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Job outlook for computer systems operators in the United States
Computer systems operator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected computer systems operator job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for computer systems operators are projected over the next decade.
Computer systems operator salaries have increased 9% for computer systems operators in the last 5 years.
There are over 26,940 computer systems operators currently employed in the United States.
There are 100,854 active computer systems operator job openings in the US.
The average computer systems operator salary is $94,444.
Are computer systems operator jobs in demand?
Computer systems operator job and salary trends over time
Computer systems operator jobs over time
Computer systems operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,940 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 26,546 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,513 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 4,439 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,545 | 0.00% |
Average computer systems operator salary over time
Computer systems operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $94,444 | $45.41 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $91,332 | $43.91 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $89,265 | $42.92 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $88,231 | $42.42 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $86,708 | $41.69 | +2.4% |
Computer systems operator jobs by state
Most common states for computer systems operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 281 | 40% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 230 | 31% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 307 | 29% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,605 | 23% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 249 | 19% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 142 | 19% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 117 | 19% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 112 | 19% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,588 | 18% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 138 | 16% |
| 11 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 315 | 15% |
| 12 | Delaware | 961,939 | 145 | 15% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 853 | 14% |
| 14 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 951 | 13% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 705 | 13% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 535 | 13% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 256 | 13% |
| 18 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 181 | 13% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 139 | 13% |
| 20 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 826 | 12% |
Most common cities for computer systems operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownsville | 1 | 1% | $85,695 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $93,991 |
| 3 | Frederick | 1 | 1% | $97,852 |
| 4 | Tallahassee | 1 | 1% | $62,741 |
Computer Systems Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of computer systems operator experts
Tuskegee University
The University of Maine
Texas A&M University San Antonio
American University
SUNY Oswego
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Grand Valley State University
New York Institute of Technology
Dalya Fadlalla
Adjunct FacultyTuskegee University
Computer/Information Technology Administration And Management
What will help Computer Systems Operators increase their earning potential?
Dalya Fadlalla: JOB_TITLE for day-to-day activities will be different depending on the specific role and industry they are working in. When it comes to Computer Information Systems (CIS) graduates entering the job market, it will be useful to have a clear understanding of a job description, and daily activities with expectations of the job for someone who entered the field.
Daily basis activities will depend on their specific job title. Some of the common job titles in this field include IT or IT project manager, programs developer, computer administrator, and database administrator. There are common tasks for Computer Information Systems including managing projects, analyzing data, leading research, managing projects, creating presentations or reports, checking and maintaining computer networks, and collaborating with team members.
For someone entering this field, his day might include learning new skills, completing tasks assigned by a supervisor, working on small projects, collaborating with other team members, and managing and organizing large amounts of data.
Someone who entering the field needs to be open to learning and willing to take on new challenges to grow and develop their skills in the field. CIS offers a wide range of job opportunities with unique daily activities and responsibilities
Dr. Jon Ippolito
Professor of New MediaThe University of Maine
School of Computing and Information Science
What skills stand out on Computer Systems 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).
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Information SystemsTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Information Systems Department
What soft skills should all Computer Systems Operators possess?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: -Ability to work as part of a team.
-Attention to detail.
-Problem-solving and analytical skills.
What skills will help Computer Systems Operators earn the most?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: My personal view is that instead of following the skills that command higher salaries, one should focus on a field that you like and feel at ease with. Instead of following the money, one should follow your heart, and money will eventually follow.
Anthony Baron
Teaching Assistant, Associate Software EngineerAmerican University
What skills will help Computer Systems Operators earn the most?
Anthony Baron: By earning, do you mean financially, career-wise, or most growth? Career-wise, it really depends on what the final goal is. For web developers, learning the programming languages and frameworks for web development would be the way to go. In general, any experience with programming and knowing a little about a lot will be helpful. Having top-level theory knowledge (some but not in-depth) is also very helpful. It will help you better understand what is happening under the hood and determine which methods are more efficient than others. Financially, it really depends on what skills are most in-demand today. Also, getting a Masters opens doors to more job opportunities, and in some companies, allows for a pay increase. However, this is not the case everywhere.
How do you envision technology impacting Computer Systems Operators in the next 5 years?
Mario Bkassiny Ph.D.: There has been recently a great focus on certain engineering technologies that enable smart systems with fast communications abilities. This has led to a revolution in several technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, wireless communications and cloud computing. Innovation in these fields will be essential in the upcoming years in order to keep up with the social and economic needs of modern life. The benefits of these innovations will have a long-lasting effect on our society.
What general advice would you give to a Computer Systems Operator?
Mario Bkassiny Ph.D.: Young graduates should continuously seek every learning opportunity to enhance their professional skills. With the fast growth of engineering technology, it is important for engineers to remain up to date with the most recent innovations in their fields. The learning process does not stop at graduation, but instead, it extends beyond college to the workplace where engineers can gain expert knowledge in their fields.
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Community Engagement & Internationalization Officer, Professor of Information Systems & Quantitative Analysis, Director, Executive Master’s of Science in Information Technology (EMIT) Program, Executive Director, Center for Management of IT (CMIT), Fulbright Grantee (Specialist 2014; Core 2020-21)University of Nebraska at Omaha
College of Information Science & Technology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Computer Systems Operator job market given the pandemic?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: Employment in the computer and information technology field were expected to grow by 11 percent between 2019 and 2029, according to the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). I do not think this will be lower post-Covid; in fact the demand for talented IT workers will substantively higher.
High tech entry level jobs will continue to be in areas such as software development (Java, Javascript, Python, etc.); Agile Methodology; Automation Engineers; AI/ML Developers/Analysts; Cybersecurity; Data Analysts/Data Engineers; Natural Language Processing; DevOPS; Project Management; Cloud Technologists; Parallel Computing; Quantum Computing; Digitalization or Supply Chain and Business Process Automation; Medical/Bio/Health Informaticians with a computing focused understanding of life and medical sciences. The ones in bold are what I would consider hot skills for the future and these will absolutely grow.
I also think general understanding of these important emerging areas will become important for non-IT employees as well. I would argue that all jobs will be "tech" jobs to some extent as automation and industry 4.0/5.0 takes hold across sectors; all college graduates will need to have exposure, if not competence, in aspects of technology that affect all business functions.
What's a good job out of college for Computer Systems Operators?
Deepak Khazanchi Ph.D.: I think the "best" and "interesting" jobs in my view will be those that leverage emerging technical skills such as AI/ML, data analytics, cybersecurity and medical informatics, with the nontechnical capabilities mentioned above.
What technical skills for a Computer Systems 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 technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Computer Systems Operators in the next 3-5 years?
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.: -The enormous growth of IoT and wearables. The number of connected devices is expected to be more than 26 billion in 2020. That includes things like household appliances, controllable lighting, and much more. This trend is likely to continue as it is expected to see the industry grow to 661 billion dollars by 2021.
-We will be witnessing a more widespread commercial deployment of 5G in 2020. With the implementation of the Standalone 5G devices based on the 3gpp release 16, we should be seeing the more robust mobile broadband deployment of 5G, wider availability of 5G smartphones, and a push towards an all 5G Network in select urban areas around the world.
-Significant growth in AI-based technologies, from face recognition and voice recognition to business intelligence and market predictions. As machines and deep learning algorithms get integrated into many applications, many industries will undergo substantial changes. AI systems will continue to interact with our phones; cars will interpret and analyze their surroundings and intelligently drive themselves. Online vendors will monitor our browsing habits, and Google decides what kind of search results to give us, based on who it thinks we are.