows System Administrator vs Linux Systems Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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