A data center operator is the powerhouse of a cost-effective data center, a facility that is dedicated to the arrangement, processing, storage, and distribution of data. Companies and other organizations utilize these data centers to improve their business output and profitability.
The main role of data center operators is to make sure that the facility's mainframes and large computers are properly and efficiently functioning. They address system issues and mitigate risks of downtime, ensuring that security measures are in place. They also do manual work to fix problematic equipment.
With the technical and detailed work, the data center operator should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They should be able to multitask and competently perform their duties under pressure. They may work on flexible schedules or in shifts because data centers operate round-the-clock.
Aspiring data center operators need at least an associate's degree in information technology, computer science, or systems analysis. Familiarity with TCP/IP and Active Directory is also a requirement.
Data Center Operator Overview
Working as a Data Center Operator
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a data center operator. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.89 an hour? That's $45,539 a year!
What Does a Data Center Operator Do
There are certain skills that many data center 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 customer-service skills, listening skills and speaking skills.
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a data center operator, we found that a lot of resumes listed 9.0% of data center operators included customer service, while 8.1% of resumes included hardware, and 7.4% of resumes included backup. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
When it comes to searching for a job, many search for a key term or phrase. Instead, it might be more helpful to search by industry, as you might be missing jobs that you never thought about in industries that you didn't even think offered positions related to the data center operator job title. But what industry to start with? Most data center operators actually find jobs in the finance and technology industries.
How To Become a Data Center Operator
If you're interested in becoming a data center operator, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 39.6% of data center operators have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 6.5% of data center operators have master's degrees. Even though some data center operators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a data center operator. When we researched the most common majors for a data center operator, we found that they most commonly earn bachelor's degree degrees or associate degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on data center operator resumes include high school diploma degrees or master's degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a data center operator. In fact, many data center operator jobs require experience in a role such as computer operator. Meanwhile, many data center operators also have previous career experience in roles such as senior computer operator or technical support specialist.
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Data Center Operator Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of technical support specialist you might progress to a role such as systems administrator eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title information technology manager.
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Average Salary for a Data Center Operator
Best Paying Cities
Recently Added Salaries
Job TitleCompany  | Company | Start Date | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
Kelly Services Kelly OCG: Data Center Operator-Full Benefits Kelly OCG: Data Center Operator-Full Benefits | Kelly Services Kelly Services | 10/20/2020 10/20/2020 | $34,95710/20/2020 $34,957 |
Randstad Data Center Operations Data Center Operations | Randstad Randstad | 03/18/2020 03/18/2020 | $41,74003/18/2020 $41,740 |
Allied Universal Security Data Center Operator Data Center Operator | Allied Universal Security Allied Universal Security | 08/28/2019 08/28/2019 | $52,17508/28/2019 $52,175 |
Allied Universal Data Center Operator Data Center Operator | Allied Universal Allied Universal | 08/20/2019 08/20/2019 | $45,91408/20/2019 $45,914 |
TJX Data Center Operator Data Center Operator | TJX TJX | 07/27/2019 07/27/2019 | $27,13107/27/2019 $27,131 |
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Top Colleges for Data Center Operators
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
5. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Public
6. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Public
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Public
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA • Private
Top Skills For a Data Center 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, 9.0% of data center operators listed customer service on their resume, but soft skills such as customer-service skills and listening skills are important as well.
- Customer Service, 9.0%
- Hardware, 8.1%
- Backup, 7.4%
- Procedures, 5.3%
- Escalate, 5.2%
- Other Skills, 65.0% See All Data Center Operator Skills
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