Airfield Operations Specialist salary in North Carolina
Airfield Operations Specialists in North Carolina earn a median of $45,820 a year ($22.03 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,590 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $56,850. North Carolina ranks 23rd of 35 states for airfield operations specialists pay. There are 0.12 airfield operations specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for airfield operations specialists in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,980 | $14.89 |
| 25th percentile | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Median | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| 75th percentile | $59,810 | $28.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,590 | $33.94 |
| Average (mean) | $48,720 | $23.42 |
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 | $3,818.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,909.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,762.31 |
| Weekly | $881.15 |
| Hourly | $22.03 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Airfield Operations Specialist salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $51,620 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $46,060 | 250 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $45,750 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for airfield operations specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $123,290 |
| Washington | $84,050 |
| Alabama | $78,590 |
| Arizona | $77,570 |
| Colorado | $77,500 |
| Oregon | $75,130 |
| Virginia | $72,250 |
| Alaska | $71,510 |
| New Mexico | $69,090 |
| Georgia | $66,790 |
Related jobs in North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $151,540 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $127,310 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $129,230 | $62.13 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for airfield operations specialists in North Carolina is $45,820 a year, or $22.03 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $70,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airfield operations specialists make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of airfield operations specialists in North Carolina earn at least $70,590 a year. The top 25% earn $59,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for airfield operations specialists in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,980 a year, and a quarter of airfield operations specialists earn $35,870 or less.
How many airfield operations specialists work in North Carolina?
About 610 airfield operations specialists are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.