SOC 13-1199.00Bright outlook
All business operations specialists not listed separately.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
Annual pay range
1,087,090 people work in this occupation.
In short
Business operations specialists handle a wide range of administrative, planning, and management tasks to keep organizations running efficiently. This career path offers a median annual salary of $83,050, with opportunities spanning many industries.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
All business operations specialists not listed separately.
Professionals in this field manage day-to-day organizational activities, analyze business practices, and coordinate administrative functions. Depending on their specific role, they may work as administrative analysts, business planners, or branch operation evaluation managers. The work requires a strong foundation in business administration, personnel management, and customer service.
To succeed in these roles, individuals need excellent active listening, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving skills. They must be detail-oriented, dependable, and adaptable to changing workplace demands. These specialists frequently collaborate with different departments to streamline workflows, evaluate operational efficiency, and support business development. Their daily tasks involve analyzing operational data, preparing reports, and ensuring that organizational policies are followed across the company.
Entering this field typically requires a bachelor's degree. Students often prepare by majoring in business administration, management and operations, business operations support and assistant services, international business, or hospitality administration and management.
While a degree is the standard entry point, professionals can enhance their career prospects through specialized certifications. Examples of relevant credentials include the Digital Operational Resilience Act - Essentials or Digital Operational Resilience Act - Executives from TRECCERT, as well as the SAP SuccessFactors Performance Management Administration credential from SAP America, Inc. Additionally, licensing requirements vary by location, as some states list specific licensing guidelines for certain roles within this broad occupational category.
The median annual pay for these specialists is $83,050. Individual earnings vary widely based on experience, industry, and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $47,880 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $150,010.
With 1,087,090 people currently employed in this field, the occupation is projected to grow by 3.9 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. Job seekers can expect about 98,700 openings each year due to growth and the need to replace workers who leave the field.
Administrative Analyst · Administrative Assistant · Attendance Officer · Bar Examiner · Branch Operation Evaluation Manager · Business Agent · Business Development Assistant · Business Opportunity and Property Investment Broker · Business Planner · Business Practices Officer
Career pathway
Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.
1Interests
2This career
3Majors
4Colleges
This career
Majors
Colleges
College Scorecard program outcomes
Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.
Pittsburgh, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Ann Arbor, MI · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Berkeley, CA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Philadelphia, PA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Atlanta, GA · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Chapel Hill, NC · Business Administration, Management and Operations · Bachelor's
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.
NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk
Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.
2,372 colleges offer it
758 colleges offer it
641 colleges offer it
569 colleges offer it
CareerOneStop
What business operations specialists, all other may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.
Core certifications employers recognise for this work.
Programs of study that prepare people for this work.
6 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.
Federal
Customs Broker
Purser
Class "E-S" Single Station Manager
Private Investigators-Security-Alarm Installation and Monitoring, Arkansas State Police-Regulatory Services Division, Arkansas Department of Public Safety
GOVERNMENTAL PYROTECHNIC DISTRIBUTORS
GOVERNMENTAL PYROTECHNIC OPERATOR
Oil Limited Energy Auditor Technician
Propane Limited Energy Auditor Technician
Licensed Energy Auditor
Local Government Liaisons
Lobbyist Compliance Division, NC Department of the Secretary of State
Racing -- Association Staff
Racing Industry Staff
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Your plan
Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.
Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.
People in this occupation work under various titles, including administrative analyst, business planner, attendance officer, and branch operation evaluation manager. Some also work as business development assistants or business practices officers.
A bachelor's degree is the typical level of education needed to enter this career. Common college majors that prepare students for these roles include business administration, international business, and management and operations.
Yes, some states list licensing guidelines for this type of work. Professionals can also earn certifications such as the Digital Operational Resilience Act credentials or SAP SuccessFactors Performance Management Administration to show specialized skills.
Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.
Version 31.0
Version 2025-35 · Data year 2025
Version 2025 · Data year 2025
Version 2020 · Data year 2020
O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.
Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.
Page data updated November 5, 2026.