Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

43-9011 Computer Operators

Monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral electronic data processing equipment to process business, scientific, engineering, and other data according to operating instructions. Monitor and respond to operating and error messages. May enter commands at a computer terminal and set controls on computer and peripheral devices. Excludes "Computer Occupations" (15-1100) and "Data Entry Keyers" (43-9021).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
71,560 2.0 % $19.10 $39,720 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $11.15 $14.19 $18.46 $23.52 $27.89
Annual Wage (2) $23,200 $29,520 $38,390 $48,920 $58,010

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 6,590 2.63 $19.11 $39,750
Management of Companies and Enterprises 5,170 0.26 $19.60 $40,760
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 4,790 0.30 $18.77 $39,030
Depository Credit Intermediation 3,280 0.19 $16.53 $34,370
Local Government (OES Designation) 3,260 0.06 $19.62 $40,810

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services 6,590 2.63 $19.11 $39,750
Activities Related to Credit Intermediation 1,470 0.55 $17.76 $36,950
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 90 0.52 $21.90 $45,550
Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds 180 0.39 $20.60 $42,840
Office Administrative Services 1,440 0.35 $19.72 $41,020

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Natural Gas Distribution 30 0.03 $27.84 $57,910
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 170 0.04 $27.09 $56,360
Postal Service 1,510 0.24 $26.30 $54,700
Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing (8) (8) $24.58 $51,120
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 490 0.02 $23.86 $49,630

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 6,710 0.47 0.85 $21.05 $43,790
Texas 6,190 0.59 1.07 $19.08 $39,680
New York 5,530 0.65 1.18 $19.81 $41,200
Georgia 3,980 1.04 1.90 $17.14 $35,650
Illinois 3,520 0.62 1.14 $20.39 $42,410




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Nebraska 1,470 1.61 2.93 $14.43 $30,010
Georgia 3,980 1.04 1.90 $17.14 $35,650
Rhode Island 450 0.99 1.80 $19.85 $41,280
Tennessee 2,440 0.92 1.67 $18.28 $38,010
Arkansas 900 0.78 1.42 $16.67 $34,670




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 230 0.35 0.63 $27.34 $56,860
Alaska 140 0.45 0.82 $24.26 $50,450
New Jersey 2,200 0.58 1.06 $21.37 $44,450
Connecticut 600 0.37 0.67 $21.29 $44,280
California 6,710 0.47 0.85 $21.05 $43,790





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 3,180 0.62 1.12 $20.80 $43,270
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 2,910 1.29 2.34 $17.29 $35,970
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 2,890 0.79 1.44 $20.91 $43,490
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 2,140 1.02 1.86 $20.84 $43,350
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 1,850 0.48 0.87 $19.72 $41,020
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 1,690 0.97 1.77 $16.96 $35,280
St. Louis, MO-IL 1,600 1.25 2.28 $21.63 $44,990
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 1,420 0.54 0.98 $20.86 $43,380
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 1,380 0.59 1.07 $22.91 $47,640
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 1,250 0.73 1.33 $20.16 $41,940




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Janesville, WI 180 2.95 5.38 (8) (8)
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO 590 2.89 5.27 $16.55 $34,410
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA 330 2.84 5.17 $12.33 $25,640
Dalton, GA 160 2.53 4.60 $20.72 $43,090
Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division 630 1.96 3.56 $19.35 $40,240
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA 880 1.96 3.57 $14.99 $31,170
Taunton-Norton-Raynham, MA NECTA Division 80 1.75 3.19 $21.29 $44,280
Lincoln, NE 280 1.74 3.16 $14.64 $30,450
El Paso, TX 480 1.74 3.16 $17.05 $35,460
Dubuque, IA 80 1.35 2.45 $14.48 $30,110