What Is a Linux Administrator and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A Linux administrator is both an IT professional and a people manager. Administrators oversee their team and ensure that everyone is on task, and the project is progressing on schedule. Linux administrators may train other team members and leaders. They monitor a server or servers, ensuring that it is healthy. They do this by conducting regular backups and administering patches when needed.

Becoming a Linux administrator requires education and experience. First, you need a degree, preferably in computer science or information technology. The next step is to gain a solid working knowledge of servers running Linux by working under an experienced administrator. You may change companies a few times to continue your learning process. You can pursue various Linux certifications to help hone your skills and prove your expertise. When you have a significant amount of experience, you can apply for administrator positions.

There are various roles that a Linux administrator might play in an organization. If they are working with developers, they may work on deployments and patching, or software integration. Those working in DevOps also oversee a server but focus on automating the deployment process for code by monitoring deployments and continually finding ways to improve the automation process. Ultimately, the details will vary somewhat from job to job, depending on the needs of the employer.

In today’s business world, Linux administrators work in a wide variety of places. Some work as consultants in various offices and businesses on a temporary basis for specific projects. Others work in a traditional office setting Monday through Friday. More and more Linux administrators are now being hired to work remotely, enabling them to be anywhere they can get a strong internet signal. Linux is so widely used that you will be able to find a variety of job options available.