Senior system operator vs computer operator

The differences between senior system operators and computer operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a senior system operator, becoming a computer operator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior system operator has an average salary of $70,807, which is higher than the $42,722 average annual salary of a computer operator.

The top three skills for a senior system operator include NERC, transmission systems and hardware problems. The most important skills for a computer operator are CAD, customer service, and computer system.

Senior system operator vs computer operator overview

	Senior System Operator	Computer Operator
Yearly salary	$70,807	$42,722
Hourly rate	$34.04	$20.54
Growth rate	-7%	10%
Number of jobs	40,735	39,579
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	47	43
Years of experience	12	2

Senior system operator vs computer operator salary

Senior system operators and computer operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior System Operator	Computer Operator
Average salary	$70,807	$42,722
Salary range	Between $46,000 And $107,000	Between $28,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	NTT Data International L.L.C.
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between senior system operator and computer operator education

There are a few differences between a senior system operator and a computer operator in terms of educational background:

	Senior System Operator	Computer Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 44%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Business	Computer Science
Most common college	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Stanford University

Senior system operator vs computer operator demographics

Here are the differences between senior system operators' and computer operators' demographics:

	Senior System Operator	Computer Operator
Average age	47	43
Gender ratio	Male, 78.4% Female, 21.6%	Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 1.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 12.3% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	5%	10%

Differences between senior system operator and computer operator duties and responsibilities

Senior system operator example responsibilities.

Supervise and lead teams to be proficient in proprietary and commercial production and supply management software.
Manage trouble ticketing systems and escalations to ensure VoIP service availability.
Train on operating CISCO routers, switches, call managers, and LAN managers.
Provide technical support for the enrollment of Iraqi nationals, DoD personnel and military.
Operate full SCADA system, including pressure regulating valves, wells and pumping stations.
Relay security codes to node centers and respond promptly to trouble calls with a secret security clearance.

Computer operator example responsibilities.

Manage and control administration on DoD local, and wide area networks.
Manage peripheral operations of BARR systems (PC base RJE workstations), storage devices, and Litton laser printers.
Manage certificate revocation list, update expired certificates, ensuring DMS availability.
Manage multi-person team providing operational and investigative support to USAF and DoD counterparts.
Perform operator tasks, troubleshoot IMS, hardware, and system problems.
Serve in computer operations in supporting mainframe MVS, TPF, and VM operating systems.

Senior system operator vs computer operator skills

Common senior system operator skills

NERC, 18%
Transmission Systems, 8%
Hardware Problems, 6%
Printers, 5%
Node, 4%
Troubleshoot, 4%

Common computer operator skills

CAD, 18%
Customer Service, 10%
Computer System, 9%
IBM Mainframe, 6%
Laser Printers, 4%
Unix, 4%

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Senior System Operator
Senior System Operator vs Computer Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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