Research Summary. The Zippia data team has utilized a combination of publicly available government data, company reports, and insights from thousands of job postings to create accurate average salary estimates for specialist roles across the United States. This analysis has led to the identification of the highest-paying specialist positions based on average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings regarding the top-earning types of specialists:
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The Product Specialist emerges as the highest-paid specialist, boasting an average salary of $85,932 and an hourly rate of $41.31.
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The second highest-paying role is that of a Business Specialist, with an average salary of $73,521.
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On average, specialists earn $58,013 per year, translating to about $27.89 per hour.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging. While salary shouldn’t be the sole factor in your decision, it remains a crucial consideration. If you’re aspiring to become a specialist, understanding the highest-paid positions can guide your career development and help you strategize your trajectory.
Here are the top salaries for various specialist roles:
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Product Specialist
Average Salary: $85,932
A Product Specialist possesses deep knowledge of a product and collaborates with business units to drive effective product delivery. Their role includes conducting product demonstrations for customers and stakeholders, assisting in marketing efforts, and identifying new market opportunities to boost revenue. Additionally, they are responsible for training marketing teams on product features and reporting product-related activities to management.
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Business Specialist
Average Salary: $73,521
A Business Specialist conducts research and analysis to pinpoint a company’s strengths and weaknesses, focusing on enhancing performance and identifying new opportunities to meet client needs. They coordinate with various departments to gather data, develop strategies for profit growth, and implement processes for business efficiency, all while adhering to company policies and regulations.
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Information Specialist
Average Salary: $69,502
An Information Specialist gathers data through various methods, including surveys and research. They work closely with teams to understand their data needs and ensure data integrity while respecting privacy and legal guidelines.
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Operations Specialist
Average Salary: $54,752
An Operations Specialist focuses on optimizing daily business functions to ensure seamless service delivery. Their responsibilities include analyzing procedures, tracking metrics, assisting colleagues, and addressing customer inquiries and complaints, all while contributing to operational efficiency.
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Service Support Specialist
Average Salary: $43,538
A Service Support Specialist assists clients in resolving inquiries and complaints. Their duties involve troubleshooting client issues, processing payments, and maintaining accounts while ensuring a professional and friendly interaction in line with company policies.
Below is a comprehensive table detailing the average pay for various specialist roles, followed by an explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Specialists
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Product Specialist | |
| 2 | Business Specialist | |
| 3 | Information Specialist | |
| 4 | Operations Specialist | |
| 5 | Service Support Specialist | |
| 6 | Funding Specialist | |
| 7 | Support Specialist | |
| 8 | Family Specialist | |
| 9 | Client Support Specialist | |
| 10 | Mortgage Specialist | |
| 11 | Fraud Specialist | |
| 12 | Intake Specialist | |
| 13 | Authorization Specialist | |
| 14 | Order Specialist | |
| 15 | Insurance Specialist | |
| 16 | Imaging Specialist | |
| 17 | Call Center Specialist | |
| 18 | Records Specialist | |
| 19 | Activity Specialist | |
| 20 | Verification Specialist |
Methodology
Zippia employs publicly available data from government sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to formulate its salary estimates.
Our data science team also reviews job postings and company resources to gather the latest salary information for specialists.
After compiling the data, a weighted average is calculated for each job title. For further details on our salary estimates, you can read our detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Specialist Jobs FAQs
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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 breaks down to $41.31 per hour.
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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, indicating that those earning this amount are above average.
However, average salaries can vary based on location, as companies adjust their pay scales according to the cost of living. It’s advisable to research local salary averages for your expertise and experience level for a more accurate assessment.
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Do Specialist jobs pay well?
Yes, specialist jobs generally pay well. While salaries vary by role, the average specialist salary of $58,013 is significantly higher than the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
Many specialist roles also offer significant earning potential, especially for those in the top 10%. Salaries can fluctuate based on experience, industry, and location, so it’s important to research the going rates in your area and negotiate accordingly.
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Where do specialists get paid the most?
Specialists earn the highest salaries in the District of Columbia. In the District of Columbia, specialists earn an average annual salary of $69,975, which equates to an hourly wage of $33.64.
Following DC, the states with the highest-paid specialists include Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York, with average salaries of $70,439, $62,747, and $71,852, respectively.
The cities with the highest average salaries for specialists are:
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Jersey City, NJ – $73,692
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New York, NY – $72,662
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Washington, DC – $69,935
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Author
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.
