The 2012 IT Salary Guide: Page 9

Job Title: Systems Administrator

2012 average salary range: $56,250 – $87,500.

• The 2012 salary range is an increase of 5.5% over this job’s 2011 salary range, which was $53,250 – $83,000.

• The 2011 salary range is an increase of 3.6% over this job’s 2010 salary range, which was $51,250 – $80,250.

• The 2010 salary range was a 2.8% decrease under this job’s 2009 salary range, which was $52,750 – $82,500.

• The 2009 salary range was an increase of 3.6% over this job’s 2008 salary range, which was $51,750 – $78,750.

Add a salary increase for the following skills:

• Add 5% for Basis administration skills (down from 7% in 2010)

• Add 9% for Cisco Network administration skills (no change from 2011; down from 12% in 2009);

• Add 8% for Linux/Unix administration skills (no change from 2011; down from 10% in 2009);

• Add 9% for virtualization skills (up from 7% in 2010)

• Add 4% for Windows 2000/Windows 2003/XP/Vista skills (no change from 2011; down from 6% in 2010; down from 8% in 2009).

• Add 6% for Windows Server 2008 skills

• Add 7% for Windows 7 skills

GO BACK TO LIST OF 2012 IT SALARIES

Note: Since these numbers are national averages, adjust them based on your city or region.

IT Salary levels are – approximately – 10% to 30% higher in the Northeast; about average in the South Atlantic (Florida to Delaware); average to modestly lower in the Midwest, Mountain west, and South; and 5% to 30% higher on the West coast.

IT salaries in major metropolitan areas are higher than the national average. For instance, in the following cities they are:

• Atlanta: 5% higher

• Boston: 32% higher

• Chicago: 23% higher

• Dallas/Houston: 3-5% higher

• Irvine: 24% higher

• Los Angeles: 24% higher

• Miami/Fort Lauderdale: 7% higher

• New York, NY: 41% higher

• Philadelphia: 15% higher • San Diego: 15% higher

• San Francisco: 35% higher

• San Jose: 33% higher

• Seattle: 19% higher

• Stamford: 31% higher

• Washington, DC: 30% higher

GO BACK TO LIST OF 2012 IT SALARIES

More IT Salary Resources:

• IT Salary (a variety of IT salary resources)

• 2011 IT Salary Guide

• How Not to Get an IT Job: 10 Tips

• 25 IT Job Sites (and an Effective Formula)

• Search for IT Jobs at JustTechjobs.com

Salary data courtesy of Robert Half Technology. To request a copy of the complete Robert Half Salary Guide, which includes salary ranges for more than 60 different job titles, in the U.S. and Canada, click here.