What the numbers say
The median wage for Business Operations Specialists in California was $83,820 in 2024, about 2% above the national median of $82,135. That is a narrower gap than you might expect for California, where most professional occupations carry a larger premium over national figures.
The spread tells a more interesting story. Entry-level roles at the 10th percentile brought in $44,440, while the top 10% earned $173,080. Top earners made roughly four times what the lowest earners made. That kind of range usually points to a broad occupation category where job titles, industries, and seniority levels vary widely. and this one does. The SOC group 13-1199 captures everything from compliance coordinators to supply chain analysts to business continuity planners.
The mean annual wage of $102,050 sits well above the median of $83,820. A smaller group of senior or highly specialized workers pulls the average up, so the median is the better reference point for someone early in their career.
California's cost of living runs about 14.8% above the national average. After adjusting for that, the state's small nominal premium over the US median effectively disappears. A Business Operations Specialist earning the California median has roughly the same purchasing power as a peer earning around $73,000 in a state with average costs.
BLS projects employment in this category to grow 3% between 2024 and 2034, which it rates as average. That matches the pace BLS expects across most white-collar occupations over the same period.
Salary distribution
Where California business operations specialists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $60,870 and $126,660, with a median of $83,820.
Business Operations Specialists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 177 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $80,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 76 | $59,301 |
| Level II — qualified | 58 | $96,339 |
| Level III — experienced | 18 | $124,089 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 14 | $155,563 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Business Operations Specialists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIPRO LIMITED | Production Specialist L2 | 5 | $96,678 |
| TikTok Inc. | Special Projects Strategist (TikTok Shop - Fashion) | 4 | $116,465 |
| AIVRES SYSTEMS INC. | Business Operations Specialist | 4 | $69,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Business Transformation Consultant IV | 3 | $98,332 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Sustainability Specialist III | 3 | $160,100 |
| MA LABORATORIES, INC. | Account Manager | 3 | $65,250 |
| Creative Options Plus Inc. | Patient-Guest Experience Specialist | 3 | $51,200 |
| Digitalsystem Technology Inc | Project Operations Specialist | 3 | $51,600 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC. | Principal | 3 | $103,740 |
| Coho Climate Advisors LLC | Senior Analyst | 2 | $139,250 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- ANALYST, LEGAL AND BUSINESS at LES FILLES INC.$102,000LOS ANGELESDecided Dec 18, 2025I-203-25345-476925
- Special Projects Strategist (TikTok Shop - Fashion) at TikTok Inc.$122,930Culver CityDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25331-442276
- Operations Associate at Transom Capital Group LLC$74,277El SegundoDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-439473
- Principal, Director of Sustainability Innovation at INTROBA, INC.$155,000Sherman OaksDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-387701
- Associate Creator Network Partner Manager - TikTok LIVE at TikTok Inc.$110,000Culver CityDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25311-385718
- Senior Analyst at Coho Climate Advisors LLC$154,000Walnut CreekDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-378757
- Category Mgr. Graduate (TikTok Shop - Fashion) at TikTok Inc.$84,816Culver CityDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-364915
- Sustainability Designer at Fynro Design Studio Inc.$50,128Long BeachDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25304-353025
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Business Operations Specialists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Business Operations Specialists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 58 certified offers. The most common variant is Business Operations Specialist at a median of $70,200.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialist | San Francisco Research Institute | 18 | $70,200 |
| Business Operation Specialist | SOCALI INC. | 6 | $63,003 |
| Production Specialist L2 | WIPRO LIMITED | 5 | $96,678 |
| Business Operations Analyst | TAO DIGITAL SOLUTIONS, INC | 4 | $63,825 |
| Product Manager | GlacierGrid Inc. | 4 | $80,517 |
| Operations Associate | Transom Capital Group LLC | 3 | $80,000 |
| Franchise Operations Specialist | UlavacharU Inc | 3 | $100,464 |
| Senior Consultant, Sustainability, Energy, & Climate Change | WSP USA Inc. | 3 | $123,178 |
| Sustainability Specialist | Amazon.com Services LLC | 3 | $160,100 |
| Business Analyst | QT Medical, Inc. | 3 | $54,080 |
| Business Development Specialist | South Bay Circle of Friends Inc. | 3 | $51,400 |
| Sustainability Consultant | MEOWPRODUCTION LLC | 3 | $51,200 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Business Operations Specialists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 157 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $91,350.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | 49 | $91,350 |
| Technology and software | WIPRO LIMITED | 42 | $96,678 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 26 | $69,892 |
| Manufacturing | AIVRES SYSTEMS INC. | 16 | $69,000 |
| Finance and insurance | TDK Ventures Inc | 6 | $83,939 |
| Healthcare | Creative Options Plus Inc. | 6 | $51,300 |
| Real estate | Bluesky Energy LLC | 3 | $62,400 |
| Media and entertainment | MEOWPRODUCTION LLC | 3 | $51,200 |
| Education | Higher Level Learning Inc. | 2 | $72,440 |
| Transportation and logistics | Sagacity International Inc. | 2 | $48,662 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Animal Charity Evaluators | 1 | $88,622 |
| Energy and utilities | GroundWork Renewables, Inc. | 1 | $66,955 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+3.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for business operations specialists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$106,680
- San Francisco$100,440
- Sacramento$81,390
- Los Angeles$81,240
- San Diego$81,030
- Riverside$69,230
Compare Business Operations Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in California is $83,820.
- How does California compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The California median is +2.1% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $44,440 and the 90th-percentile at $173,080, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Business Operations Specialists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Business Operations Specialists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.