Why Hiring a Full-Time NetSuite Administrator Often Isn’t the Best Move for Mid-Sized Companies
If your company runs on NetSuite, you’ve likely faced this question: “Should we hire a full-time NetSuite administrator?”
For many mid-sized organizations, hiring internally feels like the safest and most straightforward option. In reality, it’s often more expensive, less effective, and still incomplete. Here’s why many companies are rethinking the traditional admin model — and what a smarter alternative looks like.
The NetSuite talent market has changed significantly.
As of early 2026, the average annual pay for a NetSuite System Administrator in the U.S. is approximately $110,000, with top earners in major tech hubs easily commanding $140,000–$168,000 in base salary alone.
When you add:
Your true, fully loaded cost for a single NetSuite administrator frequently exceeds $185,000 per year. And that’s before accounting for ramp-up time, turnover risk, or coverage gaps.
Here’s a reality many organizations only discover after hiring:
NetSuite administrator roles are often entry-to-mid level positions.
For many professionals, becoming an admin is a stepping stone toward consulting or implementation work. While seasoned admins certainly exist, many internal hires have:
This creates a single point of failure for one of your most critical business systems.
This is the biggest misconception.
Even with a full-time NetSuite administrator, most companies still rely on consulting firms.
Why?
Because internal admins are rarely equipped to handle:
The result is higher total cost: A full-time admin salary plus Hourly consulting fees when advanced needs arise
Hiring an admin doesn’t replace consulting — it usually adds another layer of expense.
Instead of hiring a single employee and still relying on outside consultants, many mid-sized companies are moving to a fractional NetSuite administration model.
This approach provides:
A Dedicated Lead Resource - A primary NetSuite expert who understands your business and system.
Built-In Backup - No single point of failure, no coverage gaps.
Consulting & Development Support - Advanced functionality, development, and integrations are available without sourcing another vendor.
Implementer-Level Experience - Your system benefits from best practices gained across many NetSuite environments — not trial and error.
This model works best for organizations that:
We designed our service around how mid-sized companies actually use NetSuite.
Advisory & Light Admin Support - 20 Hours / Month — $50,000 / Year
Best for stable NetSuite environments that need expert guidance and light ongoing support.
Core Admin Support - 40 Hours / Month — $100,000 / Year
Best for companies that need consistent, hands-on NetSuite administration.
Enhanced Admin + Optimization - 60 Hours / Month — $150,000 / Year
Best for growing or evolving organizations with integrations, automation, or optimization needs.
Hiring a full-time NetSuite administrator often results in:
For many mid-sized companies, fractional NetSuite administration delivers better coverage, deeper expertise, and predictable cost — without adding another full-time employee.
If you’re evaluating whether to hire a NetSuite administrator, it’s worth exploring whether a fractional model better fits how your organization actually uses NetSuite.
Learn more about our About Us page and how our values guide our approach.
Explore our NetSuite Managed Services for ongoing support.
Read our What is a NetSuite Administrator to learn what an administrator role normally looks like.