How to Become a System Administrator

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

In our interconnected world, system administrators play a crucial role. They are the epicenter of any organization’s computer systems, keeping networks running to avoid downtimes that cost time and money.

Are you looking for a job where you can be the hero behind the scenes–and sometimes the hands-on problem-solver? Read on to learn how to become a system administrator.

What Is a System Administrator?

A system administrator, also called a sysadmin, is an IT professional who manages an organization’s computer systems—also known as system administration. They can work at any employer with a computer network, including for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies.

What Does a System Administrator Do?

System administrators maintain computer systems, including networks and servers. Overall, they perform installations, repairs, and maintenance tasks.

The exact responsibilities of system administrators vary. Large employers might have multiple system administrators responsible for different areas. If you work for a smaller organization, you may have additional IT responsibilities in addition to system administration.

What is system administration, exactly? It encompasses a wide variety of tasks that keep networks and servers up and running. Here are some typical system administrator duties:

  • installing and maintaining networks such as WANs and LANs
  • installing computer hardware and software
  • optimizing network performance
  • evaluating new needs and recommending new software and hardware
  • adding and training new network users
  • providing technical support to network users
  • testing and troubleshooting networks
  • reviewing system and application logs
  • writing training documentation
  • managing related tasks, such as licenses, cloud storage, and computer updates

To learn more about system administrator duties, read our job description for a system admin.

System Engineer vs. System Administrator

Although these two job titles sound very similar, they serve two unique but connected functions. A system engineer sets up the network that the admin manages. System engineers plan, design, and implement the network. Because of the more complex responsibilities involved, system engineers make significantly more. They usually have engineering degrees.

How to Become a System Administrator: Skills

The complexity of the job role and the diverse tasks sysadmins must handle require a wide range of IT skills. A well-rounded understanding of different tech areas will help you advance in the field. These are some examples of essential system administrator skills you’ll need to master to get land a more advanced position:

  • Internet protocols
  • networks, routers, and servers
  • security, such as firewalls and antivirus clients
  • common software, such as Microsoft Office
  • operating systems
  • scripting
  • cloud computing and other storage solutions

When it comes to soft skills, system admins must be detail-oriented, well-organized, have an analytical personality, and be great problem solvers. People skills are also central to the job due to the customer service aspect involved. System administrators must explain complicated technical issues in simple terms, answer a variety of tech questions, respond to users stressed out about technology failures, and collaborate with other staff in the IT department.

Jobs for government agencies or companies that contract with U.S. government agencies may require you to complete an application for security clearance, which means you have to be a U.S. citizen. Some jobs will require you to be able to lift about 25-50 pounds so that you can move computers and other hardware.

How to Become a System Administrator: Education

The requirements for a system administrator job don’t necessarily include a bachelor’s degree; some employers ask for either a degree or several years of equivalent experience. But given the competitive nature of the IT job market, a degree is an asset, especially for those trying to break into the field. These are some common options for a bachelor’s degree:

  • computer technology
  • information technology
  • computer science
  • computer engineering
  • systems and networks administration

System Administrator Career Path

System admin is not a typical entry-level position. Many system admin jobs require a few years of IT experience.

1. Get Your Foot in the Door in IT

A common system administrator career path is a degree in information technology followed by an entry-level job as a helpdesk technician or a similar IT position. You might also start in another tech position, such as computer repair or computer programming, depending on your educational background. Having a bachelor’s degree can cut down the time it takes for you to climb the career ladder to an admin position.

2. Advance Along the System Admin Career Path

Once you get a job as a system admin, you might start in a junior position. Large organizations often have different levels of system administrators. These are typically divided into junior system admin, system admin, and senior system admins, or numbered, for example System Administrator I, II, III, IV, and V.

Working for an employer who has different levels of system admins can be an advantage because it gives you a clear career path with opportunities for salary increases. Working for a smaller employer can give you more practical experience, though, since you might take on more responsibilities from the start.

3. Take on More Senior IT Roles

Once you’ve worked for a few years as a system admin, you can advance to a more senior role such as a system architect or system engineer.

How to Become a System Administrator: Certifications

Many employers look for candidates to have system administrator certifications. Becoming certified can increase your pay and make it easier for you to get the job you want. It’s a good idea to carve out a niche by specializing in a specific system via a relevant certification. And if you don’t have a college degree, it’s likely you’ll need at least one system administrator certification to get your foot in the door.

These are some organizations that offer system administrator certifications or other relevant IT certifications:

  • Microsoft
  • Red Hat
  • Linux
  • Cisco
  • CompTIA
  • ETA International

How Much Does a System Administrator Make?

The median system administrator salary is $82,861, but salaries vary depending on your seniority level and specialty. These are some examples:

Use our Salary Tools to compare salaries for system admins in different locations of the country.

How to Become a System Administrator: Finding Jobs

Before you start applying to jobs, optimize your job application. Update your resume and cover letter with some inspiration from our sample resume for an entry-level system administrator and our IT cover letter sample.

Then start searching for system admin jobs on Monster.

If you’re willing to move, browse jobs in some of the top locations in the country. These are the states with highest demand for system administrators:

The top cities for system admin jobs include:

Expand Your Network on Monster

Now that you know how to become a system administrator, start networking on Monster. Create a free account and upload your resume so that recruiters can reach out to you regarding new jobs and sign up to get career advice straight in your inbox.