2010 Salaries Revealed
Curious what you're worth on the open market? Datamation's annual salary survey is out for 2010. Find out what you can expect, should you decide to look for a new gig in the new year.
Results of Datamation's survey of 2010 salaries are in. Find out what you can command on the open market.
Below is salary info for a sys admin position. For other positions, check out the complete article.
Systems Administrator 2010 salaries
(For more recent salary info, be sure to check out the 2011 Salary Survey)
2010 average salary range: $51,250 - $80,250.
- The 2010 salary range is a 2.8 percent decrease under this job's 2009 salary range, which was $52,750 to $82,500.
- The 2009 salary range is an increase of 3.6 percent over this job's 2008 salary range, which was $51,750 to $78,750.
Add a salary increase for the following skills:
- 9 percent for Cisco Network administration skills (down from 12 percent in 2009)
- 8 percent for Linux/Unix administration skills (down from 10 percent in 2009)
- 6 percent for Windows 2000/Windows 2003/XP/Vista skills (down from 8 percent in 2009)
Plus, add a salary increase for the following skills, which are additions to the list for 2010:
- 7 percent for Basis administration skills
- 7 percent for Windows Server 2008 skills
- 7 percent for virtualization skills.
Salary levels are approximately 10 percent to 30 percent 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 percent to 30 percent higher on the West coast.
IT salaries in large metropolitan areas are higher than the national average. For example, in the following cities they are:
City |
Deviation |
| Boston, Mass. | 30% higher |
| Stamford, Conn. | 31% higher |
| New York, N.Y. | 41% higher |
| Washington, D.C. | 30% higher |
| Philadelphia, Penn. | 15% higher |
| Atlanta, Ga. | 15% higher |
| Miami, Fla. | 10% higher |
| Chicago, Ill. | 23% higher |
| Dallas/Houston, Texas | 5% to 6% higher |
| Irvine, Calif. | 24% higher |
| Los Angeles, Calif. | 24% higher |
| San Diego, Calif. | 14% higher |
| San Francisco, Calif. | 35% higher |
| San Jose, Calif. | 32% higher |
| Seattle, Wash. | 18% higher |
