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A server administrator keeps a company's servers running—managing the hardware and software that everything else depends on. When something breaks at two in the morning, they fix it. It's one of the more in-demand and well-paid positions in IT, with median salaries around $74k (Glassdoor).
If you're in Sacramento and looking for training to move into this field, you've got options. This article walks through what's worth considering locally in the Sacramento area, including a free program that helps you gain the experience and skills you need to start a career in IT.
Here's the catch: server administration isn't an entry-level role. Most job listings want three to five years of IT experience before they'll consider you, plus either a college degree or solid certifications to back you up.
So if you're starting from scratch, getting to server admin usually means:
That's where Climb Hire comes in. We're a nonprofit offering free IT support training—the foundation you need to eventually move into server administration. No prior experience is required to enroll. We teach you everything you need to launch an IT career and get you certified.
We also include dedicated support to help you find your first IT job, where you'll start building the hands-on experience server admin roles expect.
Below, we'll start with what server administrator jobs actually look for—experience, certifications, and sometimes a college degree—and where to begin your training if you're new to IT.
From there, we'll walk through how Climb Hire's free IT support program works and who it's a good fit for, plus six other server administrator training programs in Sacramento worth considering.
Apply to Climb Hire's free IT Support program and start building toward a career in server administration today.
Server administrator roles vary a lot depending on the employer and environment, but most listings come down to a combination of these three things.
This is non-negotiable. Most listings want three to five years of hands-on work with the specific systems the job involves. They expect working knowledge of Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, virtualization, and backup and recovery.
General IT experience isn't enough. Instead, employers usually want someone who has worked with actual server infrastructure.
What's required varies by role, but the most commonly mentioned include:
Some listings don't name specific certs at all and just say "relevant certifications preferred," which usually means whatever aligns with the tech stack they're running.
Most of these certifications involve passing one or two exams, and none of them are easy. They cover a broad range of technical material and include performance-based questions that test real-world problem-solving, not just memorization. That's exactly what makes them valuable—passing them demonstrates to employers that you have the technical knowledge the role actually requires.
If you're new to IT, the path typically starts with CompTIA A+ training, which is the foundation that Network+, Server+, and the rest build on.
Read more about where to find IT bootcamps in California.
A bachelor's degree in computer science, IT, or a related field appears in a lot of listings, but it's almost always "or equivalent experience." In practice, strong hands-on experience and the right certifications can substitute for a degree in most server admin roles.
One thing is consistent across all of it: this is a role you work toward, not one you walk into.
If you've been working in IT for a few years and have hands-on experience with systems like Windows Server or Active Directory, you may already meet the experience bar. In that case, certifications are your next move.
If you're starting from scratch, the path begins in IT support, where you start building the exact kind of hands-on experience these listings are asking for.
Read more: How to start a career in IT with no experience
Server administrator training typically means preparing for certifications like Server+, Network+, or Microsoft credentials.
Those exams assume you already have hands-on IT experience. As we mentioned, if you don't have that foundation yet, the first step isn't those certifications. It's getting into IT support.
IT support training is where you learn the fundamentals—troubleshooting hardware, managing operating systems, supporting networks—and where you start building the experience that server admin job listings are asking for. It's also where you earn CompTIA A+, the certification that everything else builds on.
That's exactly what Climb Hire offers: a free IT Support training program that prepares you for CompTIA A+ certification. We even help you land your first IT job.
Climb Hire is a nonprofit organization that helps working adults in California—including Sacramento—break into tech careers. We're funded through government and philanthropic partnerships, which is what makes our programs completely free.
Our remote, six-month IT Support program directly prepares you for CompTIA A+ certification. We also include dedicated support to help you land your first IT job.
Thanks to this combination of technical training and job placement support, over 80% of Climbers secure a tech role within 12 months of graduating.
CompTIA A+ is the industry-standard certification for entry-level IT roles. It's what employers look for on resumes and what the rest of the certification path builds on. Earning it requires passing two exams, Core 1 and Core 2.
