The average computer systems operator salary is $94,444. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an computer information systems major. It usually takes 1-2 years of experience to become a computer systems operator. Computer systems operators with a Security 5 Certification certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What Does a Computer Systems Operator Do

There are certain skills that many computer systems operators have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed analytical skills, communication skills and problem-solving skills.

How To Become a Computer Systems Operator

If you're interested in becoming a computer systems operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 43.9% of computer systems operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.0% of computer systems operators have master's degrees. Even though some computer systems operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Learn More About How To Become a Computer Systems Operator

Computer Systems Operator Career Paths

Average Salary for a Computer Systems Operator

Computer Systems Operators in America make an average salary of $94,444 per year or $45 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $160,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $55,000 per year.
Average Computer Systems Operator Salary
$94,444 Yearly
$45.41 hourly

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Roles and Types of Computer Systems Operator

There are several types of computer systems operator, including:

Administrator

Role:

As administrator, it is your job to support your team. Your goal is that the entire office runs smoothly. So you've got to do the best you can to provide whatever your team needs to be successful. If they need you to get a tattoo to improve their morale, then... We're kidding. Simply put, you'll be responsible for providing office and administrative support. What you get tattooed on your body is business. But the business you work for is counting on your team to get the job done, so you might look forward to duties such as taking phone calls, helping with visitors, creating spreadsheets, and presenting in meetings.

For the most part, you'll only need to work 40 hours each week. Although, some weeks may require a little more time from you. So, you just need to be flexible and roll with the punches. Sure, there's a lot of responsibility resting on your shoulders, but we believe in you.
  • Average Salary: $72,882
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Systems Administrator

Role:

Systems administrators are essential to most companies. So you could probably find a job almost anywhere. Which is great, especially if you're looking for a career with a lot of job opportunities. Of course, who's going to realistically turn down opportunity?

As a systems administrator, it's on your shoulders to keep the company servers up and working smoothly. Of course, there will be crashes you'll have to deal with. After all, that's why you're there in the first place.

When an employer looks for a systems administrator, they're usually looking for an individual who has a bachelor's degree. But that's not all. This isn't an entry-level position so you're going to need at least 3-5 years of experience under your belt as well. Once you get all of those checked off, you'll be well on your way to your dream career.
  • Average Salary: $77,156
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

Systems Engineer

Role:

If you're looking for a job that has a lot of job opportunities tied to it, look no further. Systems engineers are in full demand from all sorts of companies across multiple industries. Everyone needs an "I.T." person in their midst because it's no secret that very few actually know how to use technology.

Sure, most people may refer to you as the I.T. person, but your job is much more complicated than that. Of course, the majority of your time will be spent managing the I.T. services and solving any issues that present themselves, but you will have days that you'll have to recover important emails or divert a disaster.

The only thing stopping you from becoming a systems engineer is a bachelor's degree. Once you've got that under your belt, you'll be on your way to becoming a systems engineer. A really important aspect of being a systems engineer is having the communication skills necessary. The hardest part of your job will be "dumbing" down technology terms so that people can understand what's going on with the I.T. system. Once you get through that, the rest of your job will be easy peasy.
  • Average Salary: $82,834
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree

States With The Most Computer Systems Operator Jobs

Number Of Computer Systems Operator Jobs By State

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1Texas2,481$80,952
2Florida1,845$63,940
3Massachusetts1,605$91,172
4New Jersey1,588$91,012
5New York1,339$98,524
6California1,216$105,682
7Pennsylvania1,198$88,186
8Illinois1,094$71,775
9North Carolina1,026$77,715
10Georgia973$69,986
11Ohio967$73,061
12Washington951$62,435
13Virginia893$86,906
14Michigan858$73,935
15Maryland853$96,517
16Arizona826$89,279
17Minnesota705$61,636
18Missouri554$68,293
19Oregon535$72,711
20Indiana513$63,022
21Tennessee492$63,183
22Wisconsin488$66,196
23South Carolina436$62,297
24Connecticut403$84,304
25Iowa367$60,175
26Colorado340$70,436
27New Mexico315$70,089
28Rhode Island307$85,362
29Kansas306$67,185
30Oklahoma276$70,669
31Nebraska256$65,800
32Kentucky254$67,476
33New Hampshire249$70,573
34Mississippi243$67,914
35Nevada235$87,863
36Louisiana233$70,926
37Alaska230$42,537
38Alabama211$74,810
39Arkansas210$72,056
40Idaho203$64,958
41Hawaii181$85,049
42Utah178$74,931
43Delaware145$90,838
44West Virginia142$72,780
45North Dakota142$47,566
46Montana139$46,534
47South Dakota138$60,269
48Maine137$58,954
49Vermont117$64,679
50Wyoming112$65,574

