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Job outlook for operating systems specialists in the United States
Operating systems specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected operating systems specialist job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 18,200 new jobs for operating systems specialists are projected over the next decade.
Operating systems specialist salaries have increased 9% for operating systems specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,172 operating systems specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 118,819 active operating systems specialist job openings in the US.
The average operating systems specialist salary is $72,033.
Are operating systems specialist jobs in demand?
Operating systems specialist job and salary trends over time
Operating systems specialist jobs over time
Operating systems specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,172 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 9,464 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 12,278 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,150 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,047 | 0.00% |
Average operating systems specialist salary over time
Operating systems specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $72,033 | $34.63 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | $69,660 | $33.49 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $68,083 | $32.73 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $67,294 | $32.35 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $66,133 | $31.79 | +2.4% |
Operating systems specialist jobs by state
Most common states for operating systems specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 637 | 92% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,938 | 35% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,849 | 31% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 196 | 31% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 225 | 30% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 222 | 29% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 371 | 28% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 161 | 28% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 491 | 26% |
| 10 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,359 | 24% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 210 | 24% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 243 | 23% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 241 | 23% |
| 14 | Delaware | 961,939 | 223 | 23% |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,508 | 22% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 892 | 22% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 451 | 22% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 659 | 21% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 973 | 20% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 263 | 20% |
Most common cities for operating systems specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farmington | 2 | 8% | $76,085 |
| 2 | Fairbanks | 1 | 3% | $57,640 |
| 3 | Battle Creek | 1 | 2% | $71,981 |
| 4 | Cupertino | 1 | 2% | $70,352 |
| 5 | Pensacola | 1 | 2% | $71,519 |
| 6 | Rockwall | 1 | 2% | $68,642 |
| 7 | Melbourne | 1 | 1% | $70,160 |
| 8 | Savannah | 1 | 1% | $80,936 |
| 9 | Warner Robins | 1 | 1% | $80,822 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $81,322 |
| 11 | Chula Vista | 1 | 0% | $61,199 |
| 12 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $72,222 |
| 13 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $67,328 |
| 14 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $63,127 |
| 15 | Riverside | 1 | 0% | $63,434 |
| 16 | Tucson | 1 | 0% | $68,189 |
Operating Systems Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of operating systems specialist experts
Stevens Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Northwood University
Quinnipiac University
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Albertus Magnus College
American University
SUNY Oswego
Lawrence Technological University
SUNY Potsdam
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Grand Valley State University
Tiffin University
California State University - Long Beach
University of Washington
Bakersfield College
Portland State University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of New Hampshire
What will help Operating Systems Specialists increase their earning potential?
Anthony Barrese: The ability to listen to the customer is the most critical skill. Deeply understanding the needs of the end user ensures business success. In addition, digital engineering environments and digital twin technology in particular, will become increasingly important. These tools enable gains in efficiency and promote enhanced quality.
What will help Operating Systems Specialists increase their earning potential?
Jason Nichols PhD: Build your experience base through internships and industry projects, and brag about these experiences when you interview. Collect professional certificates to compliment your degree. Security and cloud computing are excellent areas to pursue these in right now. AI and machine learning as well, of course. Build a structured skillset in problem solving and critical thinking, and demonstrate this skillset in your discussions with future employers. Map all of these efforts into a coherent story about yourself in your applications, and how they have shaped you to be a tech-savvy business problem solver, with a strong understanding of both the business and the technology. This foundation prepares you for so very many roles in our field, and businesses recognize and actively seek out this profile in their job candidates. Use the resources available to you. If you need additional time for more formal training, join a masters program. Join us for a masters program, actually. Our AI in Business masters program is launching this Fall, and is open for enrollment currently. Visit us here to learn more: https://wpcarey.asu.edu/masters-programs/ai-business
What Operating Systems Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Whalen P.E.: Many system engineers enjoy working across all technologies at a higher organizational level, and interacting with all types of technologists to manage and implement complex technical systems.
Many system engineers can feel challenged by their lack of depth of understanding of particular technologies compared to technical specialists.
Professor David Sanford
Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB)Northwood University
Computer And Information Sciences
What general advice would you give to an Operating Systems Specialist?
Professor David Sanford: Workers like that they are challenged to solve problems and lead technological innovations.
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like
Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.
In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.
