How to hire an operating system programmer

How to hire an operating system programmer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step operating system programmer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an operating system programmer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new operating system programmer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your operating system programmer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find an operating system programmer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An operating system programmer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, operating system programmers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of operating system programmers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Operating System Programmer	Description	Hourly rate
   Operating System Programmer	Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.	$25-51
   Mainframe Developer	A mainframe developer specializes in designing and developing information technology systems. Their responsibilities include performing system installations and modifications, creating test structures, gathering and analyzing data, conducting risk assessments, providing support for project requirements, and implementing plans such as disaster recovery and interface layout... Show more	$33-56
   Sap/Abap Developer	An SAP/ABAP developer is responsible for designing and creating software programs and applications through the SAP and ABAP programming codes. They conduct multiple diagnostic tests for newly-created and existing applications to ensure adherence to quality standards and requirements... Show more	$37-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CNC
   • Technical Support
   • Calipers
   • Mainframe
   • PC
   • OS
   • Wire EDM
   • CAD
   • EDM Machines
   • SQL Server
   • Waterjet
   • SAS
   • COBOL
   • Cam

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop daily automate process to down data from UNIX box to Novell server.
   • Achieve improved efficiency and cost reduction goals through efforts and expertise provide in multiple LPAR eliminations and data center consolidations.
   • Used SAS computer language to merge large databases and samples to optimize cooperative database response rates.
   • Produce PDF, RTF and HTML files using SAS/ODS.
   • Program laser for part cutting.
   • Encode all daily man-hours to payroll system.

   More operating system programmer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your operating system programmer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An operating system programmer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, operating system programmers' average salary in hawaii is 42% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level operating system programmers earn 50% less than senior-level operating system programmers.
   • Certifications. An operating system programmer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an operating system programmer's salary.

   Average operating system programmer salary

   $75,544yearly

   $36.32 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level operating system programmer salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average operating system programmer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$92,983	$45
   2	North Carolina	$91,222	$44
   3	Illinois	$88,658	$43
   4	Connecticut	$86,440	$42
   5	Virginia	$82,975	$40
   6	Texas	$80,466	$39
   7	Georgia	$77,375	$37
   8	Louisiana	$70,101	$34
   9	Florida	$60,707	$29

   Average operating system programmer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NRG Energy	$86,560	$41.62
   2	FIS	$85,969	$41.33	4
   3	Allentown	$84,198	$40.48
   4	avworkshop	$81,717	$39.29
   5	Michigan Spring & Stamping	$81,704	$39.28
   6	Fidelity Technologies	$80,912	$38.90
   7	Miami-Dade County	$80,736	$38.82	1
   8	Fidelity Investments	$77,192	$37.11	8
   9	University of Connecticut	$73,069	$35.13
   10	My Florida Regional Mls	$68,651	$33.01
   11	NC.gov	$46,695	$22.45	1
   12	Florida Dept. of Health	$43,965	$21.14
   13	State Of Florida	$43,597	$20.96	18
   14	Florida Department of Transportation	$43,367	$20.85

4. Writing an operating system programmer job description

   An operating system programmer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an operating system programmer job description:

   Operating system programmer job description example

   Come join the team and make a difference! Allentown LLC. is the leading global provider in Life Science solutions. For over 50 years we've been proud to play our part in heroic global research that continues to improve animal and human lives every day.

   We offer exceptional career growth opportunities, excellent benefits and a corporate culture that values creativity and achievement. We challenge our talented professionals to pursue initiatives and share responsibility.

   Primary Responsibilities

   Position Summary: Programmer Operator

   This is a high energy job position. Must be focused, self-motivated and be able to learn as you go. Knowing basic windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10 functions are a must. You will learn how to use the UI of each machine and be expected to know or learn custom CNC code. Basic use of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access are also a part of the job. Must understand and practice safe work habits for yourself, the machine and its operator. Must be able to communicate well with others and be able to relay information to the lead people and supervisor.

   Skill Requirements

   • Basic Math.
   • Use measuring tools. Standard and Metric a plus.
   • Be able to lift and pull up to 50lbs.
   • Be able to stand, bend and move throughout the working shift.
   • Must know how to use a windows computer. (Windows XP to Win10)
   • Be able to read a blueprint and understand each aspect of its contents.
   • Knowledge of basic CNC is a plus.
   • Skills with a pallet jack are a plus.

   Benefits

   • Medical Insurance
   • Dental Insurance
   • Life Insurance
   • Short Term Disability Insurance
   • PTO/Sick Time
   • 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
   • Verizon Discounts

   EOE, Including Disability/Vets

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find operating system programmers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any operating system programmers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level operating system programmers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find operating system programmer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting operating system programmers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview operating system programmer candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new operating system programmer

   Once you've found the operating system programmer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new operating system programmer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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