Is $44k a year too low for a Jr. Sysadmin in St. Louis?

Posted by 0xB_@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 119 comments

I'm 24 and working full-time in St. Louis as a "Technology Specialist" which is basically just a Junior Systems Admin. I manage Windows servers, 4x Active Directory Servers, Office 365 suite, handle hardware support, network issues, some scripting, and help automate tasks for other departments. I’ve set up Proxmox VMs, self-hosted apps, and do most of the day-to-day troubleshooting.

I also handle all the onboarding and offboarding stuff, including creating user accounts and setting permissions. I manage the firewalls and switches when something breaks. I even set up a system to track all our IT assets since we didn’t have anything in place. I don’t get to run any big infrastructure projects since there’s a full Sysadmin above me, but I still do a lot on my own.

They’re paying me $44,000 a year. After taxes I take home about $1,400 every two weeks. Insurance is decent and only $30 per paycheck, so I’m left with around $2,400 a month.

Rent here runs $1,000 to $1,100. Car insurance is $200. That leaves me with maybe $1,000 for the rest of the month. Groceries, gas, internet. No savings except 401k.

From what I’ve seen, Jr. Sysadmins around here make closer to $53k to $60k. Am I being underpaid or is this just what the market looks like right now? Want to make sure I’m not losing it.

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asic5@reddit

You are 24, so I assume you had no experience prior to this roll. 44k is certainly in-line with lower midwest entry-level wage.

If this is not an entry level position and you are not inflating your duties, then you are underpaid by 10-20K.

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Fluid_Sherbert_921@reddit

I'm sure you've gotten this a lot, BUT I also live in St Louis and $44k a year for anything full time is criminally low. For the amount you work, you should be making $75 - $80k here. This is on par with what I was making at an insurance firm and later an MSP.

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Dry_Marzipan1870@reddit

yes. Im basically tier 1 help desk with a few extra responsibilities and makes $63k. Get the experience and keep applying for other jobs, you will absolutely make more elsewhere. $63k gives me like $1600 every two weeks, but I'm also putting like $500 per paycheck into my 401k.

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Superb_Raccoon@reddit

Its low.

Your wage is half of what I was paid when I started, when adjusted for purchase power.

if you have a year or so in the job, start looking.

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progenyofeniac@reddit

I’m in your general area and that’s crap. Definitely t1 helpdesk pay.

Have you applied anywhere else? That’s what I was making 10 years ago and thought I was doing ok, until I started applying and comparing with what others were making.

Don’t get me wrong, job satisfaction plus low cost insurance is worth a lot. But you don’t know what’s possible if you’re not searching.

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Terriblyboard@reddit

What did you do before this? Did you have any experience? Seems a little low for a major city even in the midwest. It does sound like you are getting good experince though. I would try to leverage that for a couple years then move the a standard sysamdin role somewhere else.

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bubba198@reddit

Is that all you get? No RSUs, no option buy, I mean create a comprehensive picture of the compensation package before anyone here could give you a decent opinion. Do you get sabbatical, what are the rules, if you truly ask if $44k is good -- well then the answer would be a third world feedback, likely inaccurate due to missing info on your entire compensation package

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gordonv@reddit

If you were 22 years old and this is your first Sysadmin job, great.

If you have 3+ years of experience, this is bad.

How far away is home from the office? How flexible are they with you going in late, coming in early.

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0xB_@reddit (OP)

Have 3 years of call center IT support.

Office is 40 minute drive in the morning and 50 minutes back home.

Salaried but can't really come in early and leave early or vice versa.

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gordonv@reddit

I know the market right now is garbage.

But, yeah. These numbers say it's time to jump. This is in the range where you could get more and be closer to home working for a smaller 50 person business.

You could find these gigs in Craigslist, 4 weeks of searching, and aiming for $65k. Recruiters from Indeed are also offering in that range.

I consider this entry level "part 2." Where you learn how to market yourself with your experience and skills.