Guido Lang Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Computer Information SystemsQuinnipiac University
School of Business
What skills stand out on Operating Systems Specialist resumes?
Guido Lang Ph.D.: - Systems analysis and design
- Business/process/data modeling
- IT project management
- Change management
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Information SystemsTexas A&M University San Antonio
Computer Information Systems Department
What soft skills should all Operating Systems Specialists possess?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: -Ability to work as part of a team.
-Attention to detail.
-Problem-solving and analytical skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Operating Systems Specialists?
Robert Vinaja Ph.D.: -Programming.
-Understand algorithms and data structures.
What skills will help Operating Systems Specialists 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.
David Garaventa
Director, Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity Programs, Assistant Professor, CISAlbertus Magnus College
Business Administration and Management Department
What skills stand out on Operating Systems Specialist resumes?
David Garaventa: The skills/attributes required across a variety of jobs in the IT fields.
What soft skills should all Operating Systems Specialists possess?
David Garaventa: Communication and collaboration skills are critical. Particularly now that many employees are working remotely, it has become more difficult - yet more important than ever - to have IT teams that work effectively together, even when they are not in the same room together. But this is not unique to the IT realm. Whether via remote meetings or through effective written communications, it is no longer enough to simply have "technical skills." Technical skills can be taught to employees more easily than developing employee's soft skills, so when an employee approaches their job with a strong set of communication skills and strong analytic reading and writing abilities, they can often make themselves stand out to employers. The employers will recognize that they have the attributes to be an asset to the team and can then invest in helping them develop any technical areas where they may be lacking.
This is not to say that technical skills don't matter, because they do, especially in the IT field. But suppose an employee brings a strong set of soft skills to an IT team (e.g., collaboration, communication, critical thinking, etc.). In that case, they probably also can learn more technical skills as part of their job function. I once had a colleague say to me that when she is hiring, she has found that technical skill is all over the place...but it's the soft skills that are harder to find. Lastly, having the ability - and a desire - to be continually learning is essential. Technology is not static, and businesses are not static, so thinking critically in different settings across various technology platforms is very important. The tools your department uses today may not be the tools they are using tomorrow, so being fluid, adaptable, and constantly learning is the name of the game.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Operating Systems Specialists?
David Garaventa: The technical skills that are required are broad and tend to be business and/or industry-specific. If you are working in healthcare IT, the patient management platforms you use could be different from the client database used by a bank's IT team, for example. So, on the one hand, the recommendation would be to determine what platforms are most commonly used in your industry area and spend time mastering those platforms. On the other hand, most industries tend to have specific tools that are most commonly used, and spending time mastering those is important.
Going deeper into the subject, technical skills around project management, cloud infrastructure, security, and end-user support bridge across all industries. Having knowledge and skills in these areas will serve IT professionals well, no matter what field or industry they end up in. Again, it is challenging to recommend specific technical skills because the field of IT is so broad.
Anthony Baron
Teaching Assistant, Associate Software EngineerAmerican University
What hard/technical skills are most important for Operating Systems Specialists?
Anthony Baron: The main technical/ hard skills, I would say, are mainly the same as in part 1. Another hard skill that will come through with experience in programming is learning how to Google, more specifically knowing exactly what to search to solve an issue in the code.
What skills will help Operating Systems Specialists 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.
What general advice would you give to an Operating Systems Specialist?
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.
What's a day at work look like for an Operating Systems Specialist?
Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe: What's a day at work going to look like for a recent graduate?
This pandemic has highly promoted keeping to one's space. A typical day at work be it work-from-home (online), traditional in-person or hybrid will naturally divide the work force into two groups; employees who perform best as lone players vs the socialists/collaborationist. Today, most companies keep as many employees as they can online. Workers are beginning to reorganize their lives around this type of schedule, and they are growing their comfort with this new norm. I think that there are sundry reasons why expectations from employers and employees will have to be adjusted in this regard post pandemic era.
What technical skills for an Operating Systems Specialist stand out to employers?
Oriehi Destiny Anyaiwe: Attitude. Anyone can memorize a programming language and have a perfect syntax, but if you cannot find your way out of a paper bag you do the company no good. In today's marketplace, problems/business are tackled with a collaborative view. Employers will like to hire employees that have the skill set and potential to explain problems/solutions to non experts as well as working amicably with them.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Operating Systems Specialists?