Usually these exams cost over $500, but support from our donors means we're able to provide free exam vouchers to all our students.
Our training course includes:
You'll also have the opportunity to earn the Google IT Support Professional certificate, a credential that can add extra weight to your resume when you start sending out applications.
We understand that the whole reason you're looking into IT training—and eventually server administration—is to get a lucrative, stable job. That's why job placement support is built directly into the program.
All students receive:
Here's what that support looks like in practice. Montrel Dunlap came to Climb Hire looking for a career change and a clear path into tech. After completing the IT Support program, he landed a role as a fully-qualified Desktop Support Technician.
"Having a specific resume for each position you apply for really sets you apart and shows what you can deliver for that job."
Meanwhile, Tanairy Alfaro Salazar came to Climb Hire without a degree and landed a job offer just one week after finishing the program.
"I was afraid no one was going to hire someone without a college degree, but Climb Hire changed my mind about that. They taught me how to properly create a resume, LinkedIn profile, and helped me prepare for interviews. I had no idea how to do any of these things before. Climb Hire changed my life."
If Climb Hire isn't the right fit for where you are right now, here are six other programs worth considering in Sacramento. These range from full beginner-to-advanced tracks to specific certification training for people looking to upskill.
Asher College's Sacramento campus offers an in-person program that prepares you for careers in Network Administration and Server Administration. No IT experience is required, and by the time you finish, you'll have the certifications that server administrator roles commonly ask for.
An Associate of Applied Science degree option is also available with additional coursework.
While Cosumnes River College doesn't offer a dedicated Server Administrator program, several of its broader IT programs cover the foundational skills the path requires. The most relevant options for someone on a server admin path are:
Information Technology Certificate
Information Technology Associate AS Degree
As a California community college, tuition is $46 per unit.
Business Computer Skills is a national IT training provider with a location in Sacramento. They offer instructor-led certification courses across a range of IT topics. Their Server+ course is the most directly relevant option for someone on a server admin path.
This is a focused exam prep course, not a full program—best suited for IT professionals who already have experience and need to get Server+ certified.
The course costs $2.5k.
Read more: Job training programs in Sacramento
Sacramento City College offers two Network Administration tracks—a Certificate of Achievement and an AS degree—both centered on networking rather than server administration specifically. The two fields overlap significantly, so many of the skills covered are the same ones server admin job listings ask for.
Certificate of Achievement
AS degree
Certstaffix Training is a national IT training provider offering certification prep courses to individuals and corporate teams. They serve the Sacramento area through live, instructor-led online training classes or on-site group training at your organization. Self-paced eLearning options are also available for most topics.
This is certification-specific training for IT professionals who already have experience and need to prepare for a specific exam, not a full program for beginners. However, they do also offer foundational courses like CompTIA A+ for those earlier in the path.
The Server+ self-paced course costs $490. The instructor-led Windows Server courses hover around $3k.
ONLC is a national IT training provider with a Sacramento location, with instruction delivered remotely via a live instructor. They offer the full CompTIA certification pathway, so whether you're starting out with A+ or preparing for Server+, they have courses for both.
Their most relevant courses for the server admin path are AZ-800 and AZ-801. These prepare you for the Microsoft Certified: Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate certification.
Instructor-led courses range from approximately $2.4 to $2.8k. Self-paced on-demand options start around $1.3k.
Server administration isn't an entry-level role, but it's easily reachable if you start in the right place. For anyone in Sacramento beginning from scratch, Climb Hire offers a free path into IT.
Our IT Support program gives you the foundational technical skills and CompTIA A+ certification that employers look for in entry-level IT roles. From there, you'll land your first job, start gaining the hands-on experience server admin roles require, and work your way up from there.
Here's what you get when you enroll:
Over 80% of Climb Hire graduates secure a role within 12 months.
Apply to our IT Support program today and take the first step toward a career in server administration.
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