RHCSA Salary Potential

Key takeaways

• Becoming a Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) can potentially increase your salary by validating your Linux skills and introducing you to higher-paying roles.

• As an RHCSA, you can earn an average salary of $79,996 as a Linux administrator or $109,078 as a Linux system engineer [1, 2].

• To earn the RHCSA, you must pass a certification exam that tests your knowledge of topics such as creating shell scripts, configuring local storage, managing basic networking, security, and software, and more.

Although the certification has no eligibility requirements, two recommended prerequisite courses are Red Hat System Administration I and II or the RHCSA Rapid Track course. Discover more about the RHCSA salary, including specifics on an RHCSA entry-level salary and other factors that may affect your pay. If you want to build job-ready skills, consider enrolling in the IBM IT Support Professional Certificate. In as little as three months, you’ll have the opportunity to build a strong IT foundation in cybersecurity, networking, cloud, databases, and more.

What is RHCSA certification?

RHCSA certification aims to verify that those who hold it possess the system administration skills required to manage Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments. Linux, an operating system similar to Windows, iOS, or Mac OS, allows the software on your device to function by managing the communication between that software and whichever type of hardware you use to access it. Red Hat, the company that developed Linux, offers a variety of Linux training options. Whether you are learning Linux for the first time or are a seasoned professional, Red Hat likely offers training to fit your needs.

If you are already an experienced Red Hat Enterprise Linux system administrator, a DevOps professional, or an experienced Linux administrator wanting to become a Red Hat Certified Engineer, an RHCSA certification may be an appropriate choice for you to prove your expertise and move forward in your career.

Becoming an RHCSA can not only bolster your confidence in the value of Red Hat technologies and your ability to use current technologies and adopt new Red Hat ones, but it can also offer you a path to increasing your salary as well. As more businesses rely on Linux-based software systems, a certification that validates your skills and knowledge around managing a Linux environment can lead to increased credibility in the field, skill development, and opportunities to secure higher-paying positions. 

Consider the eligibility requirements, the exam format and contents, and the potential benefits of certification when deciding if this is the right path for you.

Eligibility requirements

Note that although Red Hat encourages the following prerequisite and preparation courses as a guide to ensure proper exam preparation, none are required. You can choose just to take the exam.

If you prefer to prepare with one of Red Hat’s recommendations, consider taking the complimentary assessment they provide to help you determine which preparation course will best support you. Red Hat System Administration I and II or the RHCSA Rapid Track course, offered by Red Hat, are the recommended prerequisite courses. Comparable work experience as a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system administrator may serve as a substitute for these courses. Red Hat also recommends reviewing the Red Hat Certified System Administrator exam objectives to help you decide if this certification is right for you.

Exam format and content

The certification exam, offered in person or virtually, is hands-on and requires you to complete real-world tasks that highlight your knowledge in the following areas:

• Understanding and using essential tools

• Creating shell scripts

• Operating running systems

• Configuring local storage

• Creating and configuring file systems

• Deploying, configuring, and maintaining systems

• Managing basic networking

• Managing users and groups

• Managing security

• Managing software

Benefits

Earning the RHCSA certification can provide you with many benefits, including industry recognition and credibility, career advancement opportunities, skill development, and relevance in the job market. 

Is the RHCSA exam worth it?

Yes, taking the RHCSA exam is worth it, as it validates your skills and demonstrates your expertise. Additionally, this certification can prepare you to earn other Red Hat certifications, including the Red Hat Certified Engineer in Enterprise Linux or Red Hat Certified Engineer in Ansible.

RHCSA salary potential

An RHCSA certification has the potential to increase your salary. It verifies the skills and experience companies value and are willing to pay for in a system administrator. In addition to certification, though, a variety of factors, such as level of education (including certification), experience, industry, and location, can affect your salary potential. 

RHCSA-certified professionals take on a variety of roles. Entry-level titles include Linux system administrator or system administrator. Mid- and senior-level job titles might include Linux system engineer, Linux support system engineer, information system engineer, and senior system administrator. Explore how various factors might influence your salary in some of these roles.

Linux system administrator

Linux system administrators commonly hold degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, or information technology, with 74 percent of those in the profession holding a bachelor’s degree [3]. 

Consider the following data regarding Linux administrator salary [1]:

• Experience: At an entry-level, you can expect an average Linux administrator salary of $62,000 per year. This number increases to $79,996 for a mid-level administrator and to $90,000 for a senior-level administrator [1].