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snapcom_jon@reddit

If you're very green with no prior work experience I could see this as a starting point, but if you're handling all of these systems you should be making at least 20% more or you should be getting large raises every year.

Many of our support techs with no experience start around your salary, but we give 10% or more for raises and their responsibilities are far less than what you have

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Ok-Business5033@reddit

That is significantly lower than it should be.

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Zolty@reddit

Do you feel like you can do better? If yes then leave it's a laughable salary.

It's worth noting that at the start of your career you're going to take shit jobs in order to get experience. Finding a shit job that lets you touch things you have no business touching is a better experience than most colleges, just don't stay once you've stopped learning.

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Komnos@reddit

Yeah, that's less than I got for a similar role a decade ago in one of the lowest cost-of-living cities in the United States.

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psycocarr0t@reddit

44k is like, tier-2 help desk at an MSP wages in STL. It sounds like you're being underpaid for the scope of work that you're handling.

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unclesleepover@reddit

I’d say learn all you can while looking for somewhere else.

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Kingding_Aling@reddit

Our Tier 1 help desk start at 60k, LCOL city

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VeryRealHuman23@reddit

That’s low for tier 2 today, I’m a Midwest MSP and our mid support staff start at $50 and top at $65

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RetPallylol@reddit

Woa, your t2 staff make $125k? That's really damn good for t2, especially in the Midwest.

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Autoimmunity@reddit

I think he meant annually, not hourly

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VeryRealHuman23@reddit

Correct. $125k annually would be our senior management or our system admin/guru who can fix anything with a keyboard and coffee.

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ItaJohnson@reddit

Agreed

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Kingding_Aling@reddit

Yes. That's a 2017 Jr. Sysadmin. Now it should be 65k minimum

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bobbyiliev@reddit

For the scope of your work, $44k sounds low.

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grimegroup@reddit

Yes. I work on a help desk in a low cost of living area and make more than that.

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Matatan_Tactical@reddit

How much experience do you have? Degree and certs?

If it's your first job, hit a year and start looking for work. I changed my first job of my career at 9 months for significantly more pay. No experience and a year of experience is a world of difference in both skill and pay. I had to pay my dues too although I only worked 9 months. There is good money in tech, I hit 150k in under 2 years and I'm not a programmer. Don't be afraid to look for better pastures.

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SevaraB@reddit

How junior are we talking? Are you doing any troubleshooting on the servers or just for apps? For the server work, are you just following whatever's written down in the playbook, or are you going off-script and sitting down and having to sit down and figure out how to do things before you do them?

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RefrigeratorSuperb26@reddit

Yes, our Tier 1 helpdesk is making high 70s low 80s.

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Metmendoza@reddit

I'm the junior team member on our server team in a town about 2 hours south of you. Cost of living is around 60-70% of STL and I'm just over 70k.

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Fitz_2112b@reddit

If you're doing all that as a Junior, what do the Seniors do? How big a company?

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Murky-Prof@reddit

Yes. Remember in the US you have no medicine

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Low-Prize-9289@reddit

We just hired an IT Support Specialist starting at 50k. I would have loved to get them more but at least got them from 45k to that 50 mark.

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GreezyShitHole@reddit

Yes definitely underpaid. I started my career 20 years ago as an entry level help desk tech making $38k. I now start Jr sysadmins (that still have some help desk/support duties) at $85k. This is in the north east HCOL area but $44k seems low for anywhere in the US.

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gfunk5299@reddit

For comparison, you can make $40k driving delivery trucks for Amazon. Significantly underplayed in my opinion.

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RetPallylol@reddit

Yeah but what's better for someone trying to build an IT career? Making $40k working in IT or making $40k being a delivery driver?

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Yupsec@reddit

Reading comprehension is low in the sub today.

The comment is comparing what he's doing, in IT, to an Amazon delivery driver in order to demonstrate that OP is underpaid.

