How to hire a systems operator

How to hire a systems operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step systems operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a systems operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new systems operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a systems operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a systems operator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A systems operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, systems operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of systems operators.

   Type of Systems Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Systems Operator	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$13-24
   Information Systems Internship	An information systems internship involves a trainee who gains working experience by maintaining hardware and software systems that support data-intensive applications of a company. Information systems interns are required to troubleshoot and analyze system problems as well as replace problematic computer hardware and install updated software... Show more	$11-19
   Information Systems Technician	An information systems technician is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of various network systems' performance. Information systems technicians provide network troubleshooting, upgrading systems for optimization, maintaining the security of databases, managing the interaction of networks, and inspecting and troubleshooting system inconsistencies... Show more	$13-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Computer System
   • Management System
   • Combat
   • Switches
   • Situational Awareness
   • Lan
   • Communication Systems
   • Radar
   • Troubleshoot
   • Customer Service
   • Windows
   • HVAC
   • SCADA
   • Air Defense

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage SMS and TCP/IP protocol.
   • Perform and manage routine building maintenance tasks, including carpentry, plumbing, and HVAC repair and maintenance.
   • Manage tactical high-speed data network (THSDN), internet subscriber IP addresses, and switch caller profiles.
   • Manage print production, registration and logistics for several high-profile events, annual fund solicitations and annual telephone campaign.
   • Create and modify new user accounts in accordance with local and DOD policies and procedures.
   • Provide technical support for full setup, debug the problems of OSPF, switching and HSRP.

   More systems operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the systems operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A systems operator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a systems operator in Georgia may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level systems operator. Additionally, a systems operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average systems operator salary

   $38,182yearly

   $18.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level systems operator salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average systems operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$47,789	$23
   2	Maryland	$43,562	$21
   3	New Hampshire	$43,194	$21
   4	Colorado	$42,252	$20
   5	Minnesota	$41,514	$20
   6	District of Columbia	$40,865	$20
   7	Nevada	$38,510	$19
   8	New York	$38,305	$18
   9	Texas	$38,144	$18
   10	Oklahoma	$38,030	$18
   11	Arizona	$36,948	$18
   12	Indiana	$35,640	$17
   13	Florida	$35,566	$17
   14	Pennsylvania	$35,089	$17
   15	North Dakota	$34,765	$17
   16	Alabama	$32,998	$16
   17	Utah	$32,818	$16
   18	Wyoming	$32,464	$16
   19	Idaho	$32,106	$15
   20	South Carolina	$32,086	$15

   Average systems operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	DC Water	$52,132	$25.06	3
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$49,793	$23.94
   3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$49,434	$23.77	2
   4	Tech Mahindra	$48,557	$23.34	1
   5	Tri-State G&T	$47,689	$22.93	2
   6	Tenaska	$46,838	$22.52
   7	Schlumberger	$46,583	$22.40	3
   8	J.R. Simplot	$46,571	$22.39
   9	Schnitzer Steel	$45,656	$21.95
   10	PPG	$45,498	$21.87	3
   11	Business Intelli solutions	$45,219	$21.74
   12	Northrop Grumman	$45,160	$21.71	356
   13	Pacifi	$44,716	$21.50	4
   14	United	$44,495	$21.39	1
   15	Aqua	$44,277	$21.29	1
   16	Apple	$43,664	$20.99	189
   17	HSBC Bank	$43,369	$20.85	4
   18	Fluor Corporation	$42,917	$20.63	14
   19	Nashua Country Club	$42,796	$20.57
   20	Lockheed Martin	$42,609	$20.49	560

4. Writing a systems operator job description

   A job description for a systems operator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a systems operator job description:

