What are the main factors that influence a Systems Operator's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Systems Operator's salary?

A Systems Operator's salary grows with experience: a Computer Operator I (0-1 years)earns $49,467, a Systems Operator (1-3 years)earns $61,965, a Computer Operator III (3-5 years)earns $68,757, a Computer Operations Shift Supervisor (5+ years)earns $92,550, a Computer Operations Supervisor (5+ years)earns $110,564,

What are the highest paying states for a Systems Operator?

Systems Operator salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Systems Operator roles are District of Columbia $67,966, California $67,708, Massachusetts $66,806. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Systems Operator roles make?

Salaries for Systems Operator level roles vary by specialization: Water Systems Operator: $94,988; 25S - Satellite Communications Systems Operator/Maintainer: $78,462; 25Q Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer: $76,864; 25Q20 Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-maintainer: $75,957; Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator Maintainer: $74,211.

How do different companies affect a Systems Operator's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Systems Operator roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Systems Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Systems Operator make in the United States?

As of February 01, 2026, the average salary for a Systems Operator in the United States is $61,386 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

However, a Systems Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,375
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,037 to $70,279
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,437

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

Smart Recruiting

AI-Powered HR

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Systems Operator Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$70,279	$5,857	$1,352	$34
Average	$61,386	$5,115	$1,180	$30
25th Percentile	$53,037	$4,420	$1,020	$25

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Systems Operator Job Openings in the United States

Systems Administrator

SAWTST - LAWTON, OK

Sr Principal Airborne Systems Operator

Northrop Grumman - CHANTILLY, VA

Sr Principal Airborne Systems Operator Top Secret Required Cha

Northrop Grumman - CHANTILLY, VA

Engineer Systems Test

Northrop Grumman - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Search More Systems Operator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Systems Operator Salaries

A Systems 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 Systems Operator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Systems 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:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $49,467
Early Career (1-2 years): $61,965
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,757
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $92,550
Expert (over 8 years): $110,564

Levels	Salary
Computer ... Level Systems Operator	$49,467
Systems O... Level Systems Operator	$61,965
Computer ... Level Systems Operator	$68,757
Computer ... Level Systems Operator	$92,550
Computer ... Level Systems Operator	$110,564

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Systems 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 Systems Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $67,966.
California: $67,708.
Massachusetts: $66,806.

District of Columbia $67,966

California $67,708

Massachusetts $66,806

Washington $66,560

New Jersey $66,536

Alaska $66,450

Connecticut $65,603

New York $65,259

Hawaii $64,160

Rhode Island $63,644

Maryland $63,295

Minnesota $62,816

Colorado $62,632

Illinois $62,570

Oregon $62,337

Delaware $62,165

New Hampshire $62,057

Virginia $61,815

Pennsylvania $61,109

Nevada $60,753

North Dakota $60,637

Michigan $60,452

Wisconsin $60,385

Vermont $60,250

Texas $59,875

Maine $59,851

Arizona $59,814

Ohio $59,771

Georgia $59,206

Indiana $58,924

Wyoming $58,869

Utah $58,783

Iowa $58,746

Kansas $58,451

Louisiana $58,365

North Carolina $58,335

Missouri $58,322

Florida $58,083

Montana $57,954

Nebraska $57,831

Kentucky $57,764

South Carolina $57,518

Tennessee $57,365

Idaho $57,303

New Mexico $56,855

Oklahoma $56,757

Alabama $56,395

South Dakota $55,787

Arkansas $55,456

West Virginia $55,278

Mississippi $54,744

Top Paying Cities for Systems 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: $77,426
San Francisco: $76,664
Oakland: $74,964

