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Operator Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, operators don't need a college education. The most common degree for operators is high school diploma with 40% graduates, with only 22% operator graduates earning bachelor's degree. Operators who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Central State University. Some good skills to have in this position include safety procedures, cdl and emergency calls.

Popular operator certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate , Forklift Safety and Inspector, or Operator Certification. To improve operator qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in operator education paths.

What education do you need to become an operator?

What degree do you need to be an operator?

The most common degree for operators is high school diploma, with 40% of operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 22% and bachelor's degree degree at 20%.
  • High School Diploma, 40%
  • Bachelor's, 22%
  • Associate, 20%
  • Diploma, 10%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become an operator?

You should major in business to become an operator. 23% of operators major in business. Other common majors for an operator include general studies and criminal justice.

Best majors for operators

20 best online courses for operators

Advertising Disclosure

1. Operate Alibaba Cloud Systems and Services

coursera

Course description: ACA System Operator Certification Preparation Course is intended for individuals who have technical expertise in deployment, management and operations on Alibaba Cloud. It’s recommended for System administrators with at least one year of experience in deployment, management, and operations on Alibaba Cloud. ACA System Operator Certification is intended for individuals who have technical expertise in deployment, management, and operations on Alibaba Cloud. Certificate holders...

2. Operations Systems Excellence

coursera

The sole task of organisations is to either deliver customers the services that they require, or design, manufacture, and deliver products that customers are after. How do firms and organisations manage the very tasks that they carry out? How can operations themselves give excellence to organisations to enable them to be competitive? Operations management is concerned with the design, planning and control of operating systems for the provision of goods and services. This course will provide an...

3. MBA: Supply Chain and Operation management

udemy
4.5
(266)

Tactics, Tools, and Techniques required to become a Supply chain and operation manager...

4. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

udemy
4.5
(1,881)

Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

5. Truck Dispatcher - Working with owner operators

udemy
4.6
(724)

Work and earn...

6. Operations Management A-Z: Business Processes and Systems

udemy
4.6
(4,741)

Operations Management: Supply Chain & Business Processes in Industry for Manufacturing and Services Organizations...

7. Operations Management in small businesses: key techniques

udemy
4.4
(2,020)

A toolkit for making small business operations effective and efficient...

8. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

9. Heat Exchangers: Design , Operation & Maintenance

udemy
4.5
(286)

A complete understanding of construction details , functionning and design of heat exchangers for successful operation...

10. Operational Risks Management ORM

udemy
4.3
(1,174)

Operational Risks Management ORM Case Studies for Risk Management, Compliance, Audit, IS Security, Banking Professionals...

11. Operations Management: Inventory Management

udemy
4
(301)

Operations Management Training Program (Course 4 of 8)...

12. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 1

udemy
4.5
(4,324)

Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...

13. The Operations Management Training Program

udemy
4.1
(748)

Learn how to design, plan, direct, and improve all the activities that transform resources into goods or services...

14. Operating Systems Part 3: Synchronization and Deadlock

udemy
4.4
(684)

Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...

15. Operating Systems from scratch - Part 2

udemy
4.7
(1,078)

Learn memory management in operating systems as operating system forms the core of computer science...

16. Write Your Own Operating System From Scratch - Step by Step

udemy
4.5
(293)

Build your own 64-bit operating system - for the x86 architecture...

17. Operating Systems Final Part (4): File Systems & Threads

udemy
4.6
(518)

Learn the concepts of Operating Systems from scratch as Operating System forms the core of Computer Science...

18. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

udemy
4.4
(478)

OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

19. Basic Cellular Networks Operator Course

udemy
4.5
(2,162)

Basic Fundamentals of Cellular Network Operations...

20. Lean Manufacturing A-Z: Lean Operations Management

udemy
4.6
(3,222)

Lean Business Operations Management, Lean Process and Systems Improvement in Production and Industry. MBA style course...

Average operator salary by education level

Operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $39,692 annually. With a High School Diploma degree, operators earn a median annual income of $38,428 compared to $38,313 for operators with an Bachelor's degree.
Operator education levelOperator salary
High School Diploma or Less$38,428
Bachelor's Degree$38,313
Some College/ Associate Degree$39,692

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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