Computer Operator Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Courses are available in network operations and database maintenance.
Training and Education
Successful employees find it useful to have moderate-term on-the-job training. According to recent surveys, 27% of computer operators had received a degree. Workers with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 46%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 27% of employees.
Job Overview
Computer operators oversee the operation of computer hardware systems and ensure the machines are used securely and efficiently. Computer operators work with mainframes, minicomputers and networks of personal computers. They control the console of a mainframe digital computer or a group of minicomputers. A computer operator sets the controls of computers to run computer tasks.
Job Requirements
Typically, computer operators only need to have a high school diploma. They're provided on-the-job training. Due to advances in technology, the duties of many computer operators are moving to areas such as network operations, user support, and database maintenance. Those who have formal computer education and have knowledge about a variety of operating systems and the newest technology will have the best employment opportunities.
Nature of Work
- Retrieve and sort program output and send data to specific users
- Monitor the system for performance errors and equipment failures
- Monitor the control console and respond to computer and operating messages
- Maintain logbooks of operating records
Area Job Conditions
Looking at computer operators per capita, Morgantown (West Virginia), Durham (North Carolina), and Springfield (Illinois) rise to the top of the list. Nashua (New Hampshire), Youngstown (Ohio), and Salem (Oregon) have the fewest per capita.
The highest salaries for workers are in and around Danbury (Connecticut), Boulder (Colorado), and Fairbanks (Alaska). The lowest-paying areas are Decatur (Alabama), Waco (Texas), and Prescott (Arizona).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Computer operators working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 11% of the total. If you have this occupation and work on your own rather than for another company, you are part of the 2% of workers who do so.
Career Videos
Computer Operators by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $36,000 | 310 | +0% |
| Huntsville | $37,000 | 150 | +18% |
| Mobile | $35,000 | 80 | -25% |
| Montgomery | $26,000 | 170 | +72% |
| Tuscaloosa | $33,000 | 40 | -24% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $43,000 | 150 | +48% |
| Fairbanks | $44,000 | 90 | +429% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $39,000 | 50 | +59% |
| Phoenix | $41,000 | 1,520 | +36% |
| Tucson | $38,000 | 250 | +17% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $29,000 | 800 | +542% |
| Jonesboro | $31,000 | 50 | +95% |
| Little Rock | $34,000 | 230 | +7% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $48,000 | 240 | +21% |
| Los Angeles | $39,000 | 2,320 | -10% |
| Oakland | $41,000 | 1,070 | +69% |
| Oxnard | $43,000 | 60 | -67% |
| Riverside | $41,000 | 460 | -40% |
| Sacramento | $42,000 | 1,380 | +152% |
| Salinas | $50,000 | 60 | -38% |
| San Diego | $39,000 | 670 | -19% |
| San Francisco | $46,000 | 700 | +11% |
| San Luis Obispo | $42,000 | 30 | -45% |
| Santa Ana | $43,000 | 810 | -12% |
| Santa Rosa | $44,000 | 50 | -53% |
| Stockton | $47,000 | 100 | -22% |
| Vallejo | $48,000 | 70 | -2% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $26,000 | 160 | +73% |
| Colorado Springs | $43,000 | 140 | -10% |
| Denver | $42,000 | 530 | -33% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $47,000 | 280 | +5% |
| Danbury | $37,000 | 30 | -23% |
| Hartford | $43,000 | 380 | +5% |
| New Haven | $44,000 | 90 | -47% |
| Norwich | $42,000 | 40 | -45% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $36,000 | 40 | +40% |
| Wilmington | $40,000 | 510 | +151% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $45,000 | 1,770 | +15% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $44,000 | 70 | -41% |
