Systems Administrator Jobs in Arlington, TX
Systems administrators in Arlington keep servers, accounts and backups running for a lender, a hospital system, a school district and the managed service firms that support smaller DFW businesses. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get started.
Current systems administrator Openings in Arlington, TX
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Systems Administrator Work in Arlington
Arlington's sys admin jobs follow its back offices more than its factory. GM Financial runs an operations and technology office at 4001 Embarcadero in southeast Arlington, where it currently posts a Technical Systems Administrator III and a Systems Engineer III focused on infrastructure automation. Texas Health Resources keeps its corporate headquarters on East Lamar Boulevard in north Arlington, and Arlington ISD runs district technology from its administration building a few blocks away on the same road.
The other steady source is managed service providers. Custom Information Services works out of an office on North Watson Road near SH 360 and supports client networks and servers across DFW, so admin roles there mix in-office work with drives to client sites along I-30 and I-20. Plenty of Arlington residents also commute to infrastructure jobs in Irving and Fort Worth.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Systems Administrators
These Arlington employers hire systems administrators or run the infrastructure teams where the role sits:
- GM Financial - the auto lender's Embarcadero office posts technical systems administrator and systems engineer roles.
- Custom Information Services - the North Watson Road managed service provider hires network and systems administration staff for DFW clients.
- Texas Health Resources - the health system's East Lamar Boulevard headquarters hires into an Information Services and Technology job family.
- Arlington ISD - the school district recruits technology professionals to run systems for its campuses and central office.
Systems Administrator Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $60,000 to $75,000 a year for junior admins coming out of help desk or desktop support.
- Experienced: roughly $80,000 to $105,000 a year with several years of server and directory work.
- Senior or lead: about $110,000 to $150,000 a year for senior admins and systems engineers.
These are estimates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics put the national median for network and computer systems administrators at $99,130 in May 2025, with the lowest tenth under $62,640, and Arlington employers rarely post pay on these roles. Certifications, on-call duties, cloud and automation skills, and regulated environments such as banking and healthcare all push pay up.
How to Become a Systems Administrator in Arlington
Most admins start in help desk or desktop support and move up after two to four years with certifications. Tarrant County College's Southeast Campus on Southeast Parkway offers an IT and Cybersecurity AAS, and UT Arlington's College of Engineering covers the degree route for engineering-level roles. Arlington ISD students can get an early start in the information technology cluster at the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center. Texas does not license systems administrators; employers look for experience and vendor certifications such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or VMware.
What the Job Involves
A systems administrator installs and patches servers, manages Active Directory and user accounts, runs and tests backups, monitors performance and capacity, maintains virtualization hosts, and responds when something goes down. The job includes scheduled maintenance windows, documentation, disaster recovery testing and a share of on-call coverage.
Skills Employers Look For
- Windows Server and Active Directory administration
- Linux administration in mixed environments
- Virtualization with VMware or Hyper-V
- Backup, recovery and patch management
- Scripting in PowerShell or Bash to automate routine work
- Cloud basics, especially Azure or AWS
Career Path and Advancement
In Arlington the usual ladder runs from help desk at an MSP or a large employer, to systems administrator, to senior admin and systems engineer, then into cloud, site reliability or infrastructure management. GM Financial's Arlington postings show that full ladder, from IT support interns to systems engineers and an AVP of SRE and cloud solutions.
Related Careers in Arlington
If systems administration is on your list, compare these related Arlington IT roles:
- 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. Arlington employers screen on hands-on experience and vendor certifications from Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco or VMware.
How much do systems administrators make in Arlington?
Estimates run about $60,000 to $75,000 at entry level, $80,000 to $105,000 with experience, and up to about $150,000 for senior admins and systems engineers. The national median was $99,130 in May 2025.
Who hires systems administrators in Arlington?
GM Financial at its Embarcadero office, Custom Information Services on North Watson Road, Texas Health Resources at its East Lamar Boulevard headquarters, and Arlington ISD. Many residents also commute to infrastructure jobs in Irving and Fort Worth.
How long does it take to become a systems administrator?
Most people reach the role in about two to four years, usually by starting in help desk or desktop support while earning certifications. A TCC associate degree can shorten the climb by covering the fundamentals up front.
What is the difference between a systems administrator and a network administrator?
A systems admin focuses on servers, operating systems, directories and backups, while a network admin focuses on switches, routers, firewalls and connectivity. At smaller Arlington employers and MSPs, one person often covers both.
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