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What is an operating systems specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Babak Beheshti Ph.D.,
Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an operating systems specialist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $34.63 an hour? That's $72,033 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 18,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to an operating systems specialist?

Babak Beheshti Ph.D.Babak Beheshti Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Dean, Professor, New York Institute of Technology

As most economies in the world have moved towards a "gig economy" paradigm, it is essential for graduates beginning their careers to adopt an entrepreneurial and self-guided career mindset. Young professionals would need to take charge of their professional development. This means that they must continually remind themselves that the knowledge learned shelf life is reducing more and more every year. New skills and technologies come into the picture. They must know these new skills on their own to maintain their competitive edge in the job market. Moreover, young professionals must view every position they hold to be an added chapter in their portfolio - every position held should be considered an experiential skill added to the resume.
ScoreOperating Systems SpecialistUS Average
Salary
5.6

Avg. Salary $72,033

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.7

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 8.78%

Black or African American 8.86%

Hispanic or Latino 12.55%

Unknown 5.08%

White 64.42%

Gender

female 28.23%

male 71.77%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Operating systems specialist career paths

Key steps to become an operating systems specialist

  1. Explore operating systems specialist education requirements

    Most common operating systems specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    62.0 %

    Associate

    22.3 %

    Master's

    6.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific operating systems specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Continuous Improvement11.63%
    Customer Service6.27%
    SQL6.22%
    Data Entry6.03%
    Technical Support5.96%
  3. Complete relevant operating systems specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New operating systems specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an operating systems specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real operating systems specialist resumes.
  4. Research operating systems specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage integrated network connectivity, reporting, and troubleshooting including switch, router, and firewall connectivity to increase system stability.
    • Diagnose and correct software and hardware problems for local and remote PCs and terminals.
    • Provide in-house support for all PCs hardware and software, printers, fax machines and copiers.
    • Identify and design solutions to complex problems and troubleshoot and repair networks, computers, electronics, and electrical.
  5. Prepare your operating systems specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operating systems specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an operating systems specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable operating systems specialist resume templates

    Build a professional operating systems specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your operating systems specialist resume.
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
    Operating Systems Specialist Resume
  6. Apply for operating systems specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an operating systems specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first operating systems specialist job

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Average operating systems specialist salary

The average operating systems specialist salary in the United States is $72,033 per year or $35 per hour. Operating systems specialist salaries range between $51,000 and $101,000 per year.

Average operating systems specialist salary
$72,033 Yearly
$34.63 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do operating systems specialists rate their job?

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Operating systems specialist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

I enjoy the challenges and learning new things . Technology is always evolving.

Cons

Customer is unwilling to provide you with necessary information in order to assist them.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Different approach of solving problem in hardware and software.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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