Systems Administrator Salary Guide 2026
Automation headwinds slowing growth; cloud migration skills essential.
National Median: $98,000
Range: $72K – $145K
Avg Total Comp
$115,000
Experience Level
Cloud-hybrid sysadmins command $10-15k over traditional roles.
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Transition Opportunity
Generalist salaries for Systems Administrator are stagnating as the market shifts toward specialized AI execution. Join The Foundry to pivot your career into high-growth technical tracks.
Metro Area Breakdown
20 MarketsSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara CA
CalculatedMedian: $132,300
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley CA
CalculatedMedian: $130,340
New York-Newark-Jersey City NY-NJ-PA
CalculatedMedian: $121,520
Boston-Cambridge-Newton MA-NH
CalculatedMedian: $119,560
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue WA
CalculatedMedian: $117,600
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV
CalculatedMedian: $117,600
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CA
CalculatedMedian: $117,600
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad CA
CalculatedMedian: $112,700
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin IL-IN-WI
CalculatedMedian: $107,800
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood CO
CalculatedMedian: $105,840
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown TX
CalculatedMedian: $102,900
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington TX
CalculatedMedian: $102,900
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta GA
CalculatedMedian: $100,940
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach FL
CalculatedMedian: $99,960
Raleigh-Durham-Cary NC
CalculatedMedian: $98,000
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington MN-WI
CalculatedMedian: $96,040
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia NC-SC
CalculatedMedian: $96,040
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler AZ
CalculatedMedian: $95,060
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MI
CalculatedMedian: $94,080
Salt Lake City UT
CalculatedMedian: $93,100
Benchmarks marked "Calculated" are derived from the national median using verified geographic cost-of-living multipliers. Direct survey data is used where available.