| Deltona | $36,000 | 60 | -35% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $39,000 | 240 | -46% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $34,000 | 60 | +37% |
| Gainesville | $35,000 | 50 | -31% |
| Jacksonville | $39,000 | 210 | -45% |
| Lakeland | $35,000 | 50 | -57% |
| Miami | $36,000 | 660 | +6% |
| Orlando | $33,000 | 560 | -13% |
| Palm Bay | $38,000 | 80 | -34% |
| Pensacola | $33,000 | 60 | -33% |
| Port St Lucie | $32,000 | 50 | -29% |
| Sarasota | $45,000 | 40 | -74% |
| Tallahassee | $31,000 | 240 | +146% |
| Tampa | $36,000 | 590 | -19% |
| West Palm Beach | $38,000 | 270 | -17% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $29,000 | 30 | -26% |
| Atlanta | $39,000 | 2,010 | +37% |
| Augusta | $32,000 | 100 | -20% |
| Columbus | $33,000 | 80 | +22% |
| Dalton | $41,000 | 180 | +366% |
| Macon | $32,000 | 50 | -5% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $43,000 | 330 | +20% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $33,000 | 90 | -44% |
| Coeur Dalene | $30,000 | 40 | +43% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $44,000 | 40 | 0% |
| Champaign | $29,000 | 70 | +16% |
| Chicago | $46,000 | 2,760 | +15% |
| Peoria | $35,000 | 60 | -42% |
| Springfield | $39,000 | 80 | +26% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $38,000 | 60 | -42% |
| Fort Wayne | $36,000 | 140 | +12% |
| Gary | $34,000 | 70 | -58% |
| Indianapolis | $39,000 | 540 | -5% |
| Lafayette | $34,000 | 80 | +84% |
| South Bend | $33,000 | 60 | -22% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $36,000 | 80 | -4% |
| Davenport | $38,000 | 50 | -56% |
| Des Moines | $37,000 | 280 | +36% |
| Dubuque | $32,000 | 50 | +68% |
| Waterloo | $33,000 | 60 | +20% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | $25,000 | 30 | +4% |
| Topeka | $37,000 | 130 | +99% |
| Wichita | $35,000 | 150 | -16% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $37,000 | 270 | +82% |
| Louisville | $30,000 | 620 | +62% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $41,000 | 240 | +3% |
| Lafayette | $35,000 | 30 | -65% |
| Lake Charles | $38,000 | 30 | -42% |
| New Orleans | $38,000 | 250 | -25% |
| Shreveport | $31,000 | 90 | -18% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $39,000 | 130 | +6% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $42,000 | 1,030 | +24% |
| Bethesda | $46,000 | 860 | +136% |
| Hagerstown | $37,000 | 140 | +146% |
| Salisbury | $37,000 | 50 | +68% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $42,000 | 1,540 | +39% |
| Lowell | $41,000 | 50 | -30% |
| New Bedford | $44,000 | 40 | +9% |
| Peabody | $46,000 | 70 | +17% |
| Springfield | $44,000 | 170 | -8% |
| Worcester | $39,000 | 60 | -61% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $31,000 | 190 | +87% |
| Detroit | $37,000 | 460 | +9% |
| Flint | $44,000 | 30 | -62% |
| Grand Rapids | $33,000 | 160 | -32% |
| Lansing | $38,000 | 110 | -9% |
| Warren | $40,000 | 540 | -21% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $39,000 | 840 | -26% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | 80 | +26% | |
| Hattiesburg | $23,000 | 30 | -7% |
| Jackson | $37,000 | 150 | -4% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $32,000 | 100 | +116% |
| Jefferson City | $29,000 | 60 | +41% |
| Kansas City | $35,000 | 730 | +13% |
| Springfield | $30,000 | 110 | -6% |
| St Louis | $39,000 | 800 | -6% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $32,000 | 360 | +271% |
| Omaha | $31,000 | 960 | +224% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $38,000 | 240 | -55% |
| Reno | $34,000 | 60 | -49% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $43,000 | 60 | -2% |
| Nashua | $41,000 | 30 | -64% |
| Portsmouth | $40,000 | 40 | +24% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $38,000 | 120 | +37% |
| Camden | $35,000 | 390 | +18% |
| Edison | $41,000 | 620 | -5% |
| Newark | $43,000 | 740 | +17% |
| Trenton | $46,000 | 320 | +129% |
| Vineland | $44,000 | 50 | +48% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $39,000 | 290 | +20% |
| Las Cruces | $32,000 | 50 | +38% |
| Santa Fe | $24,000 | 70 | +99% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $42,000 | 520 | +83% |
