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21. Systems Administrator

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Systems Administrator
Median pay: $63,900
Top pay: $90,700
10-year job growth: 27.8%
Total jobs*: 347,200
What they do all day? Systems administrators keep the office's computer systems up and running. They install, update, and troubleshoot computers and software programs. Tech-savvy and wise in the ways of Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS, they're lifesavers for members of the office who don't know the difference between RAM and RAID. --Jillian Anthony

Quality of life ratings:
Personal satisfaction Low stress Benefit to society Flexibility
B C C B
Published: October 29, 2012
Notes: All pay data from PayScale.com. Median pay is for an experienced worker (at least five or seven years in the field). Top pay represents the 90th percentile. Job growth is estimated for 2010-20, and based on people working in broader 'job family' from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
*Total jobs is estimated number of people working in broader BLS 'job family.'

Sources: PayScale.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and CNNMoney research
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