Monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral electronic data processing equipment to process business, scientific, engineering, and other data according to operating instructions. May enter commands at a computer terminal and set controls on computer and peripheral devices. Monitor and respond to operating and error messages.

Other names for Computer Operators: Card Sorter, Card Tape Converter Operator, Computer Console Operator, Computer Operator, Computer Peripheral Equipment Operator, Computer Specialist, Computer Systems Support Specialist, Computing Machine Operator, Console Operator, Data Processing Auxiliary Equipment Operator, Data Processing Clerk, Data Processor, Digital Computer Operator, Digitizer Operator, Encoding Machine Operator, Environmental Web Crawler, Equipment Operator, High Speed Printer Operator, Imaging Specialist, Information Systems Operator, Information Technology Specialist, Input Output Clerk, Micro Computer Data Processor, Office Automation Clerk, Operations and Maintenance Technician, Peripheral EDP Equipment Operator, Peripheral Equipment Operator, Software Technician, Sorting Machine Operator, System Support Technician,

• Respond to program error messages by finding and correcting problems or terminating the program.
• Read job set-up instructions to determine equipment to be used, order of use, material such as disks and paper to be loaded, and control settings.
• Operate spreadsheet programs and other types of software to load and manipulate data and to produce reports.
• Retrieve, separate and sort program output as needed, and send data to specified users.
• Load peripheral equipment with selected materials for operating runs, or oversee loading of peripheral equipment by peripheral equipment operators.
• Answer telephone calls to assist computer users encountering problems.
• Oversee the operation of computer hardware systems, including coordinating and scheduling the use of computer terminals and networks to ensure efficient use.
• Record information such as computer operating time, problems that occurred, and actions taken.
• Clear equipment at end of operating run and review schedule to determine next assignment.
• Type command on keyboard to transfer encoded data from memory unit to magnetic tape and assist in labeling, classifying, cataloging and maintaining tapes.
• Supervise and train peripheral equipment operators and computer operator trainees.
• Help programmers and systems analysts test and debug new programs.
• Enter commands, using computer terminal, and activate controls on computer and peripheral equipment to integrate and operate equipment.
• Monitor the system for equipment failure or errors in performance.
• Notify supervisor or computer maintenance technicians of equipment malfunctions.

• Electronic media or data duplicating equipment
• Check endorsing machines
• Hard disk drives
• Laser printers
• Computer servers
• Tape drives
• Mainframe console or dumb terminals
• Paper cutting machines or accessories
• Hard disk drives
• Computer servers
• Paper cutting machines or accessories
• Dot matrix printers
• Dot matrix printers
• Laser printers
• Magnetic card readers
• Tape drives
• Mainframe computers
• Computer servers
• Modems
• Special purpose telephones
• Network routers
• Personal computers
• Plotter printers
• Tape drive libraries
• Scanners

Helpdesk or call center software

Office suite software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Word processing software

Charting software

Spreadsheet software

Data base management system software

Data base reporting software

Data base user interface and query software

Object oriented data base management software

Transaction server software

Development environment software

Object or component oriented development software

Application server software

Internet browser software

Network monitoring software

Access software

LAN software

Storage networking software

WAN switching software and firmware

Filesystem software

Operating system software

Backup or archival software

Electronic mail software

Network conferencing software