Airfield Operations Specialists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for airfield operations specialistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
National mean salary $63,610 ≈ $31/hr
National median salary $56,850
Total employment 15,190 nationwide
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Projected growth +4.2%
Faster than average
Annual openings 1,600 per year (avg)
Employment 2024→2034 16,900 → 17,600 (+700)
Typical entry education High school diploma or equivalent
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Kentucky$108,820
- Washington$89,290
- Arizona$76,310
- Alabama$75,980
- Virginia$75,730
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- West Virginia$35,540
- South Carolina$38,790
- South Dakota$40,240
- Tennessee$41,500
- North Dakota$44,150
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $108,820 | $123,290 | $52 | +71.1% | 290 |
| 2 | Washington | $89,290 | $84,050 | $43 | +40.4% | 150 |
| 3 | Arizona | $76,310 | $77,570 | $37 | +20% | 160 |
| 4 | Alabama | $75,980 | $78,590 | $37 | +19.4% | — |
| 5 | Virginia | $75,730 | $72,250 | $36 | +19.1% | 280 |
| 6 | Texas | $75,640 | $60,910 | $36 | +18.9% | 1,310 |
| 7 | Colorado | $74,630 | $77,500 | $36 | +17.3% | 70 |
| 8 | California | $73,180 | $62,600 | $35 | +15% | 1,660 |
| 9 | Oregon | $73,170 | $75,130 | $35 | +15% | 50 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $72,550 | $69,090 | $35 | +14.1% | 50 |
| 11 | Alaska | $72,030 | $71,510 | $35 | +13.2% | 160 |
| 12 | Nevada | $66,570 | $61,350 | $32 | +4.7% | 150 |
| 13 | Idaho | $63,490 | $62,510 | $31 | -0.2% | 40 |
| 14 | Michigan | $63,350 | $61,780 | $30 | -0.4% | 440 |
| 15 | Utah | $61,610 | $59,780 | $30 | -3.1% | 290 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $60,390 | $49,200 | $29 | -5.1% | 80 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $58,690 | $56,020 | $28 | -7.7% | 380 |
| 18 | Florida | $58,170 | $57,650 | $28 | -8.6% | 2,320 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $57,800 | $55,660 | $28 | -9.1% | 340 |
| 20 | Georgia | $57,070 | $66,790 | $27 | -10.3% | 340 |
| 21 | Ohio | $54,690 | $57,140 | $26 | -14% | 360 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $54,370 | $44,290 | $26 | -14.5% | — |
| 23 | New Jersey | $53,870 | $42,480 | $26 | -15.3% | — |
| 24 | North Carolina | $48,720 | $45,820 | $23 | -23.4% | 610 |
| 25 | Iowa | $47,530 | $48,870 | $23 | -25.3% | 40 |
| 26 | Montana | $46,640 | $33,990 | $22 | -26.7% | 90 |
| 27 | Missouri | $46,460 | $40,360 | $22 | -27% | 310 |
| 28 | New York | $46,380 | $42,000 | $22 | -27.1% | 2,190 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $45,970 | $39,400 | $22 | -27.7% | 100 |
| 30 | Indiana | $45,290 | $37,730 | $22 | -28.8% | 350 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $44,150 | $37,550 | $21 | -30.6% | 80 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $41,500 | $40,180 | $20 | -34.8% | 190 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $40,240 | $37,860 | $19 | -36.7% | 190 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $38,790 | $33,590 | $19 | -39% | 90 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $35,540 | $28,670 | $17 | -44.1% | 60 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 53 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $88,420 | $77,680 | 130 |
| 2 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $87,360 | $82,960 | 50 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $86,880 | $95,480 | 50 |
| 4 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $85,680 | $94,180 | 240 |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,050 | $88,020 | 140 |
| 6 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $81,950 | $72,640 | 120 |
| 7 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $81,740 | $79,660 | 40 |
| 8 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $81,350 | $74,450 | 30 |
| 9 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $78,920 | $64,510 | 240 |
| 10 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $78,240 | $76,550 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing airfield operations specialistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $103,820 | $95,880 | — |
| 2 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $103,820 | $95,880 | — |
| 3 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $98,350 | $95,490 | 80 |
| 4 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $88,420 | $95,540 | 150 |
| 5 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $88,420 | $95,540 | 150 |
| 6 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $88,420 | $95,300 | 150 |
| 7 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $82,740 | $82,970 | 230 |
| 8 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $82,740 | $82,970 | 230 |
| 9 | Couriers and Messengers | $71,190 | $100,630 | 350 |
| 10 | Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $71,190 | $100,630 | 350 |
| 11 | Sector 62 - Health Care and Social Assistance | $70,590 | $65,610 | 160 |
| 12 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $68,790 | $72,310 | 180 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do airfield operations specialists make in the U.S.?
The median airfield operations specialists salary in the United States is $56,850 per year (mean $63,610), and about 80% earn between $35,870 and $102,120.
How much do airfield operations specialists make per hour?
Roughly $31 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $63,610 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays airfield operations specialists the most?
Kentucky has the highest average pay for airfield operations specialists at $108,820 per year (median $123,290).
What is the job outlook for airfield operations specialists?
Employment is projected to change +4.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Faster than average), with about 1,600 openings per year.