In-Demand Professional - What Salary Does a System Administrator Earn?

As a System Administrator, an employee carries a high level of responsibility - they are not only responsible for the functionality of the IT infrastructure, but also for security and other aspects such as data security in web hosting. This also reflects in the salary, which is in the top bracket of the IT industry and significantly higher than other professions such as software developers, IT specialists, and electronics technicians. The specific salary depends heavily on the duration of the job and specific experiences and skills - a junior earns about a third less at the beginning of their career compared to a senior server administrator with over a decade of experience.

How does one become a System Administrator?

The job title System or Server Administrator is not legally regulated or defined in its use and can therefore be freely used by anyone. Consequently, there are various ways to develop into a system administrator - a foundation can be laid with training, a degree in computer science, or solely extensive practical experience. However, there are numerous further education opportunities such as those offered by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) with titles like System Administrator, Network Engineer, or Server Administrator. However, these are not protected job titles but are purely optional certifications from independent bodies. They are intended to demonstrate a solid knowledge base and specific skills, but are not officially required for a particular job. Additional titles like Junior or Senior solely refer to the duration of a job or employment.

How much does a System Administrator earn?

The salary for a system administrator is not based on fixed frameworks like a collective agreement, but is solely subject to individual negotiation between the contracting parties and is only restricted by general legislation - such as the minimum wage and labour protection. On average, employers pay around €4500 gross per month for an experienced administrator (as of 2021), with a greater demand for professionals with expertise in Linux compared to Microsoft Windows. In addition, system administrators often receive bonus payments, which can amount to up to a third of the base salary.

This is also reflected in the pay scale - a Senior System Administrator earns around a quarter to a third more. Especially in the early years, there is statistically a sharp increase in salary - a junior with no significant work experience can rapidly increase their earnings during this period if they convince the employer of their competence and expertise. In particular, income rises significantly in the early years and can double from junior to senior with long tenure at a company or proven qualifications.

What is the career path for a system administrator?

As the designation of system administrator is not a legally protected profession like doctor or hairdresser, the career path does not require mandatory exams or qualifications - an employed system administrator typically has completed training or a degree in the IT industry. No special qualifications are required for freelance work. While the difference between a Bachelor's and Master's degree is only about €3000 in annual salary, the distinction between apprenticeship in a trade business and attending university has a stronger impact, especially in later years. Here, the wage differences can be up to 10 percent or more.

At the beginning of their career, a system administrator must impress personally or professionally in order to demand an above-average salary. The key factors for rapid salary increases lie in practical experience of over five years, regular further education, and good references through recommendation letters. After about 10 years, they advance to a better-paid specialist, and around 20 years to a senior position.

Where do system administrators earn the highest salary?

Significant differences in salary expectations also arise from the company and its location. A small to medium-sized, artisanal family business pays significantly less than a large corporation for web hosting, but usually entails a lower workload. However, the discrepancy between individual federal states is even more pronounced - at the lower end, we find Brandenburg, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt, where a system administrator earns just over €30,000 on average. The highest salary is in Hesse - at around €45,000, it is fifty percent higher.

Sources:
(Absolventa)
(Stepstone)

What requirements must a job application as a system administrator meet?

The most important criteria for hiring a system administrator from the company's perspective are practical experience, presented references, and, last but not least, certifications, publications, or actively demonstrated expertise. There are no binding conventions or prescribed qualifications and titles required for working as an administrator. As in many other professions in the New Economy, the best reference here is to have comprehensive practical and theoretical knowledge with virtual and dedicated servers, and to be able to demonstrate comparable performance or certifications.

Photo: Gerd Altmann on Pixabay