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Airport manager vs airport operations specialist

The differences between airport managers and airport operations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an airport manager and an airport operations specialist. Additionally, an airport manager has an average salary of $42,405, which is higher than the $42,256 average annual salary of an airport operations specialist.

The top three skills for an airport manager include customer complaints, business demands and human resources. The most important skills for an airport operations specialist are safety inspections, non-emergency situations, and federal aviation administration.

Airport manager vs airport operations specialist overview

Airport ManagerAirport Operations Specialist
Yearly salary$42,405$42,256
Hourly rate$20.39$20.32
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs5,66463,594
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4545
Years of experience44

Airport manager vs airport operations specialist salary

Airport managers and airport operations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Airport ManagerAirport Operations Specialist
Average salary$42,405$42,256
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $62,000Between $28,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City-San Jose, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept
Best paying industry-Government

Differences between airport manager and airport operations specialist education

There are a few differences between an airport manager and an airport operations specialist in terms of educational background:

Airport ManagerAirport Operations Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleSUNY Farmingdale

Airport manager vs airport operations specialist demographics

Here are the differences between airport managers' and airport operations specialists' demographics:

Airport ManagerAirport Operations Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 75.1% Female, 24.9%Male, 64.3% Female, 35.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between airport manager and airport operations specialist duties and responsibilities

Airport manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage RFP activity for car rental and taxicab service concessions.
  • Manage and facilitate passenger check-in processes, luggage handling, and deplaning and boarding processes for timely departures.
  • Manage requests of VIP customers, travel groups, special needs individuals and formulate solutions for improve handling to head office.
  • Construct domestic and international reservations, perform ticket transactions, facilitate passenger check-in and manage departure and arrival gates.
  • Increase revenues by initiating business development projects to bring in new FBO capital.
  • Close FBO for next day operating accordance.
  • Show more

Airport operations specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage operations associate facilities, flight training equipment, and all associate logistics.
  • Direct airside operations, which include safety and wildlife inspections, employee training, NOTAMs, and more.
  • Attend meetings with FAA, TSA, tenants, and airport personnel to discuss operations, security and safety issues.
  • Monitor CCTV security cameras for activity on property.
  • Monitor the centralized security system to enforce TSA regulations.
  • Inspect and operate emergency rescue equipment and perform firefighting operations .!
  • Show more

Airport manager vs airport operations specialist skills

Common airport manager skills
  • Customer Complaints, 15%
  • Business Demands, 15%
  • Human Resources, 14%
  • Revenue Projections, 12%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • TSA, 6%
Common airport operations specialist skills
  • Safety Inspections, 9%
  • Non-Emergency Situations, 8%
  • Federal Aviation Administration, 8%
  • Plumbing, 6%
  • Reservations, 6%
  • Federal Regulations, 5%

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