Hey everyone! I'm a 24-year-old working full-time in St. Louis as a Technology Specialist, which is basically a Junior Systems Administrator role. My responsibilities include managing Windows servers, handling Active Directory servers, utilizing Office 365, providing hardware support, resolving network issues, doing some scripting, and automating various tasks for different departments. I'm also in charge of onboarding and offboarding employees, creating user accounts, managing permissions, and dealing with firewall and switch problems when they arise. I've even implemented a system to track our IT assets since we didn't have one before.
Currently, I'm earning $44,000 a year, which translates to about $1,400 every two weeks after taxes. I have decent insurance, costing me around $30 per paycheck, leaving me with approximately $2,400 a month. Considering rent in my area is around $1,000 to $1,100 and my car insurance is $200, I find myself with roughly $1,000 to cover groceries, gas, internet, and other expenses. I've noticed that Junior Sysadmins in St. Louis typically make between $53,000 and $60,000. Am I underpaid, or is this the norm in our job market?
4 Answers
For a Junior Sysadmin, $44k is pretty low. You should be aiming for at least $55k, considering your skill set and the local market. It may be time to brush up your LinkedIn profile and start looking for better opportunities.
From what I've seen, Jr. Sysadmins are ideally in the $60k+ range in St. Louis. Given the tasks you've been handling, it seems like they're taking advantage of your skills at your current job. Definitely recommended to keep your options open.
$44k for someone with your responsibilities is way too low, even for entry-level work. In fact, I make over $60k in a similar role. I'd say start networking and see what other opportunities are out there.
Right?! Even delivery jobs can pay more than that. You've got valuable experience, so leverage it!
It sounds like you're definitely underpaid. In St. Louis, jobs that require managing servers and networking usually pay around $60,000 to $65,000, especially given the range of responsibilities you have. You might want to consider updating your resume and starting to look for other positions that match your skills better.
I totally agree! You're doing a lot more than just entry-level tasks. It's far easier to search for a new job while you're still employed, so definitely start applying!
Exactly! Also, don't underestimate getting a certification in cloud technologies; that could really help boost your market value!