diff --git a/routers/admin.py b/routers/admin.py
index 461c70d6..aae0bef6 100644
--- a/routers/admin.py
+++ b/routers/admin.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     ValidationError,
     field_validator,
 )
-from sqlalchemy import case, exists, func, or_
+from sqlalchemy import exists, func, or_
 from sqlalchemy.exc import IntegrityError
 from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 from sqlmodel import Session, select
@@ -446,21 +446,9 @@ def _get_requested_platform_id(self) -> PlatformEnum | None:
     def _platform_scope_handled_by_permissions(self) -> bool:
         return self._is_platform_scoped_query() and not self._is_group_scoped_query()
 
-    def get_user_ordering(self, current_user_id: str | None = None):
-        """
-        Deterministic ordering for user lists (keeps pagination stable):
-        the current admin's own entry first, then by creation date.
-        """
-        ordering = []
-        if current_user_id is not None:
-            ordering.append(case((BiocommonsUser.id == current_user_id, 0), else_=1))
-        ordering.extend([BiocommonsUser.created_at, BiocommonsUser.id])
-        return ordering
-
     def _get_combined_query(
         self,
         admin_roles: list[str],
-        current_user_id: str | None = None,
     ):
         """
         Combine admin permissions and queries from the params to get the overall
@@ -472,22 +460,19 @@ def _get_combined_query(
             .where(
                 self.get_admin_permissions_query(admin_roles),
                 *self.get_query_conditions(admin_roles))
-            .order_by(*self.get_user_ordering(current_user_id))
+            .order_by(BiocommonsUser.created_at, BiocommonsUser.id)
         )
 
     def get_complete_query(
         self,
         admin_roles: list[str],
         pagination: PaginationParams = None,
-        current_user_id: str | None = None,
     ) -> SelectOfScalar[BiocommonsUser]:
         """
         Return a full user query, with permissions from admin roles and pagination applied.
-        The current admin's own user entry (when it matches the query) is sorted to the
-        top of the results when current_user_id is provided.
         """
         return (
-            self._get_combined_query(admin_roles, current_user_id=current_user_id)
+            self._get_combined_query(admin_roles)
             .offset(pagination.start_index)
             .limit(pagination.per_page)
         )
@@ -690,13 +675,11 @@ def get_filtered_user_query(
     """
     Get an SQLAlchemy query for users based on the provided filter parameters,
     filtered to only return users the admin has permission to view/manage.
-    The admin's own user entry is included and sorted to the top of the list.
     """
     admin_roles = admin_user.access_token.biocommons_roles
     return user_query.get_complete_query(
         admin_roles,
         pagination,
-        current_user_id=admin_user.access_token.sub,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py b/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py
index d674d837..041f0dac 100644
--- a/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py
+++ b/tests/admin_api/test_admin.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def test_get_users(test_client, as_admin_user, galaxy_platform,
     assert all(u.id not in user_ids for u in invalid_users)
 
 
-def test_get_users_includes_current_admin_user_first(
+def test_get_users_includes_current_admin_user_sorted_by_created_at(
     test_client,
     as_admin_user,
     galaxy_platform,
@@ -181,9 +181,10 @@ def test_get_users_includes_current_admin_user_first(
 ):
     """
     The current admin's own user entry should be included in the user list,
-    sorted to the top.
+    sorted by created_at like any other user (no longer pinned to the top).
     """
     admin_db_user = as_admin_user
+    admin_db_user.created_at = datetime(2024, 1, 4, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
     membership = PlatformMembershipFactory.create_sync(
         user_id=admin_db_user.id,
         platform_id=galaxy_platform.id,
@@ -194,7 +195,6 @@ def test_get_users_includes_current_admin_user_first(
     test_db_session.commit()
 
     # Create users out of date order to check the list is sorted by created_at
-    # after the admin user
     other_users = [
         _create_user_with_platform_membership(
             db_session=test_db_session,
@@ -209,9 +209,9 @@ def test_get_users_includes_current_admin_user_first(
     assert resp.status_code == 200
     data = resp.json()
     assert len(data) == 4
-    assert data[0]["id"] == admin_db_user.id
-    expected_order_after_admin = [other_users[1].id, other_users[2].id, other_users[0].id]
-    assert [u["id"] for u in data[1:]] == expected_order_after_admin
+    # Admin (day 4) sorts last; the rest follow created_at order
+    expected_order = [other_users[1].id, other_users[2].id, other_users[0].id, admin_db_user.id]
+    assert [u["id"] for u in data] == expected_order
 
 
 def test_get_users_admin_without_matching_memberships_not_included(