   Systems operator job description example

   Independently manages, to best serve the members' uniquely complex requirements, the real time operation of owned /contracted generation facilities in excess of 6500 MW along with purchases to meet the needs of the members as scheduled by the 5 different Purchase Selling Entities. Manages water and fuel consumption at the Pumped storage facility and the fossil plants to ensure an adequate supply of generation. Independently nominates fuel for the 24 gas fired units totaling 4200 MW capacity. Must make hourly economic dispatch decisions with less than 15 minutes' notice. Must respond to calls on assets of up to 1000 MW with 20 minutes' notice. Regulates system resources to accommodate Independent Power Producers' generation to meet schedules and other contractual obligations. Meets requirements imposed by NERC standards and contracts, such as CPS 2 and Joint Contingency Reserves events. This includes responding to or initiating, operating instructions to and from other bulk electric system operating entities and documenting system events appropriately. The System Operator II has the responsibility and the authority to take any required action up to and including shedding firm native load to preserve system or Interconnection reliability. Incumbent must be proficient at all Generation Coordinator positions in the Energy Control Center. Provides on-the-job direction and training to Generation Coordinators I & II. This position performs duties that can determine GSOC's compliance with NERC reliability standards.
   
   Independently commits and de-commits generation to continuously match the most economic resources to system needs, reserve requirements and changing conditions. Adjusts voltage and megawatt output to ensure that dynamically imposed ITS limitations are managed effectively to maintain the integrity and security of the ITS bulk power system. Nominates fuel for gas resources which can total as much as $5,000,000.00 per day and when necessary, purchases fuel for gas resources. Independently operates gas fired resources to meet constraints imposed by Operational Flow Orders issued by gas transportation systems.
   
   Independently manages GTC's ownership of the ITS interface to insure available capacity and interface entitlements are utilized to their fullest extent by contracted member agents and third parties. Schedules and coordinates interchange transactions with other utilities, power marketers, control areas, and transmission providers. Monitors use of OASIS reservations shared by 5 agents to prevent overscheduling of interfaces and the resultant degradation of system reliability. Maintains up to date Available Transfer Capability ratings to allow maximum third party usage of GTC transmission to provide the highest earnings to GTC and its members while complying with all FERC regulations.
   
   Independently maintains and enhances system stability and capability by monitoring and responding to load forecast errors, loss of generation, lack of VAR support, etc. by performing contingency planning and initiating corrective actions. This includes the authority to shed firm system load to preserve the integrity and stability of the Eastern Interconnection. Other actions include declaring OPC system alerts based on deteriorating system conditions and responding to SERC/NERC regional system alerts.
   
   Plans for customer energy needs, based on usage profiles, current and forecasted weather conditions and other available data, by preparing multiple (14 as opposed to one forecast for most utilities) accurate short-term load forecasts in order to effectively schedule resources and to meet scheduling obligations of the member agents.
   
   Delivers oral and written presentations and reports that alert senior management to ongoing trends and activities that might impact the strategies and position of the company when responding to members and the public.
   Required Qualifications: Education: High school graduate or GED Equivalent. Experience: Six (6) years transmission /generation operations or construction experience and two years control center related experience Must also be qualified to work Interchange and the "pool" desks. Four (4) years military assignment in power production or maintenance of electrical facilities in lieu of above experience. Licenses, Certifications, and/or Registrations: Must possess NERC system Operator Certification as TO, BIT, or RC, RC level preferred. Must obtain and maintain Bulk Electric System Cyber Authorized Status as defined in GSOC's CIP Cyber Security Policy 301 and NERC Reliability Standard CIP 004. Must participate in company sponsored training to obtain required NERC Certification Continuing Education Hours. Specialized Skills: Excel/MS Word experience required. Must have sound decision making ability under stressful conditions. Must be able to communicate effectively via both oral and written methods. Must be able to work effectively in a team environment. Basic knowledge of electrical theory (including Trigonometry) and above average logic, reasoning, and math skills. Unusual hours: Work a rotating 12- and/or 8- hour shift which involves working weekends and holidays and PTO coverage at other operating positions.
   Georgia System Operations Corporation is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, including veterans and disabled. We are a drug-free workplace. All applicants are subject to substance abuse testing.
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro

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5. Post your job

   To find the right systems operator for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with systems operators they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit systems operators who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your systems operator job on Zippia to find and attract quality systems operator candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit systems operators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a systems operator applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new systems operator

   Once you've found the systems operator candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new systems operator. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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