The $85,000 Question: Should You Hire an IT Guy or an MSP?
If your Las Vegas business has grown to 15 or 20 employees, you are likely feeling the “IT squeeze.” You have outgrown the “friend of a friend” who used to fix your computers, and you are facing a major decision:
Do you hire a full-time internal IT Manager? Or do you outsource to a Managed Service Provider (MSP)?
Most business owners look at the hourly rate of an MSP and think, “For that price, I could just hire someone!” But when you run the real numbers—salary, benefits, tools, and risk—the math often tells a different story.
At CMIT Solutions of Las Vegas, we act as the IT department for businesses across the valley. Here is the honest 2026 comparison between hiring In-House vs. Partnering with an MSP.
1. The Cost Breakdown (Salary vs. Subscription)
In-House IT:
According to salary data for Las Vegas, a qualified Network Administrator commands a salary of $75,000 – $95,000 per year. Add in payroll taxes, health insurance, and 401k, and your true cost is over $110,000 annually.
The MSP Model:
For a company of 20 people, a comprehensive Managed Services contract might cost between $30,000 – $48,000 per year (depending on complexity).
The Verdict: Outsourcing typically costs 50-70% less than hiring a single qualified employee.
2. The “Bus Factor” (Availability)
In-House IT:
Your internal IT manager is human. They sleep. They get sick. They take vacations. And in a 24/7 city like Las Vegas, systems break at the worst times.
What happens when your server crashes while your IT guy is on a cruise? You are stranded.
The MSP Model:
We are a system, not a person. We have a 24/7 Network Operations Center (NOC). If our lead engineer gets sick, we have 10 others ready to step in. We don’t take vacations, and we don’t turn off our phones at 5:00 PM.
3. The “Tool Stack” (Hidden Costs)
This is the cost most business owners forget. An IT person needs tools to do their job.
In-House IT:
If you hire internally, you still have to buy the software: Ticketing systems, Remote Access tools, Antivirus licenses, and Backup storage. This can easily add $500 – $1,000/month to your budget on top of the salary.
The MSP Model:
We bring our own tools. Our monthly fee includes the Enterprise-grade Antivirus, the Ticketing System, the Remote Monitoring agents, and the Documentation platform. You get a Fortune 500 tool stack on a small business budget.
4. The “Jack of All Trades” Problem
In-House IT:
It is impossible for one person to be an expert in everything. Your internal guy might be great at fixing printers, but does he know how to stop a Scattered Spider cyberattack? Does he know CMMC compliance?
The MSP Model:
When you hire CMIT, you don’t get one person. You get a team. We have cybersecurity experts, cloud architects, and help desk specialists. You get a “Deep Bench” of expertise that one single employee can never match.
The Best of Both Worlds: Co-Managed IT
What if you already have an IT guy you love? Don’t fire him.
For larger firms (30+ staff), we offer Co-Managed IT. We handle the heavy lifting (patching, backups, security monitoring) so your internal IT manager is free to focus on strategic projects and helping users. It makes your internal employee more efficient—and happier.
Get the Math for Your Business
Stop guessing at the numbers. We can provide a side-by-side comparison of your current internal costs vs. a Managed Services plan.
Get a Free “Build vs. Buy” Cost Analysis.
Related Resources
- 💰 The Numbers: Want to see exact rates? Read our 2025 Managed Services Pricing Guide.
- ❓ The Basics: Still confused? Read What is an MSP and What Do They Do?