Christopher Lanz: No certificate program or selection makes an applicant competitive with an actual computer scientist. Employers are fully aware that such a person is in the strongest position to learn anything. This is absolutely not true of certificate-earners.
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's a good job out of college for Operating Systems Specialists?
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 an Operating Systems Specialist 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's a good job out of college for Operating Systems Specialists?
Chirag Parikh Ph.D.: It is given that technical skills are required as you enter the job market. In the area of Computer Engineering, I feel that graduates should have a breadth of knowledge in most areas of computer engineering and a greater depth of knowledge in at least one area. Programming skills are of utmost importance, as you might not know every possible programming language or its syntax but the basic understanding of programming logic is necessary.
I personally value debugging skills as a must to have as having this makes you a well-rounded engineer no matter what area of engineering you belong to. Next in my list is technical writing and verbal communication skill. Most of the engineers are known to underperform in this skill. I value this skill, as employers would want their engineers to be able to create technical documents as well as present their design to other co-workers and sometimes to other stakeholders.
The last skill I feel that employers would like their employees to have would be to work in a multidisciplinary environment with co-workers from different branches of engineering and other backgrounds.
What type of skills will young Operating Systems Specialists need?
George Miller: Many organizations realize graduates cannot learn everything in college about their major but want the graduate to have a solid foundation on their field of study. The organization wants to mold the graduate to their company environment with how they do things related to the field of study. Most companies want college graduates to have good communication skills (both oral and written), critical thinking skills and be able to work well in teams. These skills have been a staple for graduates since I can remember. This is why a college graduate takes many general education courses related to these skills and many of their major courses emphasize these skills.
Going back to the previous answer I believe graduates in all fields of study will need a better knowledge of technology and easier adaptability to changing technology. Again, an IS degree is already preparing students for this.
What experience really stands out on Operating Systems Specialist resumes?
George Miller: For graduates any experience stands out on a resume and it does not need to be related to their field of study. I tell students to do whatever to get experience. This can be with community volunteer work, at their college through clubs and organization and with professional employment.
There are many organization and government paid internship and co-op opportunities for students within all fields. There is no reason why every student cannot find some sort of internship/co-op during a summer break. Many times, an internship/co-op turns into full time employment. Often high schools and colleges are doing major technology upgrades within the summer months (because they are shut down during this period) and would welcome a student as an IS major as an intern. But volunteer work at the local church or favorite charity can also provide valuable experience. As I opened with this answer any experience stands out on a resume. The experience shows that a graduate has drive and determination.
What general advice would you give to an Operating Systems Specialist?
Dr. Lesley Farmer: Get to know the site before interviewing, and remember that even interviews are an opportunity to practice communication skills-and to see if there's a good match between you and the site. Once hired, learn about the organizational culture and develop trustful relationships. Make one memorable contribution the first month, but focus on becoming an expert before changing others. In addition, join a local and national professional association to keep current and network.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Operating Systems Specialists?
Les Atlas: Most certainly an impact, a very strong impact. The best lesson for us is from the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic. That strain of flu still circulates as a seasonal virus. Over 100 years laters, it is now considered a Phase 6 pandemic by the World Health Organization. While it is reduced due to current social distancing and mask wearing, the 1919 Spanish Flu virus still causes community-level outbreaks in multiple parts of the globe. Societal changes from this event of over 100 years ago are still with us.
In fact, they changed society. As is well-documented, after a high level of immunity was reached in the 1920's, the resulting labor shortage enabled workers to demand better living and working conditions, as well as better wages and public health care. As just one example of the societal changes due to the 1919 pandemic, the drop in the male labor force empowered male workers, and also changed the gender composition.
The aftermath of the 1919 pandemic was the start of women joining the labour force. In the United States, the proportion of women in the labour force rose from 18 per cent in 1900 to almost 21 per cent in 1920. In that same year, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the Constitution, the Congress of the United States guaranteed all American women the right to vote.
The current COVID-19 pandemic will certainly change the way we live, be it our mobility or the kinds of career options people have. After our current year-long experience in remote learning and work, will we go back to the inefficiencies of going to our office every work day? Or will remote work be acceptable, where one's residence will not be dependent upon the locations of employment. Will we avoid future hotspots of infection, choosing to instead reside and travel in areas where infection is decreasing? Will we prefer to travel on aircraft which are certified to be virus-free and frequent restaurants which are documented to be safer? Future marketing will likely make a sharp turn in this direction.