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

OK. And where does that put OP 10 years from now when the trucks are self driving?

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Lazy-Marsupial2563@reddit

That's absolutely low. I make the same amount as a help desk

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Jswazy@reddit

Way too low. I also live in a low cost of living area as well and I was at a low paying place making 40k for my first ever job 14 years ago.

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struddles75@reddit

Yeah that’s awful.

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Hows_your_weather@reddit

Yeah you’re underpaid.

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skyxsteel@reddit

44k for jr? Aw hell no. That's like tier 1/tier 2 pay.

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whizbangbang@reddit

Honestly it depends on whether you have other options.

Sometimes you just need a foot in the door to get some experience, then work your way up.

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Significant-Belt8516@reddit

Yes. I live in southern Indiana, about 2 hours away, and you wouldn't be able to hire a good L1 for 40k. St. Louis is more expensive and honestly you deserve better.

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DiamondCutterXD@reddit

I make 50k Help Desk in St. Louis. Definitely too low!

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Stl_Nomad@reddit

Your under payed. I’m in Stl and a qualified help desk/jr admin should be 60k min. They are taking advantage.

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sir_mrej@reddit

Paid

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Zuxicovp@reddit

This right here, as a local in the field. 60k minimum should be the starting, it was when I started 7ish years ago

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atomicadonis@reddit

Yeah You are way underpaid man I’m sorry. I was making 55k in my first helpdesk job. Start looking for greener pastures!

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wolfmann99@reddit

Jr. Sysadmin is like a GS-5 in the federal space; looking at the 999B table this year... that's $47k starting salary (everyone starts as step 1); generally private sector pays 15-20% more than federal govt which pulls you back into that $55k range.

https://www.opm.gov/special-rates/2025/Table999B01012025.aspx

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WWGHIAFTC@reddit

44k is too low for any sysadmin, in any city in America, in any industry.

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Isord@reddit

Yeah that's like good but not great help desk pay.

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BuoyantBear@reddit

I felt criminally underpaid at $50k at my previous help desk job.

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NaturalEngineer25@reddit

You are doing a lot that’s literally could be a senior role and that deserves at least 80k a year you are definitely being underpaid.

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ludlology@reddit

Yes, that was 15 years ago pay

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Master_Direction8860@reddit

OP is better off working at McDonald’s..

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TKInstinct@reddit

No they're not, you can't leverage the experience at McDs to get out of there. 44k is woefully underpaid but let's not exaggerate things.

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IdidntrunIdidntrun@reddit

I assume you mean fry cook, and that would mean working at McDonald's generating zero IT experience

Working for less pay at an IT job where you can learn the fundamentals is exponentially more rewarding than making a little more flipping burgers and mopping floors. Which is honest work don't get me wrong but it gets you nowhere

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

Why I do think the salary is low, this is the correct way to view things. The first third of an IT career is basically getting paid relatively little money but getting on the job training in return.

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ludlology@reddit

100% accurate tbh. my pay doubled after my first three real IT jobs

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Master_Direction8860@reddit

I made that statement based on the numbers alone. But you’re right, experience gained is the valuable part which goes a long way.

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IdidntrunIdidntrun@reddit

So then they are not better off

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Master_Direction8860@reddit

For the moment. They are. lol.. less stress

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secret_configuration@reddit

Yeah, sounds about right. I started at 38K in 2007, right out of college with no experience.

Having said that, the market is rough right now.

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

More like 25. $44k was my starting salary after graduation in 2001, working for an ISP doing mid-level sysadmin work. This was in Madison, WI

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c3corvette@reddit

You're not wrong.

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The-BEAST@reddit

Underpaid for sure. Made more as a jr 10 years ago.

