How long does it take to become an Operations Specialist?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become an operations specialist. That is the time it takes to learn specific operations specialist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become an operations specialist.

Do you need a degree to be an operations specialist?

No, you do not need a degree to become an operations specialist. However, many employers prefer candidates who hold an associate or bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, or a related field.

What are the duties of an operations specialist?

The duties of an operations specialist are to manage all aspects of a company's daily operations. Responsibilities Of An Operations Specialist: Managing inventory Ensuring the correct ordering of supplies Monitoring the maintenance and replacement of operational equipment Optimizing processes Overseeing the operations team Liaising the external stakeholders

What is an operations specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Rodney Foster

An operations specialist is responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of a business run smoothly. They oversee production, logistics, and supply chain management to ensure that products are delivered on time and at the right cost. Operations specialists also analyze data to identify areas for improvement in efficiency and productivity. They work closely with other departments such as sales, marketing, and finance to coordinate efforts and achieve common goals.

What general advice would you give to an operations specialist?

Rodney Foster

Instructor - Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor - Airframe & Powerplant Technology, Orange Coast College

Orange Coast College (OCC) teaches Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Avionics. Although the Government has dampened air travel by putting up restrictions to prevent a Covid-19 spread, there is still a certified mechanic/skilled labor shortage. I believe all our students will have permanent jobs within a six-month search. OCC AMT is listed as an essential workforce by the state of California and is back in classes full-time, face-to-face labs, and online lectures. Our next semester registration maximum filled in two days and still has over 35 additional students per class on the waiting list.

ScoreOperations SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.3

Avg. Salary $54,752

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 8.83%

Black or African American 6.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 70.43%

Gender

female 49.43%

male 50.57%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Complexity level

1.8

Complexity level is simple

7 - challenging

What are the pros and cons of being an operations specialist?

Pros

Job security
Competitive salary and benefits package
Ability to impact company operations and improve efficiency
Collaborative team-based work culture
Potential for bonuses or commissions

Cons

Long hours and unpredictable work schedule
Can be physically demanding, including standing for long periods or lifting heavy objects
May involve working in noisy or hazardous environments
Can be difficult to manage conflicts or handle difficult customers/clients
High level of responsibility and accountability for errors

Key steps to become an operations specialist

Explore operations specialist education requirements

Most common operations specialist degrees

Bachelor's

57.1 %

Associate

19.2 %

High School Diploma

11.9 %

Start to develop specific operations specialist skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	21.31%
Logistics	4.26%
Basic Math	4.23%
PowerPoint	4.19%
Customer Satisfaction	4.07%

Research operations specialist duties and responsibilities

Develop and implement VBA scripts to automate tasks in financial reporting.
Manage all international A/R functions, reporting, sales, expense analysis and marketing campaigns as well as all royalties.
Manage and process 100 FDA electronic and paper submissions including safety reports, new investigator reports, amendments, and protocols.
Demonstrate ability to manage and organize clinical setting for patients and families.

Prepare your operations specialist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operations specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an operations specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable operations specialist resume templates

Build a professional operations specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your operations specialist resume.

Apply for operations specialist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an operations specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do operations specialists rate their job?

4/5

Based on 4 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Operations specialist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2021

Cons

cancelling of flight due mismanage

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020

Pros

Being an important COG into the system. The dynamic work flow ensures that you are always well vested into the multiple projects you will assist in facilitating resources too.

Cons

Not too much that I don't like. Learning curve was steep but I'm getting better all the time.

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

I love the people I work with, the ability my job give me to think critically, and being challenged to problem solve.

Cons

Work seems to be none-stop sometimes, especially since we are under staff. Work keeps me on my feed, but need to hire more people.

What is an operations specialist and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an operations specialist?

What are the pros and cons of being an operations specialist?

Operations specialist career paths

Key steps to become an operations specialist

Explore operations specialist education requirements

Most common operations specialist degrees

Start to develop specific operations specialist skills

Research operations specialist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your operations specialist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable operations specialist resume templates

Apply for operations specialist jobs

How did you land your first operations specialist job

Average operations specialist salary

How do operations specialists rate their job?

Operations specialist reviews

Operations specialist FAQs

How long does it take to become an Operations Specialist?

Do you need a degree to be an operations specialist?

What are the duties of an operations specialist?

Search for operations specialist jobs

Operations specialist jobs by state