10 of the Most Popular Types of Systems Operator Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Systems Operator jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Systems Operator Jobs

• 3000 A Month No Degree

  Salary range: $37,500 - $60,000

  3000 A Month No Degree is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for 3000 A Month No Degree jobs pay between $37,500 (25th percentile) and $60,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for 3000 A Month No Degree job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Control Room Operator

  Salary range: $38,000 - $53,000

  A control room operator works in the control room at an industrial facility, usually a power plant. The primary job responsibilities are monitoring the operation of equipment, machines, and other systems in the plant. Additional duties include managing alarms or alerts, monitoring production rates, and logging system statuses. The job requires keen attention to detail. The job is often performed in a setting where constant vigilance is critical to prevent falls, shocks, and other workplace injuries. Qualifications include an understanding of mechanics and strong organizational skills.

• Systems Administrator

  Salary range: $70,000 - $104,000

  The primary duties of a system administrator are to install, update, and maintain computer systems while managing user access regimes. As a systems administrator, you have administrative privileges to change settings, install or remove software, and access security functions unavailable to normal users. A systems administrator might oversee multiple machines at once, or even an entire network. You provide technical support to users who are experiencing problems and collaborate with network administrators to ensure the continued performance of the network. As a systems administrator, you determine the level of access a user has to network information and what operations they can perform, limiting users to only what they need to perform their job.

• Satellite Operator

  Salary range: $45,000 - $86,500

  Satellite Operator is a common job search query. Most salaries for Satellite Operator jobs pay between $45,000 (25th percentile) and $86,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Satellite Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Plant Operator

  Salary range: $34,000 - $52,500

  A plant operator oversees the day-to-day operations of an industrial plant. As a plant operator, you operate different types of machinery and equipment from a control room. You might specialize in a specific type of machinery and work on one part of the process, or you might be a generalist who works on different machines in all parts of the process. Plant operators work in many industries such as the oil and gas industry, manufacturing, utilities and power plants.

• Distribution System Operator

  Salary range: $45,000 - $68,000

  A distribution system operator, or DSO, coordinates the distribution system for a product or good. An electric distribution system operator distributes energy resources, but system distribution operators also work in fields related to water, utilities, and fuel. You monitor system operations, maintain the distribution system, and document any issues or problems. You ensure the electric grid works through various problems and weather conditions. If you work in gas distribution, you oversee the transport of natural gas through pipeline networks and to customers. Your responsibilities and duties include troubleshooting and repairing the distribution system and creating recovery and emergency contingency plans.

• Apprentice System Operator

  Salary range: $35,500 - $45,500

  Apprentice System Operator is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Apprentice System Operator jobs pay between $35,500 (25th percentile) and $45,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Apprentice System Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Instrumentation

  Salary range: $43,000 - $61,000

  Instrumentation is a popular job search query. Most salaries for Instrumentation jobs pay between $43,000 (25th percentile) and $61,000 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Instrumentation job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Distributed Control System Operator

  Salary range: $40,500 - $58,000

  Distributed Control System Operator is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Distributed Control System Operator jobs pay between $40,500 (25th percentile) and $58,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Distributed Control System Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Power System Operator

  Salary range: $109,000 - $141,500

  Power System Operator is a common job search query. Most salaries for Power System Operator jobs pay between $109,000 (25th percentile) and $141,500 (75th percentile) annually. You’ll find many open positions nationwide for Power System Operator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.