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Work45oHSd8eZIYt@reddit

Way too low. I started in IT in STL 11 years ago and made 40k year 1 in a noc. I wasnt even valuable at that point

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PleaseDontEatMyVRAM@reddit

Yes

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Squeezer999@reddit

Yes

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Meinkraft_Bailbonds@reddit

I work in IT in St. Louis as well. I see roles like that floating around but they're definitely underpaid. The market is pretty brutal but I'd be applying if I were you.

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Easik@reddit

We hired people with no experience and paid them $55k 10 years ago for an MSP.... $44k is offensive as fuck.

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khag24@reddit

Depending on where you work and what you came in at, that sounds close but still low. I was making that as tier 1 in stl. $56k by the time I left doing sysadmin work

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verschee@reddit

Yes. In STL I made $55k straight out of college back in 2016 and had less responsibility. OP if you can make this role work for a while, get some entry level certs in your spare time (AZ900/Sec+/Net+) and you could easily double your pay in your next role.

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Euresko@reddit

You should be getting around $60k, maybe 70k for all that work. I wouldn't touch it in this economy for anything less than 60k.

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saysjuan@reddit

Costco checker makes more than $44k/year for unskilled labor with benefits.

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GhostNode@reddit

I run an MSP in Milwaukee, and that’s what I pay my T1 Helpdesk guys. You’d be $65k in my org, give or take $5k depending on how often you shower.

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sin-eater82@reddit

The right question is "how much can your skilkset and experience demand". That's the only reference point that matters at all. Can YOU make more money elsewhere? Yes or no?

That's all that matters. If you can make more elsewhere..... Go make more elsewhere. If you can't, then you're making what you can make.

Whether or not we think it's too low or okay or whatever simply means nothing at the end of the conversation. Us thinking you should make more won't get you more. The only thing that will get you more is a job making more. If you can get that, go get that. There one way to find out. Anything what is just noise that changes nothing.

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ATHF666@reddit

44k is not enough to live, fuck anyone who says otherwise

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MReprogle@reddit

Yeah, I live in the Midwest where it’s a low cost of living, and $44k is shit. Where I work, interns get paid around little bit more than that + housing paid for on top of that.

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___Brains@reddit

Yes, underpaid by a bit. I pay my guy who is mostly helpdesk and learning to move into sysadmin more.

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PalmTreeCharli@reddit

Yeahhhhh I’m a Jr in Florida and make 65

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jcookie1991@reddit

I was making 38k a year as an intern about to graduate college for comp sci information systems back in 2013. I got hired on making 45k soon after and have moved jobs many times over the years and the pay goes up.

This job appears to be very underpaid for the skill requirements in your post. I work in the Twin Cities area so I am not sure how wages compare.

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Striking_Ad5545@reddit

Wow you and I are in exactly the same boat. I’m doing basically the same job as you for basically the same pay. I’m in Houston and 28. I have been complaining to my boss for 2 years now that I am severely underpaid, but I’m too scared to go out on the job market and in general I do like where I am.

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Rawme9@reddit

What company? You are underpaid indeed by a little, I'm in St. Louis in a similar role making around 65k, but I don't work for a tech company.

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SGT_Entrails@reddit

Depends how much experience you have. If this is your first gig in a SMB in St Louis, which isn't really a high cost of living area, that sounds about right to me. With a couple years experience, I'd expect around 60-80k working in a decent company.

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IT_Guy_2005@reddit

My first sysadmin role was 62k

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ScumbagBarbarian@reddit

You’re being underpaid but you’re 24. Use it to gain experience and beef up the resume. 1-2 years later start looking for another job and you’ll be able to ask for 20-30k more easy. All the while u keep studying and gaining certs in areas that interest you. Good luck young blood.

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Odd_Lettuce_7285@reddit

Don't let Reddit trick you into believing you can get 100k at 24 straight out of school unless you're a software engineer. I started at really low entry level pay when I started my career over 20 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. Those people that I worked with ended up helping me get higher paying jobs later in life and I eventually went into business with the former CEO of that company and had a successful exit with him. The only thing that matters is working hard, skilling up and being a good, smart, and kind person. The networking you gain from that will be invaluable.

