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How to hire a computer operations specialist

Computer operations specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring computer operations specialists in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a computer operations specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per computer operations specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 7,003 computer operations specialists in the US and 99,170 job openings.
  • Huntsville, AL, has the highest demand for computer operations specialists, with 1 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of computer operations specialists.

How to hire a computer operations specialist, step by step

To hire a computer operations specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a computer operations specialist:

Here's a step-by-step computer operations specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a computer operations specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new computer operations specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the computer operations specialist you need to hire. Certain computer operations specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A computer operations specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, computer operations specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of computer operations specialists.

    Type of Computer Operations SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Computer Operations SpecialistComputer support specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. Some, called computer network support specialists, support information technology (IT) employees within their organization... Show more$13-31
    Computer Repair TechnicianA computer repair technician installs, repairs, and maintains different computer equipment. Computer repair technicians repair and maintain computers and their servers... Show more$12-19
    Computer OperatorA computer operator is responsible for overseeing a network or group of computers, making sure that all systems are running smoothly and efficiently. A computer operator's duties may also revolve around troubleshooting and resolving issues on hardware and software, processing data, designing a particular and secure database, and suggesting system improvements when necessary... Show more$13-30

  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • IBM Mainframe
    • Computer Operations
    • Unix
    • Technical Support
    • Computer System
    • Linux
    • Proactive Monitoring
    • Peripheral Equipment
    • PC
    • RAN
    • Batch Processing
    • Technical Issues
    • JES2
    • TSO
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage the facilities and the environmental systems, including electrical power, security, and HVAC and fire detection/suppression.
    • Manage consistent operations of mainframe and peripheral info systems through detail scheduling of equipment, personnel and priorities.
    • Perform UNIX and PC systems installations.
    • Used HVAC computer base digital control systems to monitor and control operations.
    • Write Unix scripts and maintain virtual backups, for accounting.
    • Monitor and answer system messages through CICS and production terminal.
    More computer operations specialist duties

  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your computer operations specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A computer operations specialist salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, computer operations specialists' average salary in georgia is 50% less than in new jersey.
    • Seniority. Entry-level computer operations specialists earn 58% less than senior-level computer operations specialists.
    • Certifications. A computer operations specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a computer operations specialist's salary.

    Average computer operations specialist salary

    $43,692yearly

    $21.01 hourly rate
    Entry-level computer operations specialist salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average computer operations specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$57,126$27
    2California$52,097$25
    3Maine$43,907$21
    4Texas$38,229$18
    5Florida$36,858$18
    6Minnesota$36,147$17
    7Alabama$33,649$16

    Average computer operations specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Vanderbilt University Medical Center$67,947$32.673
    2Brooks-TLC Hospital System$49,984$24.03
    3EVO Payments$49,971$24.02
    4Huntsville Hospital$49,220$23.66
    5Randstad North America, Inc.$41,846$20.124
    6Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr.$41,478$19.9410
    7The Select Group$40,921$19.67
    8Sensata$40,524$19.483
    9Alameda County$37,636$18.091
    10Florida Dept. of Health$35,894$17.26
    11State Of Florida$35,595$17.11140
    12OneLegacy$35,192$16.921
    13Florida Department of Transportation$34,578$16.62

  4. Writing a computer operations specialist job description

    A computer operations specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a computer operations specialist job description:

    Computer operations specialist job description example

    Atlas American Lighting manufactures innovative American Made energy-efficient LED lighting products at our 330,000 sq. ft. facility in Burlington, NC. Atlas is part of the LSI Industries family of Companies. LSI’s heritage spans more than 40 years, beginning in 1976 when the company was founded. The company employs about 1,400 people at 11 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada and we continue to grow. Headquartered in Greater Cincinnati Ohio, LSI is a publicly held company traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the symbol LYTS. We manufacture commercial lighting solutions, advanced graphic and image solutions, digital and retail display solutions.

    Atlas is looking for a Computer Operations Specialist to support our growing team at our Burlington, NC location.

    Summary:

    The IT Computer Operations Specialist is responsible for providing technical support to management and staff in resolving issues with IT services and equipment to minimize downtime and ensure that all critical systems are operating normally.

    Job Duties:

    • Troubleshoot and resolve user problems related to all hardware and software, including phone system, servers, client workstations, Windows OS and Microsoft applications
    • Analyze and resolve end-user requests in a timely manner
    • Serve as a “Help Desk” resource and document all problems and resolutions
    • Proactively monitor all critical hardware and software systems and take corrective action when necessary
    • Maintain backup systems and monitor offsite backup replication, scheduled onsite backups, nightly jobs, etc.
    • Monitor data circuit connections and take corrective action in the event of an outage or service degradation
    • Maintain network security including wired and wireless network
    • Monitor firewalls and VPN connectivity
    • Keep IT Manager informed of all activities and status
    • Provide user support for application
    • Configure, troubleshoot and resolve issues for all iOS devices
    • Test and apply patches required to maintain system security and reliability
    • Maintain and document inventory of IT equipment
    • Install, move or change computer equipment, phones, printers, security cameras, fax machines, etc.
    • Install, move or change operating systems, software packages, and desktop applications for new and current employees
    • Maintain up-to-date virus protection for all systems and devices
    • Must be able to work flex hours (have time to perform duties at night or weekends) as dictated by system maintenance and upgrade requirements
    • Demonstrate outstanding interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
    • Ability to multi-task and work independently

  5. Post your job

    To find the right computer operations specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with computer operations specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit computer operations specialists who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your computer operations specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit computer operations specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
    • Post a job on free websites.

  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit computer operations specialists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    Sometimes, it's not enough to interview computer operations specialist candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

    • TestDome
    • CodeSignal
    • Testlify
    • BarRaiser
    • Coderbyte

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new computer operations specialist

    Once you've decided on a perfect computer operations specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new computer operations specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a computer operations specialist?

Before you start to hire computer operations specialists, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire computer operations specialists pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $43,692 per year for a computer operations specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for computer operations specialists in the US typically range between $13 and $31 an hour.

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Updated January 21, 2026

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