Systems Administrator Jobs in Arlington, TX
Every large Arlington employer that runs servers needs someone to keep them alive, and that is the systems administrator. From the automated manufacturing systems at GM Arlington Assembly to the electronic health records at Medical City Arlington to the enterprise applications at D.R. Horton's Arlington headquarters, sys admins are the people who keep servers patched, backups running, and users logged in. It is one of the steadiest IT careers in the metro because the work never stops.
Current systems administrator Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Systems Administrators
Systems admin roles in Arlington sit with manufacturers, healthcare systems, the public sector, and the managed service providers that run infrastructure for smaller businesses. These employers hire most often:
- GM Arlington Assembly - server and systems support for a heavily automated plant.
- Medical City Arlington - servers and clinical systems across a 493-bed HCA hospital.
- Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital - systems supporting clinical and administrative operations.
- City of Arlington - municipal servers for city services, public safety, and utilities.
- D.R. Horton - enterprise systems at the Arlington-based homebuilder headquarters.
- Arlington ISD - servers and identity systems across a large public school district.
Systems Administrator Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level (0-2 years): about $60,000 to $70,000
- Experienced (3-6 years): about $78,000 to $95,000
- Senior or lead systems administrator: about $98,000 to $125,000
These are local estimates that vary by employer, certifications, and on-call duties. Full-time roles usually add health insurance, a retirement match, paid time off, and employer-paid certification renewals.
How to Become a Systems Administrator in Arlington
Most Arlington sys admin roles want a couple of years of hands-on IT experience plus certifications. Tarrant County College offers IT coursework that builds the foundation, and UT Arlington's computer science program feeds the more advanced roles. Common credentials are CompTIA Server+ and Microsoft's Windows Server certifications, with Linux certs valued at shops running open-source stacks. Texas does not require a license for systems administration, so certs and experience carry the weight.
What the Job Involves
A systems admin installs and patches servers, manages Active Directory and user accounts, runs and tests backups, monitors performance, handles virtualization, and responds to outages. The work includes scheduled maintenance windows, disaster-recovery planning, and on-call coverage, since a downed server at a hospital or plant cannot wait until morning.
Skills Employers Look For
- Windows Server and Active Directory administration
- Linux administration for mixed environments
- Virtualization such as VMware or Hyper-V
- Backup, recovery, and disaster-recovery planning
- Scripting with PowerShell or Bash to automate routine work
- Patch management and security hardening
Career Path and Advancement
Many Arlington sys admins start in help desk or desktop support, move into systems administration with Server+ or Microsoft certs, then advance to senior admin, infrastructure engineer, or cloud engineer. Automation and cloud skills are the biggest levers for moving up the pay scale across DFW.
Related Careers in Arlington
If systems administration is on your list, these related Arlington IT roles are worth comparing:
- Network Administrator Jobs
- Cloud Engineer Jobs
- Database Administrator Jobs
- IT Support Specialist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a systems administrator in Texas?
No. Texas does not license systems administrators. Employers rely on certifications like CompTIA Server+ and Microsoft Windows Server credentials plus hands-on experience.
How long does it take to become a systems administrator in Arlington?
Most people reach a sys admin role in about three to five years, usually by starting in help desk or desktop support while earning Server+ and Microsoft certifications.
Can you work as a systems administrator remotely in Arlington?
Often partly. Patching, monitoring, and account management can be done remotely, but physical server work, hospital systems, and plant infrastructure require on-site presence, so most Arlington roles are hybrid with on-call.
Which Arlington employer pays the most for systems administrators?
Large manufacturers and the major hospital systems tend to pay at the top of the local range, especially for senior admins responsible for critical, always-on infrastructure.
What is the difference between a systems administrator and a network administrator in Arlington?
A systems admin focuses on servers, operating systems, and applications, while a network admin focuses on switches, routers, firewalls, and connectivity. Smaller Arlington employers often combine both into one role.
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