How many IT admins/Helpdesk staff is normal ?

These posts kill me…I want to feel bad for sysadmins in positions like this, but they are usually in this position because of their own inaction. The answer to this question is a company will employ as few people as it takes to do the job, quality of the work be dammed. You have spent 24 years showing them this was the right move, both from a human resource perspective and a salary perspective. Since they have 24 years of positive reinforcement getting all their IT needs taken care of by 1 person for a minimal salary they aren’t suddenly going to change how they approach this. OP, you’re screwed at that job. They are never going to pay you what you’re really worth because for 24 years they haven’t had to. They would sooner bring in a bright eyed college grad who might be eager to do your job for 5-10k less a year with no complaints. Do you even ask for raises? If you’re making 55 after 24 years what the hell did you start at? And why hire more people to reduce your load, that’s the same as giving you a raise except they don’t know the quality of employee they might get AND its added benefits expenses, insurance, payroll, onboarding costs, etc. Start looking for a job if you want less stress and more money. Or accept the situation as you have for the last 24 years and stay complacent.