Operations Support Salary in the United States

How much does an Operations Support make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operations Support in the United States is $58,124 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,597
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,006 to $66,223
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,436

Key Factors That Influence Operations Support Salaries

An Operations Support'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 Operations Support Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Operations Support'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): $55,320
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $55,575
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $56,679
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,813
  • Expert (over 8 years): $62,518
Levels Salary
Entry Level Operations Support$55,320
Intermediate Level Operations Support$55,575
Senior Level Operations Support$56,679
Specialist Level Operations Support$58,813
Expert Level Operations Support$62,518

Top Paying Cities for Operations Supports

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: $73,312
  • San Francisco: $72,509
  • Oakland: $70,981

What Skills Can Increase an Operations Support's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 26.02% 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.
  • Technical Support (Mentioned in 3.08% Job Postings): Offering hands-on assistance and solutions to end-users in addressing and troubleshooting technical issues.
  • Help Desk (Mentioned in 0.47% Job Postings): The activities involved in handling and resolving customer grievances and issues faster and efficient by a ticketing system.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 26.02%
Technical Support 3.08%
Help Desk 0.47%

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 Operations Support's salary.

  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Client Service: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Sense Of Urgency: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting $72,655
25%
Client Service $69,749
20%
Sense Of Urgency $69,167
19%

Operations Support Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Operations Support roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 47% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Operations Support positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Operations Support as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Operations Support

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$70,911$34.022%
Financial Services$69,749$34.020%
Internet$68,586$33.018%
Biotechnology$66,842$32.015%
Aerospace & Defense$65,099$31.012%

How Education impacts an Operations Support's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Operations Supports enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Operations Support with a Associate's Degree is between $56,194 and $61,072).

Operations Support Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Operations Support
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 19.1%
Associates 14.0%
Bachelors 58.3%
Masters 7.2%
Doctorate 0.4%

Operations Support Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Operations Support'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
$52,006
Average $58,124/year
$66,223
$4,334
Average $4,844/month
$5,519
$1,000
Average $1,118/week
$1,274
$25
Average $28/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,223 $5,519 $1,274 $32
Average $58,124 $4,844 $1,118 $28
25th Percentile $52,006 $4,334 $1,000 $25

Most common benefits for Operations Support

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

Common company salaries for Operations Support

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

Find Your Next Operations Support Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Operations Support job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Operations Support

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Operations Support?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Operations Support roles, with salaries approximately 22% 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst