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Flight operations specialist salary
Average flight operations specialist salary
$50,480
Understanding Flight Operations Specialist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Flight Operations Specialist is approximately $50,480 per year or $24 per hour. This position is critical in the aviation sector, responsible for coordinating flight operations, ensuring compliance with regulations, and communicating with flight crews. Salaries can differ significantly across various states due to local demand, cost of living, and the specific duties associated with the role.
For example, states with a higher concentration of airlines and aviation services tend to offer better compensation. Additionally, experience plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level specialists may earn less, but those with several years in the field can command salaries well above the average.
Salary by State
It's beneficial for candidates to research average salaries by state to identify the best opportunities. States like California and Texas often provide higher salaries due to their large aviation markets. Understanding local salary trends can help job seekers make informed career choices and negotiate effectively.
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Where can a Flight Operations Specialist earn more?
Flight operations specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average flight operations specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for flight operations specialists are Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The lowest average flight operations specialist salary states are North Dakota, Washington, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for flight operations specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $61,031 | $29.34 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $59,891 | $28.79 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $58,569 | $28.16 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $64,861 | $31.18 |
| 5 | Delaware | $61,579 | $29.61 |
| 6 | Texas | $49,686 | $23.89 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $64,636 | $31.07 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $63,307 | $30.44 |
| 9 | New York | $60,913 | $29.29 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $60,836 | $29.25 |
| 11 | California | $61,789 | $29.71 |
| 12 | Arizona | $53,688 | $25.81 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $49,854 | $23.97 |
| 14 | Mississippi | $47,341 | $22.76 |
| 15 | Florida | $47,223 | $22.70 |
| 16 | Maine | $48,485 | $23.31 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $50,765 | $24.41 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $49,055 | $23.58 |
| 19 | Ohio | $48,133 | $23.14 |
| 20 | Maryland | $57,972 | $27.87 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $45,288 | $21.77 |
| 22 | Vermont | $51,454 | $24.74 |
| 23 | Michigan | $47,957 | $23.06 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $57,934 | $27.85 |
| 25 | Virginia | $52,517 | $25.25 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $43,659 | $20.99 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| 28 | Georgia | $44,057 | $21.18 |
| 29 | Alabama | $44,771 | $21.52 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $42,946 | $20.65 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $43,149 | $20.74 |
| 32 | Alaska | $43,199 | $20.77 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $44,328 | $21.31 |
| 34 | Indiana | $41,678 | $20.04 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $36,474 | $17.54 |
| 36 | Utah | $43,610 | $20.97 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $44,961 | $21.62 |
| 38 | Wisconsin | $40,445 | $19.44 |
| 39 | Oregon | $44,068 | $21.19 |
| 40 | Missouri | $40,236 | $19.34 |
| 41 | Kansas | $39,153 | $18.82 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $35,953 | $17.29 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $34,442 | $16.56 |
| 44 | Idaho | $36,954 | $17.77 |
| 45 | Iowa | $36,932 | $17.76 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $33,317 | $16.02 |
| 47 | Washington | $36,025 | $17.32 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $36,946 | $17.76 |
| 49 | Montana | $31,795 | $15.29 |
| 50 | Illinois | $40,504 | $19.47 |
| 51 | Colorado | $38,714 | $18.61 |
Highest paying cities for flight operations specialists
The highest-paying cities for flight operations specialists are Phoenix, AZ, San Antonio, TX, and Miramar, FL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,944 | $25.93 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $50,666 | $24.36 |
| 3 | Miramar, FL | $47,875 | $23.02 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $40,537 | $19.49 |
| 5 | Salina, KS | $38,792 | $18.65 |
Flight operations specialist salary details
A flight operations specialist's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a flight operations specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $50,480 | $4,207 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying flight operations specialist jobs
The highest paying types of flight operations specialists are ground operations superintendent, specialist, and aviation operations specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Operation Coordinator | $41,283 | $3,440 | $19.85 | 16,760 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for flight operations specialists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Kate Seltzer Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rowan University
Top companies hiring flight operations specialists now:
Which companies pay flight operations specialists the most?
Flight operations specialist salaries at Army National Guard and Rampart Aviation are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average flight operations specialist salary at companies like US Airways Center and UPS are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Army National Guard | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| 2 | Rampart Aviation | $53,835 | $25.88 |
| 3 | US Airways Center | $52,744 | $25.36 |
| 4 | UPS | $51,671 | $24.84 |
| 5 | Spirit Airlines | $45,052 | $21.66 |
| 6 | Kansas State University | $25,936 | $12.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Flight operations specialist salary trends
The average flight operations specialist salary has risen by $4,082 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average flight operations specialist earned $46,398 annually, but today, they earn $50,480 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for flight operations specialists over the last decade.
Compare flight operations specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average flight operations specialist salary over time
Compare flight operations specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Flight operations specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,500 | $24.27 | -2.6% |
| 2024 | $51,800 | $24.89 | +0.9% |
| 2023 | $51,300 | $24.68 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | $51,500 | $24.76 | +6.6% |
| 2021 | $48,100 | $23.12 | -6.1% |
Recently added flight operations specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeppesen | Shipside Operations Specialist-Flight Line (Associate, Experienced) | North Charleston, SC | 06/30/2025 | $72,250 |
| Global Medical Response | Flight Operations Transport Specialist | Wichita, KS | 06/27/2025 | $22,331 |
| Boeing | Shipside Operations Specialist-Flight Line (Associate, Experienced) | North Charleston, SC | 06/26/2025 | $72,250 |
| Global Medical Response | Flight Operations Transport Specialist | Wichita, KS | 05/22/2025 | $22,331 |
| Pyka | Deployed Flight Operations Specialist | Alameda, CA | 04/28/2025 | $64,000 |
| Msccn | Flight Operations Specialist | Aberdeen, MD | 03/23/2025 | $96,774 |
| Aerotek | Flight Operations Specialist | Ione, CA | 03/22/2025 | $62,610 |
| Nana Regional Corporation | Flight Operations Specialist | Aberdeen, MD | 03/18/2025 | $96,774 |
| Pyka Inc. | Deployed Flight Operations Specialist | Ione, CA | 02/19/2025 | $64,000 |
| Pyka | Deployed Flight Operations Specialist | Alameda, CA | 02/18/2025 | $64,000 |
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