Computer Systems Operator Education

Computer Systems Operator Majors

15.3 %

Computer Systems Operator Degrees

Bachelors

43.9 %

Associate

37.4 %

High School Diploma

10.2 %

Top Colleges for Computer Systems Operators

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Computer Technical Support
Computer Science
Business
Education
Electrical Engineering

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Education
Computer Technical Support
Business
Information Systems
Computer Science

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Technical Support
Liberal Arts
Communication
Education

4. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Technical Support
Computer Science
Education
Electrical Engineering

5. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,309

Enrollment

9,142

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Liberal Arts
Business
Education
Criminal Justice
Communication

6. SUNY at Binghamton

Vestal, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$9,808

Enrollment

13,990

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Accounting
Computer Technical Support
Computer Science
Business
Electrical Engineering

7. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Liberal Arts
Criminal Justice
Communication

8. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Business
Computer Technical Support
Education
Computer Science
Criminal Justice

9. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Computer Technical Support
Liberal Arts
Business
Information Systems
Education

10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,530

Enrollment

4,571

Admissions
Most Popular Majors
Computer Technical Support
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Engineering
Information Systems

Top Skills For a Computer Systems Operator

The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 7.8% of computer systems operators listed switches on their resume, but soft skills such as analytical skills and communication skills are important as well.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Computer Systems Operator Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Computer Systems Operator templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Computer Systems Operator resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

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Computer Systems Operator Demographics

Computer Systems Operator Gender Distribution

Male
Male
74%
Female
Female
26%

After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

  • Among computer systems operators, 26.4% of them are women, while 73.6% are men.

  • The most common race/ethnicity among computer systems operators is White, which makes up 64.0% of all computer systems operators.

  • The most common foreign language among computer systems operators is Spanish at 40.0%.

Online Courses For Computer Systems Operator That You May Like

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1. Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems

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If you're ready to enter the world of Information Technology (IT), you need job-ready skills. This course enables you to develop the skills to work with computer hardware and operating systems, and is your first step to prepare for all types of tech related careers that require IT Fundamental skills. First, learn about the essential software brain of a computer—its operating system software when you explore Microsoft Windows. Next, discover internal key hardware computer components, including...

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2. Computer Security and Systems Management

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The Computer Security and Systems Management Specialization focuses on computing in an enterprise environment. Combining both theory and real world experience and architecture, the courses will prepare you to design and audit secure enterprise systems. The courses will cover practical use of major server operating systems in an enterprise environment and how to design and operate them securely...

See More on Coursera

3. Introduction to Computer Information Systems

coursera

This Specialization is intended for anyone seeking to learn basic computer skills. Through 3 courses, you will study computer hardware, software, and data safety. You will also learn about digital literacy and productivity tools. These courses will prepare you for a number of jobs within the field of computer information systems...

See More on Coursera
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Top Computer Systems Operator Employers

Most Common Employers For Computer Systems Operator

RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
1IBM$153,697$73.898
2Yahoo$144,229$69.346
3Chevron$129,838$62.422
4SAIC$127,483$61.297
5Unisys$123,863$59.552
6DXC Technology$111,449$53.588
7Motorola Solutions$108,509$52.1710
8Northrop Grumman$104,915$50.443
9Caterpillar$100,982$48.552
10Walmart$89,161$42.874