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Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Colorado State University Global
Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Blog
Recently, we wrote about what you can do with a Degree in IT, and here, we’ll explain how to get one of the most common jobs for IT graduates, the role of a systems administrator.
This post will explain how to set yourself up for a successful career as a systems administrator (or “sysadmin”), including explaining what you need to learn before breaking into the industry, what you’ll be responsible for doing on the job, and how to increase the odds that you can land a good job in the industry.
After you’ve learned everything you need to know about becoming a systems administrator, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, which is the perfect program for honing and refining your networking skills.
If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.
Absolutely! Becoming a systems administrator is a great option for anyone looking to launch a lifelong career in IT, as systems administrators play a critical role in ensuring organizational success by maintaining all of the organization’s computers and computer systems.
This is the perfect job for anybody looking to break into the IT industry, and it’s a role that could serve as the perfect stepping-stone to even higher-paying, more technical IT jobs, like:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide data exclusively for “Systems Administrators”, but instead lumps them in with network professionals to report that “Network and Computer Systems Administrators” earned an annual median wage of $84,810 as of May 2020.
BLS also projects that employment of network and computer systems administrators should rise over the next decade, increasing by 5% between 2020 and 2030, so it’s a good time to consider developing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this growing field.
If you’re interested in technology and you want to play a pivotal role in helping ensure that your organization’s employees have access to working, stable, productive computer equipment, then this could be the perfect role for you.
Professional systems administrators handle a whole series of important tasks needed to keep their keep computer systems and computer networks running and are typically responsible for duties like:
This makes them incredibly important to organizational success since they are effectively gatekeepers to the computer systems and networks that modern organizations simply need to succeed.
As a result, it’s not easy getting a job as a systems administrator unless you’ve got the credentials and the experience to prove that you can reliably handle the workload, which is why it’s so important that you get your degree in a related field if you’re serious about getting a foot in the door of this competitive industry.
While you might think that you’re fully capable of handling an organization’s computer and network requirements, managing your own system or an at-home network, or even an informal larger network for friends and family does not make you qualified to serve as a professional sysadmin.
Instead, anyone looking to break into the industry needs to ensure they’ve invested time and effort into developing the foundational knowledge, skills, and experience required to effectively oversee an entire organization’s computer and network needs, and the best way to do that is to complete a Bachelor’s Degree program in Information Technology.
You may find a job as a sysadmin for a small organization without a degree, but the odds of landing a systems administration job at a larger organization are quite low unless you’ve completed a degree in IT or a related subject.
The BLS reports that most employers hiring network and computer systems administrators will require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to computer or information science, while some may only require a postsecondary certificate or an associate’s degree.
As a result, we certainly suggest getting your Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology from CSU Global before applying to available positions, as our program will perfectly prepare you for the role of a systems administrator by providing you with expertise and experience in:
Having developed these important skills, you’ll graduate from our information technology program full of confidence and prepared to deliver effective support as a systems administrator.
If all you’re looking to do is get your foot in the door of the industry, then you could potentially risk it and try to get that first job with just your certificate or an associate’s, but why risk it?
Even if you can land an entry-level role as a sysadmin, it’ll be incredibly difficult to advance your career without earning a bachelor’s degree, so you might as well complete it up-front to get that out of the way before you launch your career.
We’ve been suggesting you complete our B.S. in IT program, but we also offer an M.S. in Information Technology Management, which may be a better option, depending on your background and career goals.
If you haven’t already completed a bachelor’s degree, then you will certainly want to start with our online B.S. in IT program, but if you’ve already got a bachelor’s (in any field), then you might want to consider completing our M.S. in IT Management instead.
Why? Because our master’s program will prepare you to succeed in meeting organizational objectives on the IT front, while also improving your leadership and management skills, ensuring you’re ready to lead a full team of IT experts.
If you’ve already got a bachelor’s degree, some experience in the IT industry, and you’re ambitious to land a role in IT leadership or management, then our Master’s program is the ideal option.
If you’re having trouble deciding which degree would suit your needs best, please consider contacting an enrollment counselor for help in deciding how to proceed.
Yes, no matter which IT degree you choose to complete, it’s a good idea to think about getting it online instead of on-campus.
Studying online means you’ll get to enjoy much more freedom and flexibility than you’d find from an in-person program, as you’ll be able to study whenever, and from wherever you like.
This is especially important for anyone with existing family or work responsibilities that cannot be set aside for educational pursuits.
At CSU Global, we make it as easy as possible for busy people to get their degrees by offering several excellent program benefits, including:
If you can’t simply drop your other responsibilities, but you’re dedicated to pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in IT, then you’re the perfect candidate for studying online with us.
CSU Global’s regionally accredited online IT programs are the perfect way to develop the skills and credentials you need to become a successful career as a systems administrator.
Reasons to Choose our IT Bachelor’s Degree Program
Our online B.S. in IT program is perfect for anyone looking to get their foot in the door as an entry or mid-level sysadmin.
This program has won several top rankings, including:
Program alumni also report excellent results from the job market, with an average annual starting salary of $77,010 just one year after graduation, and a 15% pay increase one year after completing their degree.
Reasons to Choose our IT Management Master’s Program
Our online M.S. in IT Management program is ideal for people who already hold a B.S. degree, and are looking to develop leadership and management skills required for more senior-level sysadmin positions.
This program has also won several top rankings, including:
Master’s program alumni also report excellent success from the job market, including a median annual salary of $96,375, which is 23% higher than the national average income for all master’s degree holders.
You can trust that your degrees from CSU Global will be respected by hiring managers too, as we’re widely regarded as an industry leader in higher education, having recently won several important awards, including:
Finally, to ensure you’re able to get your degree as affordably as possible, we offer competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee which ensures your rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation.
To get additional details about our fully-accredited online Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, or our online Master’s Degree in Information Technology Management, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.
Ready to get started today? Apply now!
