Flight Operations Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Flight Operations Specialist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Flight Operations Specialist in the United States is $65,925 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Flight Operations Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,903
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,289 to $74,812
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,425

Key Factors That Influence Flight Operations Specialist Salaries

A Flight Operations Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Flight Operations Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Flight Operations Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $65,272
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,513
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $106,142
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $143,878
  • Expert (over 8 years): $199,719
Levels Salary
Flight Op... Level Flight Operations Specialist$65,272
Operation... Level Flight Operations Specialist$93,513
Operation... Level Flight Operations Specialist$106,142
Senior Op... Level Flight Operations Specialist$143,878
Operation... Level Flight Operations Specialist$199,719

Top Paying Cities for Flight Operations Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $83,151
  • San Francisco: $82,241
  • Oakland: $80,508

What Skills Can Increase a Flight Operations Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.92% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Store Operations (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Retail operations are the activities that allow online and physical stores to function. The aim of retail operations is to enhance the customer shopping experience and lower the retailer's costs.
  • Field Operations (Mentioned in 1.04% Job Postings): An operation conducted by employees that is outside of the employer's fixed establishment, such as mobile clinics, health screening and medical outreach services, or dispensing of medications.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.92%
Store Operations 2.11%
Field Operations 1.04%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Flight Operations Specialist's salary.

  • Help Desk: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Help Desk $75,155
14%
Project Management $73,836
12%
Collaboration $71,199
8%

Flight Operations Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Flight Operations Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Flight Operations Specialist positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Flight Operations Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Flight Operations Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$72,518$35.010%
Business Services$72,518$35.010%
Construction$72,518$35.010%
Energy & Utilities$72,518$35.010%
Healthcare$72,518$35.010%

How Education impacts a Flight Operations Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Flight Operations Specialists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Flight Operations Specialist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $66,612 and $71,327).

Flight Operations Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Flight Operations Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 29.4%
Associates 15.9%
Bachelors 43.8%
Masters 9.9%
Doctorate 0.2%

Flight Operations Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Flight Operations Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$57,289
Average $65,925/year
$74,812
$4,774
Average $5,494/month
$6,234
$1,102
Average $1,268/week
$1,439
$28
Average $32/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,812 $6,234 $1,439 $36
Average $65,925 $5,494 $1,268 $32
25th Percentile $57,289 $4,774 $1,102 $28

Most common benefits for Flight Operations Specialist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Flight Operations Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Flight Operations Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Flight Operations Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Flight Operations Specialist?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Flight Operations Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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