Lead Computer Operator Salary in the United States
How much does a Lead Computer Operator make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Computer Operator in the United States is $65,892 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.
However, a Lead Computer Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,004
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,877 to $74,326
Key Factors That Influence Lead Computer Operator Salaries
A Lead Computer Operator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Lead Computer Operator Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Computer Operator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
How Do Lead Computer Operator Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Lead Computer Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $72,956.
California: $72,679.
Massachusetts: $71,711.
District of Columbia$72,956
California$72,679
Massachusetts$71,711
Washington$71,447
New Jersey$71,421
Alaska$71,329
Connecticut$70,419
New York$70,050
Hawaii$68,871
Rhode Island$68,317
Maryland$67,942
Minnesota$67,428
Colorado$67,230
Illinois$67,164
Oregon$66,914
Delaware$66,729
New Hampshire$66,613
Virginia$66,354
Pennsylvania$65,596
Nevada$65,214
North Dakota$65,089
Michigan$64,891
Wisconsin$64,818
Vermont$64,673
Texas$64,271
Maine$64,245
Arizona$64,206
Ohio$64,159
Georgia$63,553
Indiana$63,250
Wyoming$63,191
Utah$63,099
Iowa$63,059
Kansas$62,743
Louisiana$62,650
North Carolina$62,618
Missouri$62,604
Florida$62,347
Montana$62,209
Nebraska$62,077
Kentucky$62,005
South Carolina$61,741
Tennessee$61,576
Idaho$61,511
New Mexico$61,030
Oklahoma$60,924
Alabama$60,535
South Dakota$59,883
Arkansas$59,527
West Virginia$59,336
Mississippi$58,763
Top Paying Cities for Lead Computer Operators
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $83,110
San Francisco: $82,200
Oakland: $80,468
San Jose, CA$83,110
San Francisco, CA$82,200
Oakland, CA$80,468
New York, NY$75,868
Paramus, NJ$74,945
Queens Village, NY$74,942
Passaic, NJ$74,879
Bergenfield, NJ$74,874
Stamford, CT$74,729
Huntington, NY$74,702
Newark, NJ$74,215
Bridgeport, CT$74,076
Vallejo, CA$73,944
New Brunswick, NJ$73,918
Petaluma, CA$73,879
Middlesex, NJ$73,753
Somerset, NJ$73,707
Santa Cruz, CA$73,622
Boston, MA$73,220
Monterey, CA$72,988
Seattle, WA$72,837
Santa Rosa, CA$72,824
Los Angeles, CA$72,805
Juneau, AK$72,633
Washington, DC$72,561
Orange, CA$72,326
Santa Ana, CA$72,152
Long Beach, CA$72,086
Anaheim, CA$72,073
Anchorage, AK$72,040
Santa Maria, CA$71,842
Everett, WA$71,829
Danbury, CT$71,597
Bremerton, WA$71,506
Tacoma, WA$71,269
New Suffolk, NY$71,268
Sacramento, CA$71,249
Santa Barbara, CA$71,177
Trenton, NJ$71,104
San Diego, CA$71,104
Brockton, MA$71,032
Fairbanks, AK$70,871
Lompoc, CA$70,703
Lowell, MA$70,649
Ventura, CA$70,637
Nashua, NH$70,623
Stockton, CA$70,617
Modesto, CA$70,136
Poughkeepsie, NY$69,991
Olympia, WA$69,866
Kennewick, WA$69,866
New Haven, CT$69,839
Lawrence, MA$69,602
Hartford, CT$69,536
Riverside, CA$69,523
New Bedford, MA$69,457
Richland, WA$69,457
Bakersfield, CA$69,365
San Bernardino, CA$69,339
New Britain, CT$69,332
Atlantic City, NJ$69,332
New London, CT$69,306
Norwich, CT$69,286
Portsmouth, NH$69,273
Boulder, CO$69,133
Portland, OR$69,042
Worcester, MA$69,035
Minneapolis, MN$68,831
Philadelphia, PA$68,739
Honolulu, HI$68,522
Saint Paul, MN$68,490
Vineland, NJ$68,475
Providence, RI$68,284
Chicago, IL$68,093
Bellingham, WA$68,014
Springfield, MA$67,961
Baltimore, MD$67,942
Chico, CA$67,777
Pittsfield, MA$67,599
Manchester, NH$67,474
Spokane, WA$67,184
Denver, CO$67,177
Albany, NY$66,868
Troy, NY$66,841
Nassau, NY$66,771
Schenectady, NY$66,703
Wilmington, DE$66,650
Burlington, VT$66,558
Salem, OR$66,532
Portland, ME$66,327
Yakima, WA$66,261
Rochester, MN$66,057
Reno, NV$66,024
Fresno, CA$66,024
Milwaukee, WI$65,965
