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Hiring a systems administrator: the market today

The short answer ·

853 open postings ask for a systems administrator as of Sep 25, 2026, from 154 employers. The median advertised minimum is $90,000. 361 of those postings are new in the last 30 days, so expect competition.

853open postings
154employers hiring
$90,000median advertised minimum
361new in 30 days

Who you're competing with

Leidos160
Peraton61
Booz Allen Hamilton58
General Dynamics IT57
Empower AI (formerly NCI Information Systems)45

Open postings · Ayla, 2026-09-25

What it pays

Lower quartile$76,830
Median$90,000
Upper quartile$105,000
Federal average, series 2210$147,509

Advertised minimum, 617 postings with pay · OPM actual pay, Jul 2026

Questions buyers ask

How hard is it to hire a systems administrator?

Hard. 154 employers are hiring the role right now, led by Leidos with 160 open postings.

What should I pay a systems administrator?

Advertised minimums center on $90,000. Federal staff in series 2210 average $147,509 in actual pay.