Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of computer operator salary by state for the United States in 2026:
-
New York has the highest computer operator salary of $52,420
-
Mississippi has the lowest computer operator salary of $35,889
-
The national average salary for computer operators is $42,722
-
The national hourly pay for computer operators is $20.54
You can read more on the specific methodology.
Background
In today’s job market, salary remains a critical factor in job selection for most individuals. As the demand for computer operators continues to evolve, understanding regional salary trends can help job seekers make informed decisions.
While various factors influence individual salaries, comprehensive data on average salaries for computer operators by state provides a valuable benchmark. Although salaries may vary by city, these averages allow for a general understanding of what to expect in your region.
The state with the highest salary for computer operators, adjusted for current economic conditions, remains New York.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for computer operator salaries:
Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Computer Operators By State
| Rank | State | Average Computer Operator Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $52,420 | $32,000 | $83,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $51,463 | $32,000 | $82,000 |
| 3 | Washington | $49,391 | $37,000 | $64,000 |
| 4 | Vermont | $49,068 | $31,000 | $76,000 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $48,845 | $37,000 | $63,000 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $48,042 | $30,000 | $76,000 |
| 7 | Maine | $47,842 | $30,000 | $74,000 |
| 8 | Idaho | $47,700 | $36,000 | $62,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $47,503 | $29,000 | $76,000 |
| 10 | Iowa | $47,257 | $34,000 | $64,000 |
| 11 | Arizona | $47,174 | $34,000 | $65,000 |
| 12 | Virginia | $47,151 | $30,000 | $73,000 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $46,939 | $31,000 | $69,000 |
| 14 | Maryland | $46,241 | $29,000 | $72,000 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $46,037 | $35,000 | $59,000 |
| 16 | Delaware | $46,037 | $28,000 | $73,000 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $45,954 | $28,000 | $73,000 |
| 18 | Kansas | $45,856 | $33,000 | $62,000 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $45,512 | $28,000 | $73,000 |
| 20 | Colorado | $44,645 | $33,000 | $60,000 |
| 21 | California | $44,631 | $32,000 | $61,000 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $44,096 | $32,000 | $59,000 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $43,559 | $27,000 | $68,000 |
| 24 | Alaska | $43,556 | $38,000 | $49,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $43,481 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $42,673 | $32,000 | $56,000 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $41,541 | $30,000 | $57,000 |
| 28 | Ohio | $41,512 | $28,000 | $60,000 |
| 29 | Nevada | $41,320 | $30,000 | $56,000 |
| 30 | Michigan | $41,207 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 31 | Montana | $40,954 | $31,000 | $53,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $40,772 | $28,000 | $57,000 |
| 33 | Alabama | $40,511 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $40,423 | $30,000 | $54,000 |
| 35 | Georgia | $40,089 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 36 | Oregon | $39,985 | $30,000 | $52,000 |
| 37 | Utah | $39,874 | $29,000 | $53,000 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $39,764 | $26,000 | $58,000 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $38,352 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,978 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $37,897 | $26,000 | $54,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $37,793 | $27,000 | $52,000 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $37,761 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,485 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $37,298 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $37,177 | $27,000 | $50,000 |
| 47 | Texas | $37,175 | $26,000 | $52,000 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $36,459 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $35,917 | $23,000 | $53,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $35,889 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Methodology: Computer Operator Salary By State
To better understand computer operator pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across a multitude of channels including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We then supplement that data with actual listed salaries from job posts. Finally, the data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to create an average pay for computer operators by state.
We took the average annual salary data for computer operators from these estimates and ranked every state based on this criterion, with the state offering the highest salary ranked as the highest average salary for computer operators.
Computer Operator Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for computer operators?
The highest-paid state for computer operators is New York with an average salary of $52,420 per year.
-
What city pays computer operators the most?
New York, NY pays computer operators the most with an average salary of $52,624 per year.
-
What is the worst state for computer operators?
The worst state for computer operators is Mississippi with an average salary of $35,889 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