So to me? No it's not bad pay. It's good experience that will yield you dividends into the future.

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UCFknight2016@reddit

Anything under 60,000 is underpaid for a junior admin

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TheOGUncalibrated@reddit

Underpaid

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jmlozan@reddit

manager of sysadmins and devs here, that is fucking horrendous. 20+ years ago, I was hired as a jr sysadmin for 52k/yr.

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West-Delivery-7317@reddit

My first help desk job was $55k…

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IdidntrunIdidntrun@reddit

How many YoE, OP? If you're at year 1 the money doesn't matter right now. But by year 2 or 3 you can and should jump ship for 50-100% increase pay, assuming you also cert up or flesh out a homelab

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zakabog@reddit

Am I being underpaid or is this just what the market looks like right now?

Yes.

Keep your resume up to date, always look for other positions, keep your job but search around. If you get something else go for it, but yeah you're underpaid.

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HeligKo@reddit

I don't live in STL, but my company is based there, so my pay is gererally based on that market. That feels at least $15K too low, but if the insurance is actually good at $30 a paycheck there is some money they are covering that closes that gap some.

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bhos17@reddit

That was less than I made starting out 30 years ago.

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cmack@reddit

yes, by 2x at least

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drcygnus@reddit

move to data center work. youll make 44k a year doing ZERO work (plenty of free time to up your skill set)

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SpiritusUltio@reddit

Yes, even though it's considered "entry-level," Jr. Systems Admin is an advanced, highly technical white collar job. In your area, my research is showing $60,000 to $70,000 for novice experience level.

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dr_z0idberg_md@reddit

The Geek Squad gets paid more than that.

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Puki999@reddit

you feel underpaid but here's the deal, they can pay you that cause they can.

Gotta look for a remote job and hop out quick, can't feel bad for leaving your work behind for better pay. Bad part is you are looking for another Jr role so pay bump won't be amazing but probably better.

Look into a cloud cert to boost your market

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kenfury@reddit

55-65 is a the number depending on role, experience, etc...

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JankyJawn@reddit

In what world is that task list jr?

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uuff@reddit

Even for a technology specialist which is basically tier 1 you’re underpaid. If you’ve been there for awhile I’d freshen up the resume and start focusing on applying to as many jobs as you can. Ultimately it’s a number game with a little bit of luck unless you have collections.

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Cyber_Guy1988@reddit

I mean, 44k/year for damn near any job is severley underpaid...

I'd say you should definitely be sending out resumes on linkedin - or wherever - but until you land an offer from someone else, I wouldn't quit.

It's far easier to look for a job while you have a job. Getting paid to look for a job is better than looking for a job while having no income :)

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gfunk5299@reddit

$40k is roughly $20/hr which is just about any full time job. To rate IT work similar in pay to any service industry job, Amazon drivers, fast food workers probably get close to $40k. My son at 16 years old was getting $15-$16 an hour clearing tables at a local restaurant. $50k minimum, anything with IT in the job description should be $60k+

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Acrobatic-Owl-9246@reddit

Way too low. You are getting paid what someone in entry level IT makes. You should be making closer to $30 an hour even in TN.

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mercurygreen@reddit

Update your LinkedIn. You're underpaid for the tasks you do.

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Rykotech1@reddit

I think you would be a better judge of this than everyone on this sub.

Reality? Sysadmin is a bullshit term that can mean 100 different skill sets, from helpdesk with a high school diploma - to running the entire infrastructure of a large organization while being the manager of people and projects.

your being paid help desk salary, how deep does your technical knowledge go? are you shadowing anyone? are you doing long winded projects, implementing solutions for monitoring or backup?

If you are in a position to learn, money is irrelevant for the first 1-2 years.

"Jr sysadmins" in your area should be making closer to 60k depending on experience, skill level, and if your job roles you described are accurate or more inflated compared to actual day to day work.

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