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Airport operations specialist salary
Average airport operations specialist salary
$42,256
Average Salary for Airport Operations Specialists
The average salary for an Airport Operations Specialist is approximately $42,256 per year, equating to about $20 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include experience level, specific job responsibilities, and geographical location. For instance, specialists in larger airports or metropolitan areas may earn significantly more due to increased demand and operational complexity.
Top-Paying States
States such as California, New York, and Texas frequently offer higher salaries for Airport Operations Specialists, reflecting their bustling aviation sectors. Additionally, regions with major airlines or significant air traffic typically provide more opportunities and competitive pay.
Career Path and Opportunities
As an Airport Operations Specialist, career advancement can lead to roles such as Operations Manager or Airport Director. Continuous training and certifications can enhance your earning potential and open doors to higher-level positions. Staying informed about industry trends and salary benchmarks is essential for career development in this dynamic field.
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Where can an Airport Operations Specialist earn more?
Airport operations specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average airport operations specialist salary by state
The average airport operations specialist salary in Alaska, California, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average airport operations specialist salary states are South Carolina, Georgia, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for airport operations specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $44,305 | $21.30 |
| 2 | North Carolina | $43,863 | $21.09 |
| 3 | Alaska | $49,413 | $23.76 |
| 4 | Kansas | $43,577 | $20.95 |
| 5 | Nevada | $41,347 | $19.88 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $40,667 | $19.55 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $41,884 | $20.14 |
| 8 | Washington | $46,121 | $22.17 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $38,321 | $18.42 |
| 10 | New York | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| 11 | Arkansas | $39,277 | $18.88 |
| 12 | Indiana | $39,058 | $18.78 |
| 13 | Illinois | $45,172 | $21.72 |
| 14 | New Hampshire | $40,002 | $19.23 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $38,708 | $18.61 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $40,677 | $19.56 |
| 17 | California | $48,224 | $23.18 |
| 18 | Idaho | $39,576 | $19.03 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $41,165 | $19.79 |
| 20 | Maine | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $44,052 | $21.18 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $37,250 | $17.91 |
| 23 | Arizona | $39,477 | $18.98 |
| 24 | Oregon | $41,468 | $19.94 |
| 25 | Ohio | $37,003 | $17.79 |
| 26 | Iowa | $37,695 | $18.12 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $37,854 | $18.20 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $36,494 | $17.55 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $41,323 | $19.87 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $40,745 | $19.59 |
| 31 | Alabama | $37,502 | $18.03 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $36,775 | $17.68 |
| 33 | Delaware | $40,508 | $19.48 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $35,960 | $17.29 |
| 35 | District of Columbia | $39,869 | $19.17 |
| 36 | Montana | $35,981 | $17.30 |
| 37 | Vermont | $39,098 | $18.80 |
| 38 | Florida | $35,899 | $17.26 |
| 39 | Missouri | $36,918 | $17.75 |
| 40 | Louisiana | $35,813 | $17.22 |
| 41 | Michigan | $35,635 | $17.13 |
| 42 | Maryland | $37,584 | $18.07 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $35,235 | $16.94 |
| 44 | Georgia | $35,025 | $16.84 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $33,535 | $16.12 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $35,571 | $17.10 |
| 47 | Virginia | $36,582 | $17.59 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $33,547 | $16.13 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $34,008 | $16.35 |
| 50 | Utah | $33,237 | $15.98 |
| 51 | Colorado | $35,893 | $17.26 |
Highest paying cities for airport operations specialists
The highest-paying cities for airport operations specialists are San Jose, CA, New York, NY, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $49,649 | $23.87 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $47,379 | $22.78 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $44,572 | $21.43 |
| 5 | Appleton, WI | $42,138 | $20.26 |
| 6 | Henderson, NV | $41,264 | $19.84 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $39,574 | $19.03 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $36,804 | $17.69 |
| 9 | Grand Junction, CO | $36,236 | $17.42 |
| 10 | Lakeland, FL | $36,092 | $17.35 |
| 11 | Murfreesboro, TN | $33,603 | $16.16 |
| 12 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,182 | $15.95 |
Airport operations specialist salary details
An airport operations specialist's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an airport operations specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| Average | $42,256 | $3,521 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying airport operations specialist jobs
The highest paying types of airport operations specialists are marine service manager, transportation consultant, and transportation manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Manager | $61,734 | $5,144 | $29.68 | 14,997 |
| Fleet Manager | $49,492 | $4,124 | $23.79 | 14,157 |
| Terminal Manager | $74,237 | $6,186 | $35.69 | 16,792 |
| Traffic Operator | $36,610 | $3,051 | $17.60 | 31,592 |
| Airport Manager | $42,405 | $3,534 | $20.39 | 5,664 |
| Transportation Manager | $77,378 | $6,448 | $37.20 | 25,248 |
Top companies hiring airport operations specialists now:
Which companies pay airport operations specialists the most?