• Industry: The highest-paying industry for Linux system administrators is currently the technology industry, with professionals in this industry earning a median annual salary of $82,498 [1]. 

• Location: To earn an average yearly salary of around $90,000, you might consider looking for a Linux administrator position in one of these states: Maryland, California, Virginia, South Dakota, Alaska, or Oregon. Linux system administrators in Maryland earn the highest average annual salary at $90,201 [1].

System administrator

System administrators often study computer science, business, or computer information systems. Sixty percent of professionals with this title hold a bachelor’s degree, while 24 percent hold an associate degree and 9 percent a master’s degree [4].

The following data represent how certain factors might affect your salary as a system administrator [5]:

• Experience: You can expect an annual average salary of $59,000 as an entry-level system administrator. As a mid-level professional in this role, expect an average salary of $77,156, with senior-level system administrators earning an annual average salary of $88,000 [5].

• Industry: Of the top-paying industries for system administrators, those working in the tech industry tend to earn the highest salaries, with an average annual salary of $86,962. Salaries for system administrators working in the manufacturing industry average $86,352 annually, a close second to those in the tech industry [5]. 

• Location: System administrators in the following states earn the highest salaries, with all nine listing average annual salaries over $80,000: California, Washington, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington DC, New York, Oregon, and Connecticut [5].

Read more: What Does a System Administrator Do? Your Career Guide

Linux system engineer

Most Linux system engineers hold some sort of degree, with 67 percent having earned a bachelor’s degree, 15 percent an associate degree, and 14 percent a master’s degree [6]. Computer science, computer engineering, and information technology are common areas of study for Linux system engineers.

Consider how the following factors might influence your salary as a Linux system engineer [2]:

• Experience: The average annual salary for a mid-level Linux system engineer is $109,078. An entry-level annual salary is $80,000, and senior-level employees can expect $127,000 per year on average [2]. 

• Industry: The highest-paying industries for Linux system engineers are technology, pharmaceutical, retail, manufacturing, and telecommunication, with the tech industry paying the highest average annual salary of $113,271 [2].

• Location: Working in New Hampshire, New Jersey, California, New York, or Massachusetts as a Linux system engineer will likely earn you the most money. Professionals in these states earn over $120,000 per year on average, with those in New Hampshire making the highest salary—$131,481 on average per year [2].

Senior system administrator

Like many roles available to those with RHCSA certification, senior system administrators typically hold a degree, with 62 percent having a bachelor’s degree, 21 percent an associate degree, and 11 percent a master’s degree [7]. Senior system administrators often study computer science, business, or computer information systems. 

Consider how the following factors might influence your salary as a senior system administrator [8]:

• Experience: The average annual salary for a senior system administrator in an entry-level role is $75,000, while those in mid- and senior-level roles earn average annual salaries of $98,146 and $112,000, respectively [8].

• Industry: Finance, manufacturing, health care, tech, and government industries make up the top five highest-paying industries for senior system administrators. The finance industry pays the highest average annual salary of $104,418, with manufacturing and health care following closely at $101,786 and $101,354 [8].

• Location: To earn an average annual salary of over $100,000, consider a senior system administrator position in one of the following states: California, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Nevada, Rhode Island, Oregon, Maine, Washington DC, New Jersey, New Hampshire, or Maryland. Senior system administrators working in California earn the highest average annual salary at $120,522, with those working in Washington earning $116,894, a close second to California [8]. 

Job outlook: Is RHCSA in demand?

Expect general employment in the US to grow 3.1 percent annually between 2024 and 2034 [5]. You can expect the demand for workers in roles that benefit from RHCSA certification to grow faster than average, indicating that RHCSA certification is in demand.

Growth rates for roles commonly held by those with RHCSA certification are as follows:

• Linux system administrator: 5 percent

• System administrator: 5 percent

• Linux system engineer: 5 percent

• Senior system administrator: 5 percent

Find free resources for your IT career

Join us on Career Chat on LinkedIn, where you can explore emerging industry trends. Then, check out the following resources as you consider an IT career path:

• Read our Career Chat issue: Ready for a Tech Career? How to Choose Between IT and Cloud Support 

• Bookmark this page: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary 

• Watch on YouTube: IS vs IT: Which Tech Career Path Fits You?

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