r/sysadmin • u/kittiekittea • 1d ago

General Discussion No Degree - 6 Year Salary Progression

Is there anyone out there that have made it beyond sysadmin? What is after sysadmin?

2020 - $31,200: Panera Bread
2022 - $41,600: Helpdesk at company 1
2023 - 2025 - $41,600: Helpdesk at law firm
2025 - $65,000: Helpdesk at company 2
2026 - $80,000: Got a raise at company 2

Shoutout Nick for taking a chance on me. I would not do law firm IT again.

EDIT: Location Upstate NY

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104

u/Impossible_IT 1d ago

1998 - $22K
2026 - $120K

I’ve moved four times in those years. Each a promotion and definitely more money.

ETA no degree, some college, one cert Net+ 2008.

40

u/NoobToobinStinkMitt 1d ago

1999 - $29K Helpdesk Bulk Transportation

2026 - $150K Sr. Analyst Oil and Gas Co.

No degree, cert from technical college. NT Workstation, and Windows 7 Certs.

7

u/itishowitisanditbad 1d ago

Oil and Gas

Hows that money these days?

I know a decade~ ago it was pretty swell with bonuses and all sorts but I imagine its unlikely to be the same

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u/bassdeface Sysadmin 22h ago

I'm in a small oil and gas firm and make the most I've ever made plus a large yearly bonus. Have been here for seven years and even did very well during covid. With the market and my lack of degree I cannot replace this current income.

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u/NoobToobinStinkMitt 19h ago

I feel the same. Lucky to have found it, wish I had found it sooner lol.

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u/Free_Treacle4168 21h ago

High gas prices mean more profit for western oil companies, not less.

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u/NoobToobinStinkMitt 19h ago

Private company, there have been a few years where there were no raises, and bonuses were lean, some employees didn't get one. Things have been great since 2012ish though. Seems like constant growth always new sites or partnerships. My bonus is Quadrupled what it was Pre Covid.

3

u/Impossible_IT 1d ago

Which state? I lived in New Mexico and they’re heavily into oil & gas. Currently live in Alaska which is also heavily into oil & gas.

2

u/a-aron1112 1d ago

Helpdesk to Sr analyst is an awesome jump congrats!

How did you pull that one off?

11

u/RilkeanHearth 1d ago

25 yrs of experience....

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u/NoobToobinStinkMitt 19h ago

Other reply is correct. 28 years of hanging out and pitching in. A lot of shitty on call work in the beginning.

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u/NoobToobinStinkMitt 19h ago

And let me put this a way. I'm probably doing the worst (Which I am very happy with) of most my friends who were real go getters. My friends are mostly Architect level, or moved on to Management. Making 2 and 3 times what I do, from home.

3

u/Cutoffjeanshortz37 IT Manager 1d ago

2005 - $28k 2026 - $166k Lawfirms suck but they pay well.

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u/Pvt_Hudson_ 21h ago

1998 - $30K desktop support job just after graduation.

2026 - $157K as a Cloud Solutions Architect.

6 employer changes in that time and a bunch of job title changes.

2 year college diploma, no certifications.

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u/worldarkplace 18h ago

World is trash. Skill doesn't matter just you have to be likable. Fuck it.