What type of skills will young Operating Systems Specialists need?
Les Atlas: With an expected increase in mobility, companies will have a larger pool of employees to search over and interview. Potentially orders of magnitude more. Searches for employees need not be regional. Thus, if a specific specialization is needed, the pool of applicants, which will likely come from a search over a large region, state-wide or larger, or even international.
Thus specializations will become more important, both in terms of depth and fit to the needs of an employer. Advanced graduate degrees will become more necessary. It seems very likely that filed which help understand data for epidemiology and disease forecasting and geographical hotspots will continue to be especially pertinent.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Operating Systems Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Maryam Farahani: In my opinion, technology will play a much bigger role in our day-to-day life compared to the pre-pandemic world. Artificial intelligence and robotics will have a boost in employment numbers. Companies like Amazon, Walmart, Targets and etc, will need more IT and technology specialists to meet their customer's need for online shopping and supplying/delivering products to their customers. Jobs like programmers, data analysts, and technology support positions will have a rise in response to the change in the market due to pandemic.
For so many of the jobs, the need for a physical office is under question now, many employees are working from home and managing/coordinating their projects virtually. This will change the job market forever and job seekers need to learn new skills to adjust to this change.
Right now, healthcare-related job opportunities are growing in response to the rising need. In addition to doctors and nurses, there will be needs for management roles, accountants, technology supports, and lab technicians in health care industry.
What Operating Systems Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Maryam Farahani: The best approach is researching skills and technologies required in their field of education or their field of work. Specially if there are simulation software/skills presented in their schools (related to their field of work/study), they should not miss the opportunity to learn them. These type of trainings are much less expensive in school and help them to standout in the pool of candidates in current competitive job market. Plus the hiring companies will save time/money for training the trained candidates, and it gives the trained candidates higher chance of employment.
Dr. Wayne Wakeland Ph.D.
Professor and Systems Science Program ChairPortland State University
Systems science program
What Operating Systems Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Wayne Wakeland Ph.D.: For analyst positions, I think that employers want to hire people with strong data analysis skills, which, of course, includes statistics, but also big data, machine learning (algorithms), computer-based modeling, and programming. And, in addition to these apparently rather specialized skills, there is growing recognition that a talent for thinking, communicating, and problem-solving in a very general sense, and being able to cope with/address complexity, is also quite important.
What general advice would you give to an Operating Systems Specialist?
Dr. Wayne Wakeland Ph.D.: Develop a thoughtful combination of technical skills/expertise and qualitative resources/assets/prowess. Purely technical savvy can go a long way, but it is not enough. Employers are eager to hire well-rounded, easy to work with employees and leaders who can go deeper technically as required.
Dr. T.S. Kalkur
Department ChairUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Operating Systems Specialists?
Dr. T.S. Kalkur: Yes, students complained that, while they are earning an online degree, they aren't learning as much.
What type of skills will young Operating Systems Specialists need?
Dr. T.S. Kalkur: They should be have the fundamentals down: good computer skills, knowledge of software tools used in design, good communication skills. They should also have a team spirit and internship experience before graduation.
What experience really stands out on Operating Systems Specialist resumes?
Dr. T.S. Kalkur: Internship experience and tools used in design.
Marc Lessard
ProfessorUniversity of New Hampshire
Physics and Astronomy Department and Space Science Center
What type of skills will young Operating Systems Specialists need?
Marc Lessard: This is a very good and important question. Graduates who can address complex problems in creative ways will be the most successful. This might sound obvious, but there seems to be a trend developing where younger engineers tend to want to follow written procedures or instructions for solving problems.
What is more valuable, of course, is being able to use a broad-based background to provide new and creative solutions, or at least to suggest new ideas and engage in discussions to further develop those ideas. The cliche of "thinking outside the box" will always be important.
What experience really stands out on Operating Systems Specialist resumes?
Marc Lessard: Students who have been significantly involved in research projects have a distinct advantage over those who haven't. Those who began such work (which is typically paid) as sophomores or juniors often will have played a significant role in these real-world research efforts, which can be very different than what might be tackled as part of a capstone project.
Written and oral presentation skills are also essential!