San Jose, CA $77,426

San Francisco, CA $76,664

Oakland, CA $74,964

New York, NY $71,140

Queens Village, NY $70,679

Paramus, NJ $70,188

Passaic, NJ $70,127

Bergenfield, NJ $70,065

Stamford, CT $69,973

Huntington, NY $69,912

Newark, NJ $69,513

Bridgeport, CT $69,390

New Brunswick, NJ $69,188

Vallejo, CA $69,059

Middlesex, NJ $69,022

Somerset, NJ $68,967

Petaluma, CA $68,825

Santa Cruz, CA $68,586

Boston, MA $68,463

Monterey, CA $68,156

Fairbanks, AK $68,113

Los Angeles, CA $67,997

Washington, DC $67,966

Seattle, WA $67,856

Santa Rosa, CA $67,843

Juneau, AK $67,665

Orange, CA $67,463

Anchorage, AK $67,352

Anaheim, CA $67,309

Santa Ana, CA $67,217

Nassau, NY $67,180

Long Beach, CA $67,156

Danbury, CT $67,137

Santa Maria, CA $66,929

Everett, WA $66,916

Bremerton, WA $66,616

Trenton, NJ $66,499

Sacramento, CA $66,474

San Diego, CA $66,444

Brockton, MA $66,419

Tacoma, WA $66,395

Santa Barbara, CA $66,309

Lowell, MA $66,063

New Suffolk, NY $66,039

Nashua, NH $65,965

Lompoc, CA $65,867

Ventura, CA $65,805

Stockton, CA $65,787

New Haven, CT $65,664

Atlantic City, NJ $65,504

Hartford, CT $65,369

Modesto, CA $65,339

Poughkeepsie, NY $65,204

New Britain, CT $65,173

Olympia, WA $65,087

Kennewick, WA $65,087

New London, CT $65,075

Norwich, CT $65,056

Lawrence, MA $65,026

Bakersfield, CA $64,854

Riverside, CA $64,768

New Bedford, MA $64,768

Richland, WA $64,706

Portsmouth, NH $64,657

Vineland, NJ $64,645

San Bernardino, CA $64,596

Boulder, CO $64,424

Worcester, MA $64,375

Portland, OR $64,320

Saint Paul, MN $64,246

Minneapolis, MN $64,246

Philadelphia, PA $64,160

Honolulu, HI $63,835

Springfield, MA $63,620

Providence, RI $63,614

Chicago, IL $63,436

Bellingham, WA $63,362

Baltimore, MD $63,295

Chico, CA $63,141

Wilmington, DE $63,037

Pittsfield, MA $62,975

Manchester, NH $62,859

Spokane, WA $62,589

Denver, CO $62,583

Albany, NY $62,294

Troy, NY $62,269

Schenectady, NY $62,141

Burlington, VT $62,005

Portland, ME $61,791

Salem, OR $61,742

Yakima, WA $61,729

Ann Arbor, MI $61,711

Rochester, MN $61,539

Fresno, CA $61,508

Reno, NV $61,508

Milwaukee, WI $61,453

Detroit, MI $61,392

Allentown, PA $61,373

Carson City, NV $61,367

Houston, TX $61,275

Colorado Springs, CO $61,269

Syracuse, NY $61,238

Eugene, OR $61,122

Bismarck, ND $61,048

Gary, IN $61,048

Galveston, TX $61,048

Springfield, OR $60,999

Medford, OR $60,851

Fort Collins, CO $60,827

Austin, TX $60,778

Mesa, AZ $60,649

Phoenix, AZ $60,637

Dallas, TX $60,618

Reading, PA $60,581

Saint Cloud, MN $60,557

Concord, NH $60,502

Madison, WI $60,477

Utica, NY $60,311

Raleigh, NC $60,262

Las Vegas, NV $60,256

Rochester, NY $60,213

Des Moines, IA $60,207

Atlanta, GA $60,109

Battle Creek, MI $60,090

Salt Lake City, UT $60,072

Lancaster, PA $59,980

Champaign, IL $59,967

Harrisburg, PA $59,894

Durham, NC $59,839

Kansas City, MO $59,832

Kansas City, KS $59,820

Fort Worth, TX $59,814

Boca Raton, FL $59,789

Cleveland, OH $59,783

Columbus, OH $59,771

Pittsburgh, PA $59,765

Richmond, VA $59,740

Indianapolis, IN $59,728

Cincinnati, OH $59,648

Petersburg, VA $59,556

Billings, MT $59,421

Lansing, MI $59,421

Huntsville, AL $59,421

Lebanon, PA $59,415

Dayton, OH $59,409

Pueblo, CO $59,409

Appleton, WI $59,390

Buffalo, NY $59,366

Racine, WI $59,335

Charlotte, NC $59,329

Saint Louis, MO $59,311

Springfield, IL $59,286

Elkhart, IN $59,274

York, PA $59,274

Gastonia, NC $59,268

Benton Harbor, MI $59,268

Beaumont, TX $59,231

Lorain, OH $59,219

Toledo, OH $59,194

Binghamton, NY $59,163

Rock Hill, SC $59,157

Rockford, IL $59,127

Fargo, ND $59,096

Elyria, OH $59,096

Flagstaff, AZ $59,053

Fort Lauderdale, FL $59,016

Miami, FL $58,979

Duluth, MN $58,881

Bangor, ME $58,801

Cedar Rapids, IA $58,734

Louisville, KY $58,703

Grand Rapids, MI $58,691

Hialeah, FL $58,685

Casper, WY $58,599

Scranton, PA $58,525

New Orleans, LA $58,507

Virginia Beach, VA $58,500

Akron, OH $58,470

Peoria, IL $58,390

Sarasota, FL $58,378

Green Bay, WI $58,335

Baton Rouge, LA $58,304

Charleston, SC $58,292

Nashville, TN $58,273

Jamestown, NY $58,261

Davenport, IA $58,261

Tucson, AZ $58,230

Cheyenne, WY $58,212

Saint Petersburg, FL $58,193

Tampa, FL $58,181

Omaha, NE $58,169

Port Arthur, TX $58,144

Evansville, IN $58,144

Bradenton, FL $58,120

Santa Fe, NM $58,009

Orlando, FL $57,948

Clearwater, FL $57,880

Canton, OH $57,751

La Crosse, WI $57,751

Grand Forks, ND $57,733

Albuquerque, NM $57,715

Tulsa, OK $57,715

Newport News, VA $57,709

High Point, NC $57,690

Ogden, UT $57,666

Corpus Christi, TX $57,616

Laramie, WY $57,580

Norfolk, VA $57,580

Rock Island, IL $57,543

Saginaw, MI $57,530

Jacksonville, FL $57,524

Salisbury, NC $57,512

Memphis, TN $57,500