| Binghamton | $33,000 | 80 | +20% |
| Buffalo | $35,000 | 550 | +58% |
| Kingston | $31,000 | 70 | +105% |
| Nassau | $43,000 | 1,270 | +58% |
| New York | $40,000 | 4,550 | +37% |
| Poughkeepsie | $34,000 | 170 | +11% |
| Rochester | $35,000 | 370 | +16% |
| Syracuse | $36,000 | 190 | -3% |
| Utica | $35,000 | 100 | +34% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $32,000 | 50 | -54% |
| Charlotte | $33,000 | 540 | 0% |
| Durham | $39,000 | 410 | +139% |
| Fayetteville | $33,000 | 70 | -7% |
| Greensboro | $38,000 | 170 | -24% |
| Raleigh | $39,000 | 340 | +4% |
| Rocky Mount | $30,000 | 40 | +23% |
| Wilmington | $31,000 | 80 | -2% |
| Winston Salem | $38,000 | 80 | -38% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $29,000 | 70 | +89% |
| Fargo | $34,000 | 100 | +37% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $37,000 | 260 | +30% |
| Cincinnati | $40,000 | 560 | -13% |
| Cleveland | $39,000 | 710 | +9% |
| Columbus | $36,000 | 750 | +29% |
| Dayton | $37,000 | 200 | -17% |
| Mansfield | $34,000 | 30 | +4% |
| Toledo | $35,000 | 130 | -29% |
| Youngstown | $31,000 | 70 | -50% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $38,000 | 640 | +76% |
| Tulsa | $31,000 | 320 | +18% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | $36,000 | 60 | -29% |
| Portland | $40,000 | 370 | -43% |
| Salem | $40,000 | 60 | -33% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $34,000 | 240 | +11% |
| Erie | $42,000 | 110 | +43% |
| Harrisburg | $42,000 | 220 | +10% |
| Lancaster | $39,000 | 140 | -4% |
| Philadelphia | $44,000 | 1,190 | -2% |
| Pittsburgh | $39,000 | 790 | +9% |
| Reading | $38,000 | 70 | -31% |
| Scranton | $37,000 | 230 | +42% |
| State College | $39,000 | 30 | -16% |
| Williamsport | $33,000 | 30 | +5% |
| York | $39,000 | 50 | -54% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $42,000 | 470 | +34% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | $32,000 | 30 | -5% |
| Charleston | $37,000 | 160 | -11% |
| Columbia | $32,000 | 330 | +51% |
| Florence | $34,000 | 40 | -13% |
| Greenville | $37,000 | 160 | -14% |
| Spartanburg | $41,000 | 30 | -56% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $37,000 | 360 | +156% |
| Clarksville | $33,000 | 80 | +77% |
| Jackson | $26,000 | 60 | +81% |
| Johnson City | $34,000 | 120 | +191% |
| Kingsport | $33,000 | 110 | +52% |
| Knoxville | $37,000 | 370 | +78% |
| Memphis | $38,000 | 600 | +54% |
| Morristown | $32,000 | 40 | +60% |
| Nashville | $39,000 | 700 | +49% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $30,000 | 40 | -37% |
| Austin | $36,000 | 270 | -46% |
| Beaumont | $26,000 | 40 | -59% |
| Brownsville | $23,000 | 30 | -62% |
| College Station | $31,000 | 90 | +67% |
| Corpus Christi | $35,000 | 60 | -45% |
| Dallas | $42,000 | 1,670 | +25% |
| El Paso | $28,000 | 300 | +77% |
| Fort Worth | $37,000 | 480 | -12% |
| Houston | $40,000 | 1,090 | -35% |
| Killeen | $36,000 | 50 | -35% |
| Lubbock | $32,000 | 60 | -20% |
| Mcallen | $33,000 | 40 | -72% |
| Midland | $32,000 | 80 | +124% |
| San Angelo | $27,000 | 40 | +78% |
| San Antonio | $35,000 | 350 | -37% |
| Waco | $26,000 | 110 | +87% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $34,000 | 120 | -2% |
| Provo | $28,000 | 170 | +64% |
| Salt Lake City | $28,000 | 570 | +48% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $37,000 | 40 | -40% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $37,000 | 50 | -1% |
| Richmond | $40,000 | 390 | +0% |
| Roanoke | $34,000 | 70 | -26% |
| Virginia Beach | $37,000 | 320 | -33% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $46,000 | 820 | -8% |
| Spokane | $42,000 | 70 | -44% |
| Tacoma | $49,000 | 90 | -45% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $36,000 | 110 | +25% |
| Huntington | $31,000 | 40 | -41% |
| Parkersburg | $30,000 | 60 | +54% |
| Wheeling | $32,000 | 40 | +8% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $39,000 | 40 | -6% |
| Green Bay | $43,000 | 80 | -22% |
| Janesville | $36,000 | 50 | +40% |
| Madison | $41,000 | 180 | -15% |
| Milwaukee | $40,000 | 360 | -32% |
| Oshkosh | $42,000 | 40 | -22% |
| Wausau | $40,000 | 60 | +59% |