Special Operations Salary in the United States

How much does a Special Operations make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Special Operations in the United States is $70,811 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $34.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $100,559
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,686 to $86,382
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,468
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $60,686 10% $51,468 90% $100,559 75% $86,382 $70,811 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Special Operations Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $86,382 $7,198 $1,661 $42
Average $70,811 $5,901 $1,362 $34
25th Percentile $60,686 $5,057 $1,167 $29
Check out Special Operations Job Openings in the United States
Elite Special Operations Medical Technician

US Navy - Cleveland, OH

Special Operations Case Manager Nurse Case Manager

KBR, Inc - New Bremen, OH

Mission

KBR, Inc - New Bremen, OH

Mail Operations Pharmacy Technician

Centerwell Health - West Chester Township, OH

Search More Special Operations Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Special Operations Salaries

A Special Operations'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 Do Special Operations Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Special Operations. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $78,401.
  • California: $78,104.
  • Massachusetts: $77,063.

Top Paying Cities for Special Operations

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: $89,313
  • San Francisco: $88,435
  • Oakland: $86,474

What Skills Can Increase a Special Operations's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 6.28% 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.
  • Logistics (Mentioned in 3.5% Job Postings): In a general business sense, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption to meet the requirements of customers or corporations.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 2.78% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 6.28%
Logistics 3.5%
CPR 2.78%
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 Special Operations's salary.
  • Medication Administration: Can increase your salary by up to 91%.
  • Medical Services: Can increase your salary by up to 48%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Medication Administration
$135,248
91%
Medical Services
$104,800
48%
Analysis
$94,886
34%
Clinical Trial
$89,929
27%
Critical Thinking
$87,805
24%
Risk Management
$84,973
20%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Special Operations's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Special Operations 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 Special Operations with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $68,610 and $73,025).

Special Operations Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Special Operations
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.2%
High School 4.2%
Associates 12.5%
Bachelors 56.9%
Masters 13.9%
Doctorate 12.5%
view as graph

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

Understanding how a Special Operations'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Special Operations

Salaries for a Special Operations can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,828 in 2023 to around $53,816 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Special Operations salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Special Operations Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,828
2024
$54,380
2025
$53,816
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,828
2024 $54,380
2025 $53,816
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Special Operations

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Special Operations

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

Find Your Next Special Operations Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

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