Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Operating system programmer salary
Average operating system programmer salary
$75,544
Average Operating System Programmer Salary
The average salary for an operating system programmer as of October 2025 is $75,544 per year. This figure reflects the fundamental role these professionals play in the tech industry, focusing on system software development. The hourly wage averages around $36, but this can change based on various factors.
Factors Influencing Salary
In addition to experience and education, the geographic location of the job significantly impacts salary levels. States like California and New York often provide higher compensation compared to others. The industry also plays a crucial role; sectors such as technology and finance typically offer better pay. For those considering a career in this field, understanding these dynamics can enhance job prospects and salary negotiations.
Salary by State
Examining the average salary by state helps job seekers pinpoint the best locations for operating system programming roles. States with the highest salaries often feature a robust tech infrastructure, attracting top companies and projects. This information empowers candidates to make informed decisions about relocation and career development.
Let Zippi find your next operating system programmer job
Let Zippi find your next operating system programmer job
Where can an Operating System Programmer earn more?
Operating system programmer salary estimates from across the web
Average operating system programmer salary by state
The average operating system programmer salary in Washington, Nevada, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average operating system programmer salary states are Wisconsin, Montana, and New Mexico.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for operating system programmers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $93,471 | $44.94 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $93,308 | $44.86 |
| 3 | Washington | $94,602 | $45.48 |
| 4 | Nevada | $94,005 | $45.19 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $90,037 | $43.29 |
| 6 | New York | $92,802 | $44.62 |
| 7 | Vermont | $83,070 | $39.94 |
| 8 | California | $92,561 | $44.50 |
| 9 | Virginia | $84,657 | $40.70 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $86,397 | $41.54 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $86,422 | $41.55 |
| 12 | Oregon | $83,571 | $40.18 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $87,992 | $42.30 |
| 14 | Illinois | $88,307 | $42.46 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $77,654 | $37.33 |
| 16 | Kansas | $81,340 | $39.11 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $78,618 | $37.80 |
| 18 | Maine | $81,271 | $39.07 |
| 19 | Texas | $79,302 | $38.13 |
| 20 | Arizona | $78,419 | $37.70 |
| 21 | Maryland | $79,261 | $38.11 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $80,240 | $38.58 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $80,221 | $38.57 |
| 24 | Alabama | $75,859 | $36.47 |
| 25 | Michigan | $77,486 | $37.25 |
| 26 | Colorado | $78,554 | $37.77 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $83,654 | $40.22 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $76,067 | $36.57 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $78,055 | $37.53 |
| 30 | Utah | $76,131 | $36.60 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $73,945 | $35.55 |
| 32 | Iowa | $75,129 | $36.12 |
| 33 | Delaware | $75,365 | $36.23 |
| 34 | Missouri | $76,153 | $36.61 |
| 35 | Ohio | $73,278 | $35.23 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $68,129 | $32.75 |
| 37 | Georgia | $76,656 | $36.85 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $74,219 | $35.68 |
| 39 | Idaho | $71,675 | $34.46 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $71,602 | $34.42 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $66,681 | $32.06 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $73,389 | $35.28 |
| 43 | Indiana | $72,433 | $34.82 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $70,258 | $33.78 |
| 45 | Montana | $66,923 | $32.17 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $68,365 | $32.87 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $55,289 | $26.58 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $70,061 | $33.68 |
| 49 | Florida | $57,256 | $27.53 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $67,590 | $32.50 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $64,542 | $31.03 |
Highest paying cities for operating system programmers
The highest-paying cities for operating system programmers are New York, NY, Durham, NC, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $92,983 | $44.70 |
| 2 | Durham, NC | $91,222 | $43.86 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $88,658 | $42.62 |
| 4 | Hartford, CT | $86,440 | $41.56 |
| 5 | Roanoke, VA | $82,975 | $39.89 |
| 6 | Irving, TX | $80,466 | $38.69 |
| 7 | Woodstock, GA | $77,375 | $37.20 |
| 8 | Lafayette, LA | $70,101 | $33.70 |
| 9 | Tallahassee, FL | $60,707 | $29.19 |
Operating system programmer salary details
An operating system programmer's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an operating system programmer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $75,544 | $6,295 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
Highest paying operating system programmer jobs
The highest paying types of operating system programmers are lead programmer, senior programmer, and sap/abap developer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainframe Developer | $90,902 | $7,575 | $43.70 | 255,034 |
| Sap/Abap Developer | $104,432 | $8,703 | $50.21 | 92,478 |
| Program Development Internship | $33,686 | $2,807 | $16.19 | 150,632 |
| Program Developer | $74,749 | $6,229 | $35.94 | 128,488 |
| Programmer Analyst | $71,563 | $5,964 | $34.41 | 248,781 |
| Software Programmer | $71,612 | $5,968 | $34.43 | 253,235 |
Top companies hiring operating system programmers now:
Which companies pay operating system programmers the most?