Airport operations specialist salaries at Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept and Lakeland Electric are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average airport operations specialist salary at companies like City of Austin and City of Boise are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County Sheriffs Dept | $51,983 | $24.99 |
| 2 | Lakeland Electric | $48,387 | $23.26 |
| 3 | City of Austin | $47,713 | $22.94 |
| 4 | City of Boise | $43,654 | $20.99 |
| 5 | City of Palm Springs | $42,527 | $20.45 |
| 6 | Grand Junction Police Dept | $42,025 | $20.20 |
| 7 | City of Santa Monica | $40,895 | $19.66 |
| 8 | City of Santa Barbara | $40,857 | $19.64 |
| 9 | Outagamie County | $40,653 | $19.54 |
| 10 | Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City | $39,934 | $19.20 |
| 11 | LGSTX Services | $39,395 | $18.94 |
| 12 | The Hertz Corporation | $39,280 | $18.88 |
| 13 | The Ohio State University | $38,928 | $18.72 |
| 14 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $38,729 | $18.62 |
| 15 | The Home Store | $38,623 | $18.57 |
| 16 | Grand Canyon West | $36,983 | $17.78 |
| 17 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | $35,293 | $16.97 |
| 18 | Hudson Group | $33,929 | $16.31 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Airport operations specialist salary trends
The average airport operations specialist salary has risen by $6,808 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average airport operations specialist earned $35,448 annually, but today, they earn $42,256 a year. That works out to a 8% change in pay for airport operations specialists over the last decade.
Compare airport operations specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average airport operations specialist salary over time
Compare airport operations specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Airport operations specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,300 | $20.32 | +1.9% |
| 2025 | $41,500 | $19.93 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | $41,500 | $19.97 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $40,500 | $19.49 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $39,100 | $18.80 | +2.9% |
Recently added airport operations specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Morgantown, Wv | Airport Operations and Maintenance Specialist | Morgantown, WV | 06/20/2025 | $39,298 |
| City of Morgantown | Airport Operations and Maintenance Specialist | Morgantown, WV | 06/20/2025 | $39,298 |
| Grand Junction | Airport Custodial Specialist | Grand Junction, CO | 05/31/2025 | $35,479 |
| City of Burlington, Vt | Airport Operations Specialist | Ontario, CA | 05/25/2025 | $61,754 |
| Provo City Corporation | Airport Operations Specialist | Provo, UT | 05/23/2025 | $37,566 |
| City & County of Denver, Co | Airport Emergency Operations Specialist-Denver International Airport | Denver, CO | 05/21/2025 | $80,642 |
| Kootenai County, Id | Airport Operations Specialist | Coeur dAlene, ID | 05/14/2025 | $53,344 |
| Kootenai County | Airport Operations Specialist | Hope, ID | 05/10/2025 | $53,344 |
| City of Burlington, Vermont | Airport Operations Specialist | South Burlington, VT | 04/19/2025 | $61,754 |
| City of Burlington, Vt | Airport Operations Specialist | Ontario, CA | 04/17/2025 | $61,754 |
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