Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a Senior Operator in the United States is $85,677 per year, which translates to approximately $41 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience. For instance, Senior Operators in high-demand states often see higher salaries.
Senior Operators can find opportunities across various sectors including manufacturing, logistics, and energy. As companies continue to seek efficiency, the demand for skilled operators remains strong. Additionally, specialized training and certifications can lead to higher earning potential.
In states like California and Texas, Senior Operators typically earn more than the national average. Understanding salary variations by state can help job seekers target their applications effectively. Tools like Zippia can provide tailored insights based on specific locations and industries.
Let Zippia find your next senior operator job
Let Zippia find your next senior operator job
The average senior operator salary in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior operator salary states are Arkansas, Missouri, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $105,195 | $50.57 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $102,919 | $49.48 |
| 3 | Alaska | $93,254 | $44.83 |
| 4 | Maine | $94,214 | $45.30 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $99,485 | $47.83 |
| 6 | Nevada | $94,243 | $45.31 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $92,330 | $44.39 |
| 8 | Maryland | $91,982 | $44.22 |
| 9 | New York | $100,312 | $48.23 |
| 10 | Arizona | $88,809 | $42.70 |
| 11 | Texas | $86,110 | $41.40 |
| 12 | Utah | $84,436 | $40.59 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $82,292 | $39.56 |
| 14 | Delaware | $92,687 | $44.56 |
| 15 | Washington | $92,695 | $44.56 |
| 16 | Ohio | $80,493 | $38.70 |
| 17 | Oregon | $90,866 | $43.69 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $86,787 | $41.72 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $91,348 | $43.92 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $79,013 | $37.99 |
| 21 | California | $89,395 | $42.98 |
| 22 | Vermont | $83,130 | $39.97 |
| 23 | Virginia | $88,638 | $42.61 |
| 24 | Michigan | $83,343 | $40.07 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $77,678 | $37.35 |
| 26 | North Carolina | $79,440 | $38.19 |
| 27 | Hawaii | $89,908 | $43.23 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $82,615 | $39.72 |
| 29 | Illinois | $79,424 | $38.18 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $79,024 | $37.99 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| 32 | Indiana | $74,255 | $35.70 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $75,822 | $36.45 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $72,149 | $34.69 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $75,898 | $36.49 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $77,535 | $37.28 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $74,351 | $35.75 |
| 38 | Georgia | $73,604 | $35.39 |
| 39 | Alabama | $74,781 | $35.95 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $74,200 | $35.67 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $76,695 | $36.87 |
| 42 | Florida | $73,995 | $35.57 |
| 43 | Iowa | $71,723 | $34.48 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $70,438 | $33.86 |
| 45 | Kansas | $71,923 | $34.58 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $73,151 | $35.17 |
| 47 | Missouri | $69,941 | $33.63 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $69,056 | $33.20 |
| 49 | Idaho | $69,867 | $33.59 |
| 50 | Montana | $69,315 | $33.32 |
| 51 | Colorado | $64,226 | $30.88 |
The highest-paying cities for senior operators are Boston, MA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $105,464 | $50.70 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $100,615 | $48.37 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $99,735 | $47.95 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $96,552 | $46.42 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $94,044 | $45.21 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $91,033 | $43.77 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $87,131 | $41.89 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $80,097 | $38.51 |
| 9 | Allentown, PA | $78,823 | $37.90 |
| 10 | Mobile, AL | $78,778 | $37.87 |
| 11 | Concord, NC | $78,315 | $37.65 |
| 12 | Largo, FL | $74,820 | $35.97 |
| 13 | Columbia, SC | $74,465 | $35.80 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $73,227 | $35.21 |
| 15 | Franklin, TN | $72,087 | $34.66 |
| 16 | Winona, MN | $70,105 | $33.70 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $69,110 | $33.23 |
| 18 | Colorado Springs, CO | $64,482 | $31.00 |
A senior operator's salary ranges from $54,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $135,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $135,000 | $11,250 | $65 |
| 75th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| Average | $85,677 | $7,140 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
The highest paying types of senior operators are lead operator, lead computer operator, and computer operations analyst.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Operator/Machine Operator | $39,819 | $3,318 | $19.14 | 162,376 |
| Console Operator | $43,202 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 30,104 |
| Data Center Operator | $46,763 | $3,897 | $22.48 | 120,016 |
| Computer Operator | $42,722 | $3,560 | $20.54 | 39,579 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Lead Operator | $88,429 | $7,369 | $42.51 | 87,338 |
Top companies hiring senior operators now:
Senior operator salaries at Google and eBay are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior operator salary at companies like Microsoft and Incyte are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $156,335 | $75.16 | |
| 2 | eBay | $144,077 | $69.27 |
| 3 | Microsoft | $131,827 | $63.38 |
| 4 | Incyte | $130,967 | $62.96 |
| 5 | Accenture | $130,045 | $62.52 |
| 6 | American Water | $120,741 | $58.05 |
| 7 | Infineon Technologies | $118,887 | $57.16 |
| 8 | Meridian Bioscience | $112,160 | $53.92 |
| 9 | NTT Data International L.L.C. | $111,122 | $53.42 |
| 10 | Mandiant | $110,840 | $53.29 |
| 11 | Siemens Healthineers | $110,136 | $52.95 |
| 12 | Serco | $109,847 | $52.81 |
| 13 | Deloitte | $109,605 | $52.69 |
| 14 | Amdocs | $108,578 | $52.20 |
| 15 | Abbott | $108,559 | $52.19 |
| 16 | Alere | $108,054 | $51.95 |
| 17 | Firstbank Corp | $108,047 | $51.95 |
| 18 | Spectrum Comm | $107,477 | $51.67 |
| 19 | Jacobs Engineering Group | $105,149 | $50.55 |
| 20 | Sabre | $103,670 | $49.84 |
The average senior operator salary has risen by $17,222 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior operator earned $68,455 annually, but today, they earn $85,677 a year. That works out to a 16% change in pay for senior operators over the last decade.
Compare senior operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare senior operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $85,700 | $41.19 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $82,600 | $39.70 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $79,300 | $38.11 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $76,700 | $36.88 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $74,000 | $35.60 | +1.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centene Corporation | Senior Adversary Emulation Operator (RED Team) | Richmond, VA | 06/28/2025 | $85,300 |
| Merck | SR. Spclst, Operations | Durham, NC | 06/28/2025 | $94,300 |
| Amazon | Senior Program Manager, Sustainability, NA Operations, Strategy & Execution, Sustainability Strategy | New York, NY | 06/27/2025 | $104,100 |
| Amazon | Senior Program Manager, Sustainability, NA Operations, Strategy & Execution, Sustainability Strategy | Bellevue, WA | 06/27/2025 | $104,100 |
| Amazon | SR TPM, Security Operations, Amazon Business | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $133,900 |
| Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. | Red Team Operator, Senior | Chantilly, VA | 06/26/2025 | $86,800 |
| General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems | Inspection SR Operator | Folsom, CA | 06/25/2025 | $45,815 |
| Deceuninck | SR. Reclaim Operator | Monroe, OH | 06/25/2025 | $43,827 |
| BASF | Senior Operator Farm | Esparto, CA | 06/24/2025 | $43,702 |
| Cirtec Medical Corporation | SR Operator Assembler | Santa Clara, CA | 06/24/2025 | $50,088 |
Search for senior operator jobs