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Job outlook for computer operators in the United States
Computer operator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected computer operator job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 83,100 new jobs for computer operators are projected over the next decade.
Computer operator salaries have increased 16% for computer operators in the last 5 years.
There are over 29,841 computer operators currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,579 active computer operator job openings in the US.
The average computer operator salary is $42,722.
Are computer operator jobs in demand?
Computer Operator job and salary trends over time
Computer Operator jobs over time
Computer Operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,841 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 41,094 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,467 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 32,420 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 37,584 | 0.01% |
Average computer operator salary over time
Computer Operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,722 | $20.54 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $41,293 | $19.85 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $40,042 | $19.25 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $38,671 | $18.59 | +4.7% |
| 2021 | $36,924 | $17.75 | +4.6% |
Computer Operator jobs by state
Most common states for computer operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 185 | 27% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,428 | 21% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 186 | 18% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 136 | 18% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 983 | 11% |
| 6 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 161 | 11% |
| 7 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 42 | 7% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 346 | 6% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 62 | 5% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 49 | 5% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 40 | 5% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 32 | 5% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 330 | 4% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 147 | 4% |
| 15 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 90 | 4% |
| 16 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 44 | 4% |
| 17 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 35 | 4% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 85 | 3% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 56 | 3% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 39 | 3% |
Most common cities for computer operators
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leavenworth | 3 | 8% | $46,180 |
| 2 | Sarasota | 2 | 4% | $36,117 |
| 3 | Anderson | 1 | 4% | $37,713 |
| 4 | Tallahassee | 3 | 2% | $34,963 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $51,233 |
| 6 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $40,953 |
| 7 | Battle Creek | 1 | 2% | $40,412 |
| 8 | Chicopee | 1 | 2% | $52,032 |
| 9 | Colorado Springs | 3 | 1% | $44,381 |
| 10 | Fort Lauderdale | 2 | 1% | $36,622 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $40,146 |
| 12 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $36,886 |
| 13 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $51,272 |
| 14 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $43,614 |
Computer Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of computer operator experts
The University of Maine
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
Utah Valley University
Governors State University
Carleton College
Slippery Rock University
Stetson University
Saint Peter's University
American University
Dr. Jon Ippolito
Professor of New MediaThe University of Maine
School of Computing and Information Science
What skills stand out on Computer Operator resumes?
Dr. Jon Ippolito: Although we often hear about positions in urban centers like San Francisco, online job listings, as well as a survey of New Media alumni, affirm that even in a rural state like Maine, many businesses and organizations seek workers with new media skills, from web and mobile developers to user interface and experience designers to digital storytellers capable of crafting compelling videos and social media campaigns.
As of this writing, Google (https://jobs.google.com) reports 133 jobs in Maine for a data scientist, 130 openings for a web developer, 100 for an AI scientist, 80 for a web designer, 72 for a UX/UI designer, 58 for a mobile developer, 43 for a social media manager, and 16 for a video producer/editor. This does not count the increasing number of jobs that permit remote work, which accounts for 75% of programming listings in 2021, according to The Economist (https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/08/11/for-programmers-remote-working-is-becoming-the-norm).
What technical skills for a Computer Operator stand out to employers?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: If you ask me, I consider valuable experience over good paycheck. Once you have gained that experience the paycheck will follow. As soon as you are out of college, the knowledge gained is very fresh and raring to go. If put into the right place can enhance your technical skills and you can do wonders.
As a Computer Engineering professor, I would say the job opportunities are tremendous for students out of college as they can venture into hardware field (technical support, hardware engineer, test engineer and much more) as well as software field (software engineer, software developer, software tester and much more). The possibilities are endless.
With COVID and employees working remotely there is still ample opportunity to enhance your technical and interpersonal skills as I believe remote working might stay for a while till things get back to normal.
What type of skills will young Computer Operators need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
Curtis Welborn
ProfessorUtah Valley University
Computer Science Department
What experience really stands out on Computer Operator resumes?
Curtis Welborn: That can really depend upon the company. Some companies want people with a strong background in machine learning right now. But I've met people who shy away from hiring people with too much machine learning on their resume even when the company wants someone to do machine learning because too many of these people only want to, or only can, do machine learning. They don't have a strong fundamental understanding of Computer Science (see No. 2). Our students who complete the Compiler course get jobs, not because companies are building a compiler but because companies know that someone who can build a compiler can most likely do anything they would want done. So people should not focus on finding that thing that makes their resume look good today. Just be great at everything you do. Take hard classes, and excel at them. Learn EVERYTHING you can, and companies will want you.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Operator job market given the pandemic?
