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Job outlook for operations advisors in the United States
Are operations advisor jobs in demand?
Operations advisor job and salary trends over time
Operations advisor jobs over time
Operations advisor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,446 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,126 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 809 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,547 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,349 | 0.00% |
Average operations advisor salary over time
Operations advisor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,224 | $48.18 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $96,408 | $46.35 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $94,150 | $45.26 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $93,456 | $44.93 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $92,161 | $44.31 | +1.3% |
Operations advisor jobs by state
Most common states for operations advisors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 273 | 39% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 156 | 27% |
| 3 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 788 | 25% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 262 | 25% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 155 | 25% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 173 | 23% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,209 | 22% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,210 | 21% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 173 | 20% |
| 10 | Alaska | 739,795 | 147 | 20% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,350 | 18% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 751 | 18% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 349 | 18% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 239 | 18% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 172 | 18% |
| 16 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,650 | 16% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,444 | 16% |
| 18 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 968 | 16% |
| 19 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 515 | 16% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 274 | 16% |
Most common cities for operations advisors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | 2 | 6% | $108,542 |
| 2 | Rosemead | 2 | 4% | $112,658 |
| 3 | Pomona | 3 | 2% | $112,020 |
| 4 | Hattiesburg | 1 | 2% | $79,468 |
| 5 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $74,117 |
| 6 | Orlando | 2 | 1% | $67,720 |
| 7 | Tampa | 2 | 1% | $68,546 |
| 8 | Carmel | 1 | 1% | $89,916 |
| 9 | Compton | 1 | 1% | $112,428 |
| 10 | Edison | 1 | 1% | $123,341 |
| 11 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $112,859 |
| 12 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $108,388 |
| 13 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $102,063 |
| 14 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $105,893 |
| 15 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $103,071 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $89,538 |
Operations Advisor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of operations advisor experts
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Brazosport College
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Pepperdine University, Seaver College
Sam Houston State University
Farmingdale State College
The City College of New York
Belmont University
Sonoma State University
What will help Operations Advisors increase their earning potential?
Dorothy Zilic: Experience continues to be an important factor when entering the workforce in numerous fields. The majority of employers want to see some kind of related experience, such as an internship, part-time employment, volunteer/service and course-related experiences relevant to their major. There are many employers offering internships, both in-person and virtual. There are also numerous volunteer opportunities to explore that are virtual in nature. This can be a time to be creative! Some students and graduates start their own businesses for example.
It is important to look at the requirements of entry-level jobs within the industry to know what experience one should strive for throughout his/her college career. There are several fields, such as Accounting and Public Relations/Marketing, where more than one internship may be advisable. Including a "Related Experience" section on a resume allows the students/candidates to display their most relevant work quickly to an employer.
Skills are also noteworthy and may help someone to be a competitive applicant when applying. Are there skills the employer is seeking, such as needing proficiency with Excel for an Accounting position? In addition to highlighting examples of related experience on a resume, skills are essential to include on a resume, cover letter, and/or in an interview. There may be skills specific to the position and also transferable skills.
Transferrable skills are beneficial to showcase because they transcend the position. These skills may be applicable to any position and often when employers interview, they use behavioral interviewing to determine how someone has reacted/acted in the past to help them to predict how the person will behave in the future. These skills and also one's attitude can show he/she is a capable and enthusiastic candidate.
While in college, students may work in different areas other than their chosen field of study. They may have had part-time positions that are more related to their major, but they might not be as directly related. It is important to think about each position/experience one has had, what has been learned, and what strengths have been brought out or enhanced. When talking to students about their strengths, I often ask the question, "What was the worst day you had on the job?" Thinking about one's most difficult day and how he/she handled it can demonstrate where a person's strengths lie and this is important to remember when talking about skills, abilities, and values. Connecting with the institution's career centers and all the wonderful resources at one's disposal (e.g., faculty, advisors, staff, peers, personal network) can help students not only navigate the job search process, but also to learn how to effectively discuss their experience, skills, and how to market/brand themselves. Each person has so much to give and bring to a position. I encourage students to think about their experiences (e.g., course-related, employment, internship, volunteer, club/organization, public service) and the valuable things they take away from them.
What will help Operations Advisors increase their earning potential?
Kenneth Resecker: In our field, your earning potential is both deep and wide. What I mean by that is, a Process Technician can make a lot of money, and can also fill a lot of different roles within the industry. The Process Technology field is present in a variety of different markets: chemical and petrochemical, pharmaceutical, water treatment, paper production, oil & gas exploration, and many more. There's a wide variety of options to choose from and the amount of money that can be made in any of them depends on the person's drive to excel. Many in the Process Technology field are satisfied with being a technician for their entire career with a 100k salary each year. Others, who may not want to stay in the same role that long, have a variety of different roles they could transition to. Many technicians move in to training roles, become a Technical Advisor, or move up to a supervisor position. So, like I said, the biggest factor to a person's earning potential increasing would be their individual drive to want to do more. The possibilities are near endless if the person wants to pursue them.