Moline, IL $57,469

Fort Myers, FL $57,451

Waterloo, IA $57,371

Spartanburg, SC $57,310

Lincoln, NE $57,279

Fort Wayne, IN $57,267

Birmingham, AL $57,199

Cedar Falls, IA $57,187

Provo, UT $57,181

Springfield, OH $57,174

San Antonio, TX $57,162

Greensboro, NC $57,138

South Bend, IN $57,131

Winston Salem, NC $57,125

Boise, ID $57,107

Savannah, GA $57,064

Muskegon, MI $56,953

Lima, OH $56,880

Lake Charles, LA $56,855

Anderson, IN $56,843

Lexington, KY $56,825

Augusta, GA $56,806

Greenville, SC $56,806

Wichita, KS $56,751

Tuscaloosa, AL $56,751

Columbia, SC $56,696

Bloomington, IN $56,542

Roanoke, VA $56,505

Asheville, NC $56,426

Knoxville, TN $56,321

Shreveport, LA $56,315

Wilmington, NC $56,235

Frankfort, KY $56,119

Oklahoma City, OK $56,076

Chillicothe, OH $56,051

Longview, TX $56,045

Topeka, KS $56,027

Mobile, AL $55,934

Terre Haute, IN $55,910

Erie, PA $55,904

Altoona, PA $55,873

Melbourne, FL $55,855

Amarillo, TX $55,830

Killeen, TX $55,812

Fayetteville, AR $55,763

Sioux Falls, SD $55,720

Chattanooga, TN $55,683

Idaho Falls, ID $55,677

Gainesville, FL $55,548

Portsmouth, OH $55,517

Little Rock, AR $55,505

Lynchburg, VA $55,505

Lafayette, LA $55,480

Youngstown, OH $55,480

Temple, TX $55,456

Daytona Beach, FL $55,443

Clarksville, TN $55,437

Pensacola, FL $55,431

Hopkinsville, KY $55,247

Charleston, WV $55,241

Florence, SC $55,210

Sioux City, IA $55,173

Macon, GA $54,995

Tallahassee, FL $54,989

Fayetteville, NC $54,977

Waco, TX $54,965

Wichita Falls, TX $54,965

Pine Bluff, AR $54,940

Vincennes, IN $54,823

Lubbock, TX $54,799

Great Falls, MT $54,762

Alamogordo, NM $54,756

Abilene, TX $54,707

Rapid City, SD $54,627

Monroe, LA $54,627

Albany, GA $54,590

Huntington, WV $54,584

Jackson, MS $54,578

Greenville, MS $54,572

Parkersburg, WV $54,510

Montgomery, AL $54,498

Johnstown, PA $54,486

Springfield, MO $54,437

Biloxi, MS $54,406

Sumter, SC $54,277

Columbus, GA $54,271

Twin Falls, ID $54,234

Pascagoula, MS $54,154

Kingsport, TN $53,995

Gulfport, MS $53,976

Alexandria, LA $53,774

Fort Smith, AR $53,620

El Paso, TX $53,454

Helena, MT $53,375

Las Cruces, NM $53,178

Harlingen, TX $53,006

Pocatello, ID $52,951

Florence, AL $52,933

Brownsville, TX $52,920

Dothan, AL $52,822

Mcallen, TX $52,792

Columbus, MS $52,337

Altus, OK $52,055

Lawton, OK $51,938

Pierre, SD $51,717

What Skills Can Increase a Systems Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 7.27% 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.
Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting	7.27%
SOP	3.39%
Computer Science	2.63%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

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 Systems Operator's salary.

Logistics: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Logistics	$67,524	10%
Computer Science	$66,296	8%
Consulting	$65,682	7%
Planning	$65,069	6%
Networking	$65,069	6%
Incident Response	$65,069	6%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Systems Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Systems 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 Systems Operator with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $55,568 and $59,228).

Systems Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Systems Operator

No Diploma 4.1%

High School 31.7%

Associates 35.9%

Bachelors 25.5%

Masters 2.1%

Doctorate 0.7%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	4.1%
High School	31.7%
Associates	35.9%
Bachelors	25.5%
Masters	2.1%
Doctorate	0.7%

view as graph

Systems Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Systems 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.

Last Updated on February 01, 2026

$53,037

Average $61,386/year

$70,279

$4,420

Average $5,115/month

$5,857

$1,020

Average $1,180/week

$1,352

$25

Average $30/hour

$34

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$70,279	$5,857	$1,352	$34
Average	$61,386	$5,115	$1,180	$30
25th Percentile	$53,037	$4,420	$1,020	$25

Salaries of jobs related to Systems Operator

Salary Trends for Systems Operator

Salaries for a Systems Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,866 in 2023 to around $53,076 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Systems Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Systems Operator Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$54,866

2024

$53,871

2025

$53,076

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$54,866
2024	$53,871
2025	$53,076
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Systems Operator

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Systems Operator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Systems Operator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about