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Best states for a computer operator
Quoted expert
Kathleen Riley
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for computer operators? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for computer operator jobs.In fact, our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state for computer operators in America. The best city in America for computer operators with the highest pay is New York, NY.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for computer operators.Massachusetts is the best state, and Babylon is the city with the highest pay for computer operators.
10 best states for computer operators in 2025
1. Massachusetts
Total computer operator jobs: 1,428 Average annual salary: $51,463 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 4.592. North Dakota
Total computer operator jobs: 40 Average annual salary: $48,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.273. Vermont
Total computer operator jobs: 32 Average annual salary: $49,068 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.234. Idaho
Total computer operator jobs: 56 Average annual salary: $47,700 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location Quotient: 1.015. Maine
Total computer operator jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $47,842 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.876. Rhode Island
Total computer operator jobs: 186 Average annual salary: $45,512 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 4.527. New York
Total computer operator jobs: 308 Average annual salary: $52,420 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 0.718. New Jersey
Total computer operator jobs: 983 Average annual salary: $47,503 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 3.659. Arizona
Total computer operator jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $47,174 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 0.7710. Iowa
Total computer operator jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $47,257 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.69
Computer operator jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a computer operator
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a computer operator
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $51,463 | $32,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,428 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $48,845 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 40 |
| 3 | Vermont | $49,068 | $31,000 | 623,657 | 32 |
| 4 | Idaho | $47,700 | $36,000 | 1,716,943 | 56 |
| 5 | Maine | $47,842 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 39 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $45,512 | $28,000 | 1,059,639 | 186 |
| 7 | New York | $52,420 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 308 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $47,503 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 983 |
| 9 | Arizona | $47,174 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 152 |
| 10 | Iowa | $47,257 | $34,000 | 3,145,711 | 85 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $42,673 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 42 |
| 12 | Kansas | $45,856 | $33,000 | 2,913,123 | 79 |
| 13 | Virginia | $47,151 | $30,000 | 8,470,020 | 330 |
| 14 | Delaware | $46,037 | $28,000 | 961,939 | 49 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $46,939 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 31 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $48,042 | $30,000 | 12,805,537 | 216 |
| 17 | Washington | $49,391 | $37,000 | 7,405,743 | 154 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $46,037 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 161 |
| 19 | Alaska | $43,556 | $38,000 | 739,795 | 136 |
| 20 | Maryland | $46,241 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 346 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $45,954 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 95 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $40,423 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 35 |
| 23 | Colorado | $44,645 | $33,000 | 5,607,154 | 161 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $43,559 | $27,000 | 1,342,795 | 62 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $41,541 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 151 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $44,096 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 156 |
| 27 | Nevada | $41,320 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 60 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $44,190 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 185 |
| 29 | Montana | $40,954 | $31,000 | 1,050,493 | 44 |
| 30 | Michigan | $41,207 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 188 |
| 31 | Ohio | $41,512 | $28,000 | 11,658,609 | 200 |
| 32 | Alabama | $40,511 | $28,000 | 4,874,747 | 119 |
| 33 | California | $44,631 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 756 |
| 34 | Illinois | $43,481 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 215 |
| 35 | Utah | $39,874 | $29,000 | 3,101,833 | 97 |
| 36 | Indiana | $40,772 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 130 |
| 37 | Oregon | $39,985 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 147 |
| 38 | Georgia | $40,089 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 227 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $37,177 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 90 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,978 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 84 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $39,764 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 174 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $37,897 | $26,000 | 5,024,369 | 114 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $35,889 | $25,000 | 2,984,100 | 87 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,485 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 60 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $38,352 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 64 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $37,761 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 65 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $37,298 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 92 |
| 48 | Texas | $37,175 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 471 |
| 49 | Missouri | $37,793 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 97 |
| 50 | Florida | $35,917 | $23,000 | 20,984,400 | 355 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $36,459 | $26,000 | 3,004,279 | 47 |
Highest paying states for computer operators
| Rank | State | Avg. Computer Operator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $51,463 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $48,845 |
| 3 | Vermont | $49,068 |
| 4 | Idaho | $47,700 |
| 5 | Maine | $47,842 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $45,512 |
| 7 | New York | $52,420 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $47,503 |
| 9 | Arizona | $47,174 |
| 10 | Iowa | $47,257 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $42,673 |
| 12 | Kansas | $45,856 |
| 13 | Virginia | $47,151 |
| 14 | Delaware | $46,037 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $46,939 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $48,042 |
| 17 | Washington | $49,391 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $46,037 |
| 19 | Alaska | $43,556 |
| 20 | Maryland | $46,241 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $45,954 |
| 22 | South Dakota | $40,423 |
| 23 | Colorado | $44,645 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $43,559 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $41,541 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $44,096 |
| 27 | Nevada | $41,320 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $44,190 |
| 29 | Montana | $40,954 |
| 30 | Michigan | $41,207 |
| 31 | Ohio | $41,512 |
| 32 | Alabama | $40,511 |
| 33 | California | $44,631 |
| 34 | Illinois | $43,481 |
| 35 | Utah | $39,874 |
| 36 | Indiana | $40,772 |
| 37 | Oregon | $39,985 |
| 38 | Georgia | $40,089 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $37,177 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,978 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $39,764 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $37,897 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $35,889 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,485 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $38,352 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $37,761 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $37,298 |
| 48 | Texas | $37,175 |
| 49 | Missouri | $37,793 |
| 50 | Florida | $35,917 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $36,459 |
Expert opinions on the best states for computer operators
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for computer operators to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley
Professor, American University
My computer science students from the class of 2020 had a variety of experiences when they entered the job market after graduation. Those who had already signed on at companies like Amazon or Google, whose business stayed strong during the pandemic and whose workplace models adjusted easily to remote work, had a relatively easy time starting their industry jobs. Others, especially those who had planned to work for companies whose business depended on clients or industries which suffered under the pandemic, saw delays, changes in their work plans, and even cancellations of contracts; several found themselves job hunting again over the summer, interviewing remotely and having to assess companies without setting foot outside their own home. Fortunately, there are still a lot of jobs out there for Computer Science graduates, and most of the students I know have found other placements or are well into that process.
We all know about the abundance of computer science opportunities in the Silicon Valley, the Dulles Technology corridor, and other tech hubs, but there is also an abundance of computer science opportunities in large and small cities throughout the country. In addition to businesses whose focus or products are technology-related, many other businesses have significant technology and computer science needs that are provided in-house, and those who thrive and survive will continue to hire.
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Updated January 8, 2025