Derek Plantenga
Graduate Advisor of Record and Senior LecturerThe University of Texas at San Antonio
The Department of Social Work
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Operations Advisors?
Derek Plantenga: There is no standard national licensure for social workers, so it is important for social workers to learn and understand the license structure of the state in which they are living and working. In general, though, earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and then obtaining licensure will open up the vast majority of social work positions. For those wanting to work in the most clinical settings, obtaining clinical licensure will be required. In Texas, for example, the LCSW is needed in order to begin private clinical practice, and it is preferred for many positions with an intense clinical focus. MSW graduates interesting in pursuing this path begin by obtaining licensure as an LMSW and then work toward their clinical licensure. Beyond the primary degree and licensure; however, social work students can position themselves for success in the job market by expanding their knowledge and experience in the specific area of social work that interests them. For example, if a student is passionate about working with homeless veterans, then they can greatly increase the probability of securing a job in this arena by completing a practicum and/or volunteer experience working with veterans, seek out additional certifications or trainings related to trauma-informed practice, and network through community task forces or associations related to homelessness or veterans. Whatever the field of interest, the best way to get there is to seek out training, connections and experience in that particular field.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Operations Advisors?
Steven Bauer: The coronavirus has accelerated the transformation to a digital world, and this effect will continue after the pandemic is behind us. Graduates will need to be able to navigate a hybrid business environment, with in-person and virtual meetings, interactions and platforms. There will also be increased opportunities to be entrepreneurial and innovative in the digital area. In addition, graduates will have to become more skilled at navigating a global environment since greater digitization will draw countries closer to each other.
Carliss Miller Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ManagementSam Houston State University
Department of Management & Marketing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Operations Advisor job market given the pandemic?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Flexible working arrangements were considered a perk or benefit, but given the pandemic more and more jobs will be designed with flexible work arrangements in mind. We will continue to see trends in the labor market with a push towards personal services (e.g. virtual assistants, professional organizers) and professional services. There will also continue to be a demand for knowledge work. More and more, employers are looking to hire applicants that can provide concrete evidence of being "Day 1" ready.
Employers will focus more on identifying prospects with certain "soft skills" which were a nice-to-have pre-pandemic, but are now critical for organizational survival. These skills include: critical thinking, agility, ability to adapt to change, resilience, virtual team effectiveness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, data analysis and interpretation is a highly sought after skill even for jobs that historically did not require analytical ability.
Xu Zhang Ph.D.
ChairFarmingdale State College
Department of Economics
What skills stand out on Operations Advisor resumes?
Xu Zhang Ph.D.: I believe the most important attributes employers seek on a resume remain the same-problem solving skills, team work skills, analytical/quantitative skills, verbal and written communication skills. However, given the pandemic or any other unexpected shock to work environment, how to quickly and efficiently adapt to new work modes can be a very valuable attribute standing out on resume.
What type of skills will young Operations Advisors need?
Prabal Kumar De Ph.D.: I think the necessary skills remain the same. One modification that would stay is greater virtual engagement. Therefore, newly essential skills such as acing a virtual interview, making a mark during a Zoom meeting, or managing or being a valuable part of a remote working group would be useful long after the immediate threats from the COVID-19 crisis be gone.
Nina Woodard
Senior Career Development SpecialistBelmont University
Office of Career & Professional Development
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Operations Advisor job market given the pandemic?
Nina Woodard: The pandemic hasn't impacted all areas of the entertainment industry in the same way. Anything related to live events and touring has been placed on an extended pause, which has been very difficult for graduates hoping to work in those fields. On an encouraging note, consumers will always find a way back to live experiences, so that segment of the industry will absolutely recover; the timing is just still a bit unknown. Other areas such as record or publishing companies have held steady. And, digital marketing and content creation companies are as busy, if not busier, than they've ever been as artists seek alternative ways to stay connected to their fans. Technology has intersected with entertainment in exciting, creative ways that will continue even as some of the more traditional avenues become available again. For many companies, ideas that started as pivots are now vibrant components of their long-term strategies.
The way we work may have also permanently changed. Companies have realized that remote working is a truly viable option for most businesses. While maintaining company culture, and the social nature of an entertainment-based organization, may still require some level of in-person interaction, it seems likely that many organizations may continue with remote/hybrid office models.
What Operations Advisor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nina Woodard: For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.
Adjunct LecturerSonoma State University
School of Business & Economics
What type of skills will young Operations Advisors need?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.
What experience really stands out on Operations Advisor resumes?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: Most important on resumes to only show accomplishments you are proud of and reflect measurable success and completion of past work. These accomplishments should be a snapshot of what we have done and can do in the future. The most important two lines of a resume are in the objectives, to list what the person is seeking. These two lines give the reader a quick view of what the person wants.
Now is a great time to start the new year to build a portable work portfolio to represent an alignment of what a person is excited about and enjoys in their work.