Airfield Operations Specialist salary in the U.S.
Airfield Operations Specialists in the U.S. earn a median of $56,850 a year ($27.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,120 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $63,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for airfield operations specialists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| 25th percentile | $42,000 | $20.19 |
| Median | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| 75th percentile | $77,340 | $37.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,120 | $49.10 |
| Average (mean) | $63,610 | $30.58 |
Half of airfield operations specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,737.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,368.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,186.54 |
| Weekly | $1,093.27 |
| Hourly | $27.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Airfield Operations Specialist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $123,290 | 290 |
| Washington | $84,050 | 150 |
| Alabama | $78,590 | n/a |
| Arizona | $77,570 | 160 |
| Colorado | $77,500 | 70 |
| Oregon | $75,130 | 50 |
| Virginia | $72,250 | 280 |
| Alaska | $71,510 | 160 |
| New Mexico | $69,090 | 50 |
| Georgia | $66,790 | 340 |
| California | $62,600 | 1,660 |
| Idaho | $62,510 | 40 |
| Michigan | $61,780 | 440 |
| Nevada | $61,350 | 150 |
| Texas | $60,910 | 1,310 |
| Utah | $59,780 | 290 |
| Florida | $57,650 | 2,320 |
| Ohio | $57,140 | 360 |
| Massachusetts | $56,020 | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,660 | 340 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,180 | 820 |
| Oklahoma | $49,200 | 80 |
| Iowa | $48,870 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $45,820 | 610 |
| Mississippi | $44,290 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $42,480 | n/a |
| New York | $42,000 | 2,190 |
| Missouri | $40,360 | 310 |
| Tennessee | $40,180 | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $39,400 | 100 |
| South Dakota | $37,860 | 190 |
| Indiana | $37,730 | 350 |
| North Dakota | $37,550 | 80 |
| Montana | $33,990 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $33,590 | 90 |
| West Virginia | $28,670 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for airfield operations specialists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $88,420 | 130 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $86,880 | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $85,680 | 240 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,050 | 140 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,950 | 120 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $81,740 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,350 | 30 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $78,920 | 240 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $76,100 | 140 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $69,560 | 250 |
| Anchorage, AK | $65,570 | 90 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $64,320 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $63,550 | 60 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $63,100 | 220 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $61,740 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most airfield operations specialists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,090 | $42,000 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,530 | $58,630 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 620 | $57,330 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 280 | $56,020 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 260 | $47,550 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 250 | $46,060 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 250 | $69,560 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 250 | $48,980 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 240 | $78,920 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 240 | $85,680 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 220 | $63,100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 190 | $40,520 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 190 | $54,960 |
| Cleveland, OH | 170 | $57,790 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 170 | $41,070 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a airfield operations specialist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for airfield operations specialists in the U.S. is $56,850 a year, or $27.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airfield operations specialists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of airfield operations specialists in the U.S. earn at least $102,120 a year. The top 25% earn $77,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for airfield operations specialists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,870 a year, and a quarter of airfield operations specialists earn $42,000 or less.
How many airfield operations specialists work in the U.S.?
About 15,190 airfield operations specialists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.