Stephen Hyzny: Security, as more people need online services, the protection behind that technology will be needed.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Computer Operators in the next 5 years?
Stephen Hyzny: As everything involves technology, more educated people will need it in the future. As our cars, houses, and lives connect, people will be required to make it all work.
What type of skills will young Computer Operators need?
Joshua Davis Ph.D.: Studying mathematics is good practice for rigorous thinking and problem solving, which are valued across the workforce. For science and engineering applications, it is often also helpful to have R, Python, Matlab, or another popular programming language. But technical abilities get the graduate-only so far. They need interpersonal communication skills so that they can understand the needs of stakeholders and cooperate with colleagues. For this reason, many faculty at my school emphasize writing, speaking, listening, and teamwork skills.
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSlippery Rock University
Department of Information Systems
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Operators?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: It is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and transformed the lives of many people, including students all over the world. A major effect is requiring students to stay and learn from home because of the closure of educational institutions as a precautionary measure. Missing saying the traditional goodbye to friends, fraternities, and sororities, and having to watch commencement ceremonies in bedrooms online will leave an indelible mark in graduates.
This means a great U-shift in memories of college life, including physical interaction and learning environment, and systems adopting a new way of doing things. Graduates will enter the job market with uncertainties of availability of traditional jobs and how to work in a new normal. Many graduates will find themselves having to search for jobs virtually and having to start working remotely from the beginning in most cases and in most industries. What would have been a new beginning, along with the excitement of stepping through the doors of the new office and career, will not be there physically. This will have an impact on these graduates because of the transformation of society as a result of the pandemic.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Operators to find work opportunities?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: Sometimes new graduates from college can find it hard to get the perfect or preferred job location. This may be different for those with information sciences or information systems and related degrees. Luckily there are big companies, multinational companies as well as some-sized enterprises who need skills in that discipline. Most of these can be found in some of the big cities beyond Silicon Valley such as NY, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Denver, Colorado, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, Charlotte, Houston, Boston, Dallas, and Minneapolis, just to name a few.
Some of these locations are where some of the big tech companies reside, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, IBM, HP, SAP, etc. The advantage of this degree is that graduates not only can work for tech companies but any company because of the need to manage data, information, process, and technology. Companies all over have or are putting together strategies to harness the potential of big data, and graduates with information sciences, information systems, and related degrees are sought after continuously.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Operators in the next 5 years?
Abdou Karim Jallow Ph.D.: The trend we have witnessed in the past two decades in terms of development in technology is unprecedented. This has a ripple effect on the field of information sciences and systems. Most traditional jobs have changed or rebranded. For example, consider how information and data processing and management (IDPM) has revolutionized into what is today information management or management information systems; business intelligence is almost transformed into business analytics, data science; high-performance computing, and grid computing is today predominantly engulfed by cloud computing services.
These are changing how data and information are managed. The decision-making process is changing in various information and knowledge-intensive and process-oriented industries such as healthcare, banking, transportation, engineering, education, security, just to name a few, despite the fact that roles and services still remain. New and emerging disciplines and services are added, driven by the advancement and greater capabilities of technology. Without a doubt, in the next few years, data and information services will be revolutionized by technology hugely. Consider the development in artificial intelligence, data science, blockchain, 5G, and broadband networks, all of which have huge potential to impact the discipline. This means that information sciences and information systems courses must adapt to take into consideration the emerging skills required by the professionals and businesses of the future. The education and training of professionals in this domain have to be continuously changing to prepare graduates adequately.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Computer Operators?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: I didn't see any negative impact of coronavirus on our graduates. Our graduates did not have any problem finding internships and jobs during the pandemic. After the pandemic, there will be even more demand and opportunities for our graduates.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Operators in the next 5 years?
Dr. Hala ElAarag: In our field, it might be more appropriate the other way around. I would like to rephrase the question as to how does the computer science field impact technology in the next five years? The answer is tremendous. With fields like quantum computing, artificial intelligence, visual, and augmented reality making great strides, there is no doubt that we will witness a revolution in technology in the next five years.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Operators in the next 5 years?
Edward Moskal: Technology will have a significant impact over the next five years. While technology associated with the software, databases, blockchain, cloud computing, and cybersecurity will still have an impact, we are likely to see significant changes and advancements in fields such as artificial intelligence, combinations of augmented and mixed reality, and quantum computing. Industry and business will be driving these advancements, in particular, the healthcare industry and large tech companies like Google and Facebook that have already started establishing a strong presence in these fields.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Computer Operators to find work opportunities?
Kathleen Riley: 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.