Detroit, MI$65,899
Ann Arbor, MI$65,888
Allentown, PA$65,879
Colorado Springs, CO$65,767
Syracuse, NY$65,734
Carson City, NV$65,734
Houston, TX$65,642
Eugene, OR$65,609
Gary, IN$65,530
Springfield, OR$65,477
Bismarck, ND$65,464
Galveston, TX$65,418
Medford, OR$65,319
Fort Collins, CO$65,293
Concord, NH$65,260
Austin, TX$65,240
Mesa, AZ$65,102
Reading, PA$65,095
Phoenix, AZ$65,089
Dallas, TX$65,069
Saint Cloud, MN$65,005
Madison, WI$64,917
Utica, NY$64,739
Rochester, NY$64,634
Des Moines, IA$64,627
Raleigh, NC$64,621
Atlanta, GA$64,522
Battle Creek, MI$64,502
Salt Lake City, UT$64,482
Lancaster, PA$64,383
Harrisburg, PA$64,291
Kansas City, MO$64,225
Champaign, IL$64,212
Kansas City, KS$64,212
Fort Worth, TX$64,206
Columbus, OH$64,194
Boca Raton, FL$64,179
Pittsburgh, PA$64,153
Richmond, VA$64,126
Indianapolis, IN$64,113
Cleveland, OH$64,107
Las Vegas, NV$64,028
Cincinnati, OH$64,028
Petersburg, VA$63,929
Huntsville, AL$63,830
Lansing, MI$63,786
Lebanon, PA$63,777
Pueblo, CO$63,771
Appleton, WI$63,751
Buffalo, NY$63,725
Dayton, OH$63,705
Racine, WI$63,692
Charlotte, NC$63,685
Saint Louis, MO$63,665
York, PA$63,626
Elkhart, IN$63,626
Gastonia, NC$63,613
Billings, MT$63,597
Beaumont, TX$63,580
Lorain, OH$63,566
Benton Harbor, MI$63,553
Toledo, OH$63,540
Binghamton, NY$63,507
Rock Hill, SC$63,501
Rockford, IL$63,468
Springfield, IL$63,441
Elyria, OH$63,435
Fargo, ND$63,435
Flagstaff, AZ$63,388
Fort Lauderdale, FL$63,349
Duluth, MN$63,309
Miami, FL$63,309
Cheyenne, WY$63,263
Grand Forks, ND$63,263
Bangor, ME$63,118
Cedar Rapids, IA$63,046
Durham, NC$63,018
Louisville, KY$63,013
Grand Rapids, MI$63,000
Hialeah, FL$62,993
Casper, WY$62,901
Scranton, PA$62,822
New Orleans, LA$62,802
Virginia Beach, VA$62,795
Akron, OH$62,763
Peoria, IL$62,677
Sarasota, FL$62,664
Nashville, TN$62,618
Omaha, NE$62,618
Green Bay, WI$62,618
Baton Rouge, LA$62,585
Charleston, SC$62,571
Jamestown, NY$62,538
Davenport, IA$62,538
Tucson, AZ$62,506
Saint Petersburg, FL$62,466
Tampa, FL$62,453
Evansville, IN$62,413
Port Arthur, TX$62,413
Bradenton, FL$62,387
Santa Fe, NM$62,268
Orlando, FL$62,150
Clearwater, FL$62,130
Canton, OH$61,992
La Crosse, WI$61,992
Albuquerque, NM$61,952
Newport News, VA$61,945
High Point, NC$61,926
Ogden, UT$61,899
Corpus Christi, TX$61,847
Norfolk, VA$61,807
Laramie, WY$61,807
Rock Island, IL$61,768
Saginaw, MI$61,754
Jacksonville, FL$61,748
Salisbury, NC$61,735
Boise, ID$61,721
Moline, IL$61,688
Fort Myers, FL$61,669
Memphis, TN$61,656
Tulsa, OK$61,623
Waterloo, IA$61,583
Spartanburg, SC$61,517
Lincoln, NE$61,484
Fort Wayne, IN$61,471
Provo, UT$61,464
Cedar Falls, IA$61,385
San Antonio, TX$61,359
Greensboro, NC$61,333
South Bend, IN$61,326
Savannah, GA$61,254
Muskegon, MI$61,227
Birmingham, AL$61,221
Winston Salem, NC$61,188
Lake Charles, LA$61,030
Anderson, IN$61,016
Lexington, KY$60,997
Augusta, GA$60,977
Greenville, SC$60,977
Lima, OH$60,924
Wichita, KS$60,918
Tuscaloosa, AL$60,918
Columbia, SC$60,858
Springfield, OH$60,845
Asheville, NC$60,740
Bloomington, IN$60,693
Knoxville, TN$60,456
Shreveport, LA$60,450
Wilmington, NC$60,364
Roanoke, VA$60,364
Topeka, KS$60,245
Frankfort, KY$60,238
Oklahoma City, OK$60,193
Chillicothe, OH$60,166
Longview, TX$60,160
Melbourne, FL$60,153
Sioux Falls, SD$60,048
Mobile, AL$60,041
Terre Haute, IN$60,015
Altoona, PA$59,975
Amarillo, TX$59,929
Killeen, TX$59,909
Fayetteville, AR$59,857
Chattanooga, TN$59,837
Sioux City, IA$59,778
Idaho Falls, ID$59,764
Lynchburg, VA$59,712
Gainesville, FL$59,626
Portsmouth, OH$59,593
Little Rock, AR$59,580
Lafayette, LA$59,554
Youngstown, OH$59,554
Daytona Beach, FL$59,514
Clarksville, TN$59,507
Pensacola, FL$59,501
Temple, TX$59,496
Hopkinsville, KY$59,303
Erie, PA$59,290
Florence, SC$59,264
Charleston, WV$59,158
Great Falls, MT$59,125
Macon, GA$59,033
Tallahassee, FL$59,026
Fayetteville, NC$59,013