Operating system programmer salaries at NRG Energy and FIS are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average operating system programmer salary at companies like Allentown and avworkshop are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NRG Energy | $86,560 | $41.62 |
| 2 | FIS | $85,969 | $41.33 |
| 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 |
| 8 | Fidelity Investments | $77,192 | $37.11 |
| 9 | University of Connecticut | $73,069 | $35.13 |
| 10 | My Florida Regional Mls | $68,651 | $33.01 |
| 11 | NC.gov | $46,695 | $22.45 |
| 12 | Florida Dept. of Health | $43,965 | $21.14 |
| 13 | State Of Florida | $43,597 | $20.96 |
| 14 | Florida Department of Transportation | $43,367 | $20.85 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Operating System Programmer salary by industry
The average operating system programmer salary varies across industries:
- The average operating system programmer salary in the energy industry is $92,226, the highest of any industry.
- The average operating system programmer salary in the finance industry is $83,914.
- Operating system programmers in the government industry earn an average salary of $62,290, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for operating system programmers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $92,226 | $44.34 |
| 2 | Finance | $83,914 | $40.34 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $77,224 | $37.13 |
| 4 | Government | $62,290 | $29.95 |
High paying operating system programmer jobs
Operating system programmer salary trends
The average operating system programmer salary has risen by $14,013 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average operating system programmer earned $61,531 annually, but today, they earn $75,544 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for operating system programmers over the last decade.
Compare operating system programmer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average operating system programmer salary over time
Compare operating system programmer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Operating system programmer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $75,500 | $36.32 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $73,100 | $35.12 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $71,400 | $34.33 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $69,700 | $33.50 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $67,600 | $32.52 | +0.4% |
Recently added operating system programmer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closets By Design | Cabinet Vision Operator/Cut-List Programmer | Woodinville, WA | 05/24/2025 | $40,000 |
| Adecco Us, Inc. | EDM Operator/Programmer | Fitchburg, MA | 05/23/2025 | $56,349 |
| Staffmark Group | Waterjet Operator and Programmer | Corona, CA | 05/14/2025 | $41,740 |
| University of Michigan | Operating Systems (OS) Programmer | Ann Arbor, MI | 02/22/2025 | $82,000 |
| Seymourmachine | VMC Programmer/Operator | Seymour, WI | 02/16/2025 | $54,262 |
| State of Florida | Operating Systems Programmer II | Tallahassee, FL | 12/12/2024 | $51,500 |
| Myflorida | Operating Systems Programmer II | Tallahassee, FL | 12/11/2024 | $51,500 |
| Myflorida | OPS Systems Programmer I | Tallahassee, FL | 10/12/2024 | $36,523 |
| Gradcafe | Infrastructure & Operations Graduate Programme 2024 | Orlando, FL | 10/10/2024 | $32,870 |
| Seymour MacHine Inc. | VMC Programmer/Operator | Seymour, WI | 09/25/2024 | $54,262 |
Operating system programmer salary FAQs
Search for operating system programmer jobs