Post job

Accelerator operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an accelerator operator. Accelerator operators usually study physics, electrical engineering, or communication. 61% of accelerator operators hold a bachelor's degree, and 19% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 54 real accelerator operator resumes to see exactly what accelerator operator education sections show.

The most common colleges for accelerator operators are the Purdue University and the Purdue University.

There are also many online accelerator operator courses to help get the education required to be an accelerator operator.

What education do you need to become an accelerator operator?

What degree do you need to be an accelerator operator?

The most common degree for accelerator operators is bachelor's degree, with 61% of accelerator operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 19% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 61%
  • Master's, 19%
  • Associate, 8%
  • Doctorate, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become an accelerator operator?

You should major in physics to become an accelerator operator. 41% of accelerator operators major in physics. Other common majors for an accelerator operator include electrical engineering and communication.

Most common colleges for accelerator operators

Accelerator operators often get their degrees at Purdue University, University of Wisconsin Colleges, and Carnegie Mellon University. Here are the most common colleges for accelerator operators in the US based on their resumes.
Accelerator operator common collegePercentages
Purdue University16.67%
University of Wisconsin Colleges8.33%
Carnegie Mellon University4.17%
George Washington University, The4.17%
University of Houston4.17%

Best majors for accelerator operators

Best colleges for accelerator operators

The best colleges for accelerator operators are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

An accelerator operator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for accelerator operators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become accelerator operators.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

7. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,308

Enrollment

6,819

8. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

10. SUNY Stony Brook

Stony Brook, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$9,625

Enrollment

17,407

20 best online courses for accelerator operators

Advertising disclosure

1. Fundamentals of particle accelerator technology (NPAP MOOC)

coursera

Did you know that particle accelerators play an important role in many functions of todays society and that there are over 30 000 accelerators in operation worldwide? A few examples are accelerators for radiotherapy which are the largest application of accelerators, altogether with more than 11000 accelerators worldwide. These accelerators range from very compact electron linear accelerators with a length of only about 1 m to large carbon ion synchrotrons with a circumference of more than 50 m...

2. Introduction to Particle Accelerators (NPAP MOOC)

coursera

Welcome to the Nordic Particle Accelerator Program's (NPAP) Massive Open Online Courses and to the fascinating world of particle accelerators! Did you know that in the year of 2000 there were more than 15 000 particle accelerators in the world? Yet, today it has grown to more than 30 000 of them! A third of the particle accelerators are dedicated to medical applications, such as radio therapy, and a half are used for ion implantation in semiconductor devices. Also numerous particle accelerators...

3. Operating Systems Final Part (4): File Systems & Threads

udemy
4.6
(518)

Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...

4. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 1

udemy
4.5
(4,324)

Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...

5. Embedded Hardware and Operating Systems

coursera

This course is intended for the Bachelor and Master's students, who like practical programming and making IoTs applications! In this course, we will talk about two components of a cyber-physical system, namely hardware and operating systems. After completing this course, you will have knowledge of both hardware components and operating systems. You are able to plan and use embedded operating systems in resource-constraint devices for Internet-of-Things (cyber-physical system) applications. In...

6. Operations Systems Excellence

coursera

The sole task of organisations is to either deliver customers the services that they require, or design, manufacture, and deliver products that customers are after. How do firms and organisations manage the very tasks that they carry out? How can operations themselves give excellence to organisations to enable them to be competitive? Operations management is concerned with the design, planning and control of operating systems for the provision of goods and services. This course will provide an...

7. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 2

udemy
4.7
(1,078)

Learn memory management in operating systems as operating system forms the core of computer science...

8. Operating Systems Part 3: Synchronization and Deadlock

udemy
4.4
(684)

Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...

9. Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems

coursera

Get ready to enter the thriving field of Information Technology (IT), with job ready skills! This beginner friendly course provides the core hardware and operating system knowledge needed by anyone new to IT and computer hardware who wants to start a new career in technology, including IT Support, Networking, Cybersecurity, and Software Development. You will first be introduced to computing fundamentals, the four functions of computing, and the benefits of computing. You will become...

10. Operate Alibaba Cloud Systems and Services

coursera

Course description: ACA System Operator Certification Preparation Course is intended for individuals who have technical expertise in deployment, management and operations on Alibaba Cloud. It’s recommended for System administrators with at least one year of experience in deployment, management, and operations on Alibaba Cloud. ACA System Operator Certification is intended for individuals who have technical expertise in deployment, management, and operations on Alibaba Cloud. Certificate holders...

11. Write Your Own Operating System From Scratch - Step by Step

udemy
4.5
(293)

Build your own 64-bit operating system - for the x86 architecture...

12. High Voltage Electric Vehicle Safety

udemy
4.4
(302)

Electric Vehicle Safety Battery Pack Fire Safety Electric Shock Safety Accidental Safety High Voltage Components...

13. Getting Started with Junos Operating System

coursera

In this course, you will be introduced to the design and architecture of the Junos operating system (Junos OS)—the operating system used on Juniper’s routing, switching, and security portfolio. This course will explore the Junos OS command line interface (CLI) for configuring, managing, and monitoring Junos OS-powered network devices. The J-Web interface will also be examined as the graphical use interface (GUI) option for configuring, managing, and monitoring Junos OS devices. You will then be...

14. Electrical Control & Protection Systems

udemy
4.6
(1,763)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

15. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2

udemy
4.7
(718)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

16. Computer Hardware, Operating System and Networking

udemy
4.1
(314)

For Any Graduates/Engineering/Diploma/Arts & Science/Freshers/Home Users/Individuals/Desktop Support/FM/Service Engineer...

17. Applied Control Systems 3: UAV drone (3D Dynamics & control)

udemy
4.6
(292)

Modeling + state space systems + Model Predictive Control + feedback control + Python simulation: UAV quadcopter drone...

18. Systems Innovation

udemy
4.5
(1,720)

Learn systems innovation - the new systems-based approach to enabling transformative change within complex organizations...

19. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control

udemy
4.2
(791)

Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...

20. BMS - Building management system

udemy
4.1
(295)

BMS, building management system & building automation systems study , design and calculations...

Top 10 most affordable universities for accelerator operators

The most affordable schools for accelerator operators are California State University - Bakersfield, suny farmingdale, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for accelerator operators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for accelerator operators.

1. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

2. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

5. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for accelerator operators

The hardest universities for accelerator operators to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for accelerator operators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for accelerator operators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

5. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

6. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

7. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

8. Villanova University

Villanova, PA • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,407

9. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

10. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for accelerator operators

The easiest schools for accelerator operators to get into are Oklahoma Wesleyan University, lim college, and thomas more university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an accelerator operator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for accelerator operators.

1. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

2. LIM College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

1,061

3. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

4. Notre Dame College

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

994

5. Iona College

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,089

6. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

7. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

8. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

9. Notre Dame of Maryland University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,069

10. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

Average accelerator operator salary by education level

Accelerator operators with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $93,191 annually. With a Associate degree, accelerator operators earn a median annual income of $80,951 compared to $76,398 for accelerator operators with an Bachelor's degree.
Accelerator operator education levelAccelerator operator salary
Master's Degree$93,191
High School Diploma or Less$72,195
Bachelor's Degree$76,398
Some College/ Associate Degree$80,951

Accelerator operator education FAQs

Search for accelerator operator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse life, physical, and social science jobs