System Administrator Salary: 2025 Guide

System administrators, also network system administrators, can work for computer network design companies, financial institutions, or other industries to coordinate the systems needed to operate networks and computers for an organization. As an administrator, you’re typically responsible for designing and managing computer operating systems based on an organization’s needs, maintaining those systems, and training others to operate the systems. System administrator positions will continue growing as companies and organizations invest in newer and faster technology.

To decide whether this career is the right one for you, explore the system administrator role, including what to expect based on your experience level, location, and industry specialization.

What does a system administrator do?

In this role, you will oversee the operation of computer or network systems for an organization. You may work on installing and maintaining computer systems or help with network segments or other data communications systems.

System administration vs. network administration

Some organizations might use system administrator and network administrator interchangeably, and you can find many overlapping responsibilities. But there’s technically a difference. System administration focuses on servers and computer systems, while network administrators work more specifically with network-related tasks and equipment, like setting up routing, IP addresses, and maintaining Local Area Networks (LAN).

If you’re in a smaller organization, these responsibilities might be folded into one role, while larger organizations may tend to differentiate them. Since systems and networks are often intertwined, it’s not rare to see job descriptions that require knowledge of both.

As a system administrator, you’ll determine an organization’s computer system’s needs and devise a plan to create an operating system, server, or software that meets those needs. You can also maintain those systems or evaluate them on a regular basis for potential upgrades or changes based on the developing needs of an organization. You will oversee adding users, updating software as the network changes, and using your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify and fix issues.

How much does a system administrator make?

According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, system administrators make a median annual income of $69,992 CAD as of April 2025 [1]. Various job listing sites show that the average yearly pay for system administrators ranges from $66,514 CAD to $95,000 CAD.

Consider the base salary ranges given by five different organizations that track system administrator salaries [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]:

Factors that affect systems administrator salary

Factors like your education level and experience in the field can boost your potential computer system administrator earnings. Your location could also impact your salary due to the demand for system administrators or the cost of living in a particular area. Some industry sectors will earn more than others, depending on your particular interests or specialties.

Education

To become a system administrator, you will likely need to complete college or another program in computer science, web technology, network administration, or a related area. For some employers, you may need specific certifications or training related to the software they use.

While organizations don’t directly report different starting salaries by education level, it’s likely that higher levels of education may lead to a slightly higher hourly rate. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, systems administrators generally earn between $41,995 CAD and $109,990 CAD annually [1]. Gaining additional education may allow you to move toward the higher end of this range.

Experience

Your previous experience as a system administrator can impact your salary, as more experience can lead to a higher annual income. As of April 2025, the estimated average base salaries you can expect based on your previous experience are as follows, according to Glassdoor [3]:

• 0–1 year: $61,667 CAD

• 1–3 years: $68,114 CAD

• 4–6 years: $66,179 CAD

• 7–9 years: $70,390 CAD

• 10–14 years: $74,226 CAD

• 15+ years: $80,357 CAD

Location

Where you live can affect how much you can make as a system administrator because of factors such as the cost of living, demand for work in the area, and other regional issues.

The five top-paying areas (by median salary) for system administrators, based on data collected from the Government of Canada Job Bank in April 2025, are [1]:

• Nunavut: $107,765 CAD

• Northwest Territories: $104,000 CAD

• Yukon Territory: $80,004 CAD

• Alberta: $79,997 CAD

• Saskatchewan: $72,800 CAD

• Manitoba: $72,010 CAD

• Ontario: $72,010 CAD

Some territories may have higher earnings than others based on the cost of living or the number of system administrator positions. You can earn more if you live in these areas or are able to move to a region with higher earning potential.

For example, Nunavut has the highest average income for network systems administrators, at $107,765 CAD. This is due to the high cost of living, driven by the high cost of materials and labour and extreme climate. The average household income in Nunavut is over $65,500 CAD per year, and it has the highest minimum wage in Canada at $11.00 CAD per hour. Because of the cost of living, many occupations offer higher salaries to offset day-to-day costs [6].

Northern areas, like the Yukon and Northwest Territories, also have high costs of living, reflected in their higher annual systems administrator salaries. Much of this is due to harsher climates and more difficulties getting materials, and the government has launched several programs, including raising the minimum wage in these areas, to help improve the affordability of these areas [7].

Industry

Income can vary from industry to industry depending on your specialty, with workers in some fields earning higher salaries as system administrators than others. If you specialize in a certain type of systems administration, you may be able to boost your base earnings. For example, as of April 2025, working with cloud systems administration can yield an annual income of $77,462 CAD before additional pay [8]. Jobs where you work with security systems administration can earn you $70,342 CAD in average yearly salary, according to Glassdoor [9].

According to Randstad, systems administrators fall into four broad categories you can specialize in, ranging from the more general network systems administrator to specialized roles in cloud systems, security systems, and database systems. The average salary you can expect in each is the following ]:

• Network systems: $68,114 CAD [3]

• Cloud systems: $77,462 CAD [8]

• Security systems: $70,342 CAD [9]

• Databases systems: $68,697 CAD [10]

Related job titles

Other positions in the networks and computer systems field can help you gain additional experience as a system administrator, or you can find a job that better fits your interests if you want to specifically become a system administrator.

A systems engineer implements and maintains the computer systems within an organization, including testing and troubleshooting to ensure optimal performance over time. In addition, in this role, you lead communications related to the design and use of each system, ensuring everyone in the organization can access and benefit from it. You can expect to earn an average annual wage of $86,828 CAD as a systems engineer in Canada [11].

A computer hardware engineer can create plans and build the hardware needed for computer networks and components. You’re responsible for designing computer hardware, testing the designs, and updating existing equipment. Expect to earn an average annual wage of $75,088 CAD as a computer hardware engineer [12].

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