Highest-Paying Specialist Jobs [2023]

Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of specialists that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.

Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of specialists:

• Product Specialist is the highest-paid type of specialist with an average salary of $85,932 and an average hourly rate of $41.31.

• The second highest-paying type of specialist is business specialist, with an average salary of $73,521.

• The average specialist salary is $58,013 per year, and the average hourly pay is $27.89.

Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs

Background

Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a specialist, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of specialists are so that you can plan your career progression.

Here are the top salaries for different types of specialists:

1. Product Specialist

   Average Salary: $85,932

   A product specialist is required to have excellent knowledge about a product and work with a business unit to ensure excellent product delivery. Product specialists perform product demonstrations to customers and other stakeholders and assist in their promotions and product releases. To gain increased revenue, product specialists must be able to identify new market opportunities. They are required to conduct product and sales training for the marketing team. They must also provide reports about their product-related activities to the management.

2. Business Specialist

   Average Salary: $73,521

   A business specialist’s role is to perform research and analysis to determine the company’s strengths and weaknesses, aiming to improve and develop areas for optimal performance. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather relevant data, identifying new opportunities and ways to meet clients’ needs, devising strategies and programs for profit growth, and developing new processes for business efficiency. Furthermore, it is essential to provide corrective measures on various issues and concerns, all while implementing the company’s policies and regulations.

3. Information Specialist

   Average Salary: $69,502

   An information specialist is responsible for obtaining data through various strategies such as surveys, research, and analysis. It is essential to coordinate with different teams to learn their data needs and utilize them upon gathering. There may also be instances where an information specialist must work with other groups for tasks, such as building databases and networks. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure data integrity, protect their source’s identities, adhere to all the company’s policies and regulations, and abide by the state law when gathering information.

4. Operations Specialist

   Average Salary: $54,752

   An operations specialist is responsible for optimizing the business’ daily operations, ensuring smooth process flow to provide the best services to clients. Operations specialists’ duties include analyzing business procedures, identifying opportunities for business improvement, tracking the department’s metrics and activities, providing assistance to colleagues, suggesting strategies for operations efficiency, and managing customer’s inquiries and complaints. An operations specialist must be an excellent team player and detail-oriented, as well as proven time-management and decision-making skills to meet clients’ needs and support the business’ objectives.

5. Service Support Specialist

   Average Salary: $43,538

   A service support specialist’s role is to assist clients by addressing and resolving their inquiries, concerns, and complaints. Their responsibilities typically revolve around responding to calls and correspondence, troubleshooting, analyzing customer needs, identifying the root of issues, and providing the necessary corrective measures, all to ensure efficiency and client satisfaction. There are also instances when they must perform follow-up calls, offer products and services, process payments, and even manage accounts. Furthermore, as a service support analyst, it is essential to engage with clients in a friendly yet professional approach, in adherence to the company’s policies and regulations.

Below is a full table of the average pay for various specialist that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Specialists

Methodology

Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.

Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for specialists.

Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.

Highest-Paying Types Of Specialist Jobs FAQs

1. What is the highest-paid specialist job?

   The highest-paid specialist job is a product specialist. Product Specialists earn an average salary of $85,932, which is $ 41.31 hourly.

   A product specialist is required to have excellent knowledge about a product and work with a business unit to ensure excellent product delivery. Product specialists perform product demonstrations to customers and other stakeholders and assist in their promotions and product releases. To gain increased revenue, product specialists must be able to identify new market opportunities. They are required to conduct product and sales training for the marketing team. They must also provide reports about their product-related activities to the management.

2. What is a good salary for a specialist?

   A good salary for a specialist is $58,013 or more. The average specialist salary is $58,013, so those making at least $58,013 are earning above-average paychecks.

   Keep in mind, however, that the average specialist salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.

   In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a specialist, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $58,013 average, as this includes all specialists of all skill and experience levels.

3. Do Specialist jobs pay well?

   Yes, specialist jobs pay well. As in any industry, some specialist jobs pay better than others, but the average specialist salary of $58,013 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.

   In addition to this, many specialist jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of specialists earning $0 a year on average.

   Specialists’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a specialist. Do your research on the going rate for a specialist in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.

4. Where do specialists get paid the most?

   Specialists get paid the most in District of Columbia. In District of Columbia, specialists earn an average annual salary of $69,975 and an average hourly wage of $33.64.

   Following DC, the states with the highest-paid specialists are Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York, with average annual salaries of $70,439, $62,747, and $71,852 respectively.

   The cities with the highest-paid specialist salaries are:

   1. Jersey City, NJ – $73,692

   2. New York, NY – $72,662

   3. Washington, DC – $69,935

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.