Waco, TX$59,000
Helena, MT$58,954
Pine Bluff, AR$58,929
Vincennes, IN$58,849
Lubbock, TX$58,822
Alamogordo, NM$58,783
Twin Falls, ID$58,723
Rapid City, SD$58,704
Jackson, MS$58,585
Huntington, WV$58,580
Greenville, MS$58,578
Parkersburg, WV$58,511
Montgomery, AL$58,499
Wichita Falls, TX$58,433
Springfield, MO$58,433
Biloxi, MS$58,400
Monroe, LA$58,335
Johnstown, PA$58,288
Sumter, SC$58,262
Columbus, GA$58,255
Pascagoula, MS$58,130
Abilene, TX$58,130
Kingsport, TN$57,959
Albany, GA$57,959
Gulfport, MS$57,939
Alexandria, LA$57,722
Fort Smith, AR$57,557
El Paso, TX$57,379
Las Cruces, NM$57,083
Harlingen, TX$56,915
Pocatello, ID$56,905
Florence, AL$56,819
Brownsville, TX$56,806
Mcallen, TX$56,667
Dothan, AL$56,575
Columbus, MS$56,184
Altus, OK$55,877
Lawton, OK$55,752
Pierre, SD$55,514
What Skills Can Increase a Lead Computer Operator's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 6.58% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
SOP (Mentioned in 3.39% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
Data Processing (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Data processing is the collection and manipulation of data to produce meaningful information. Data processing is a form of information processing, which is the modification of information in any manner detectable by an observer.
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Lead Computer Operator's salary.
Telecommunications: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Verbal Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Team Operations: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Lead Computer Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Lead Computer Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Lead Computer Operator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Media typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Lead Computer Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Lead Computer Operator
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking
$85,660
$41.0
30%
Financial Services
$79,071
$38.0
20%
Internet
$79,071
$38.0
20%
Pharmaceuticals
$79,071
$38.0
20%
Biotechnology
$72,482
$35.0
10%
How Education impacts a Lead Computer Operator's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Lead Computer Operators enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Lead Computer Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between
$64,325
and $68,942).
Lead Computer Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Lead Computer Operator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$57,877
Average$65,892/year
$74,326
$4,823
Average$5,491/month
$6,194
$1,113
Average$1,267/week
$1,429
$28
Average$32/hour
$36
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$74,326
$6,194
$1,429
$36
Average
$65,892
$5,491
$1,267
$32
25th Percentile
$57,877
$4,823
$1,113
$28
Salaries of Jobs related to Lead Computer Operator
Salaries for a Lead Computer Operator can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $57,755 in 2023
to around $57,063 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Lead Computer Operator salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Lead Computer Operator Over Time
$???
$57,755
$57,380
$57,063
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$57,755
2024
$57,380
2025
$57,063
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Lead Computer Operator
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Lead Computer Operator
Here are companies hiring for Lead Computer Operator and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Lead Computer Operator
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Lead Computer Operator?
The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Lead Computer Operator roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
