Operational Excellence Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Operational Excellence Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operational Excellence Specialist in the United States is $93,250 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

However, an Operational Excellence Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $108,474
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,789 to $101,219
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $73,265

Key Factors That Influence Operational Excellence Specialist Salaries

An Operational Excellence 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Operational Excellence Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operational Excellence 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): $70,625
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,977
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,734
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,049
  • Expert (over 8 years): $143,397
Levels Salary
Lean Manu... Level Operational Excellence Specialist$70,625
Operation... Level Operational Excellence Specialist$93,977
Lean Manu... Level Operational Excellence Specialist$116,734
Lean Manu... Level Operational Excellence Specialist$128,049
Lean Manu... Level Operational Excellence Specialist$143,397

Top Paying Cities for Operational Excellence 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: $117,616
  • San Francisco: $116,329
  • Oakland: $113,877

What Skills Can Increase an Operational Excellence Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Problem Solving (Mentioned in 4.72% Job Postings): Analyzing and identifying the root cause of problems and applying critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • 5S (Mentioned in 2% Job Postings): Stands for sort, sustain, set in order, standardized and shine. 5 tips that are designed to achieve clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized workplace for a more systematized work flow.
  • Supply Chain (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): A supply chain encompasses everything from the delivery of source materials from the supplier to the manufacturer through to its eventual delivery to the end user.
Skills Demand Percentage
Problem Solving 4.72%
5S 2%
Supply Chain 1.13%

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 an Operational Excellence Specialist's salary.

  • CornerStone: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Six Sigma: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Logistics: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CornerStone $96,980
4%
Six Sigma $96,048
3%
Logistics $96,048
3%

Operational Excellence Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Operational Excellence 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 Construction and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Operational Excellence Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Operational Excellence Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Operational Excellence Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$102,575$49.010%
Energy & Utilities$100,710$48.08%
Retail & Wholesale$99,778$48.07%
MFG Nondurable$98,845$48.06%
Aerospace & Defense$97,913$47.05%

Operational Excellence Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operational Excellence 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 September 01, 2026
$82,789
Average $93,250/year
$101,219
$6,899
Average $7,771/month
$8,435
$1,592
Average $1,793/week
$1,947
$40
Average $45/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,219 $8,435 $1,947 $49
Average $93,250 $7,771 $1,793 $45
25th Percentile $82,789 $6,899 $1,592 $40

Most common benefits for Operational Excellence Specialist

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

Common company salaries for Operational Excellence Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Operational Excellence Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Operational Excellence Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Operational Excellence Specialist?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Operational Excellence 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.)

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