Related training can also be obtained through the Armed Forces and from some computer manufacturers. The length of training varies with the job and the experience of the worker. A few computer operators may advance to supervisory jobs, although most management positions within data processing or computer operations centers require more formal education such as a bachelor's degree or higher. As they gain experience in programming, some operators may advance to jobs as programmers or systems analysts . A move into these types of jobs is becoming much more difficult as employers increasingly require candidates for more skilled computer professional jobs to possess at least a bachelor's degree.
Salaries generally are higher in large organizations than in small ones.
Applicants with operations experience started at higher salaries. In 1996, computer operators held about 291,000 jobs. Although jobs for computer operators are found in almost every industry, the majority are found in organizations that have data processing needs requiring large computer installations such as wholesale trade establishments, manufacturing companies, data processing service firms, financial institutions, and government agencies. A growing number are employed by service firms in the computer and data processing services industry, as more companies contract out the operation of their data processing centers. Less than 1 out of 5 computer operators works part time.