What the numbers say
The median wage for Business Operations Specialists in DC was $106,810 in 2024, about 30% above the national median of $82,135. That gap is real, but it overstates the advantage for anyone paying DC rent.
The spread across earners is wide. The bottom tenth of the occupation brought in $63,640, while the top tenth cleared $191,880. That nearly triples the bottom figure. Most of the gap comes down to where someone sits in their career, which sub-specialty they work in, and who their employer is. Government contractors, trade associations, and federal agencies all hire heavily here, and those employers pay differently even for roles with similar titles.
DC's cost-of-living index sits at 117.7, meaning everyday expenses run about 18% above the national baseline. After accounting for that, the $24,675 nominal premium over the US median shrinks to something closer to $4,000 in purchasing terms. A Business Operations Specialist relocating from a mid-cost state should run that math before reading too much into the headline number. The average wage of $116,910 is also meaningfully above the median, which tells us a group of higher-earning specialists pull the average up.
BLS projects growth of 3% for this occupation between 2024 and 2034, which puts it in the average category nationally. That figure covers the broader SOC group, not DC specifically, so local demand may move differently depending on federal budget cycles and contracting activity during that period.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia 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 $81,660 and $141,540, with a median of $106,810.
Business Operations Specialists in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 24 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $84,670. 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 | 9 | $70,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 7 | $91,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $110,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $162,615 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Business Operations Specialists in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC. | Senior Associate | 8 | $84,170 |
| KRL International LLC | Associate | 1 | $77,012 |
| Mission Possible Partnership USA, Inc. | Programme Senior Associate | 1 | $103,688 |
| Center for the Study of Services | Business Data Analyst | 1 | $67,167 |
| Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC | Sustainability Specialist | 1 | $110,000 |
| Longenecker & Associates, Inc. | Project Support Engineer | 1 | $70,000 |
| InSite, LLC | Sr. Energy Analyst | 1 | $80,000 |
| Boston Consulting Group, Inc. | Senior Analyst - BCG Vantage | 1 | $100,500 |
| The ONE Campaign | Special Africa Projects Coordinator | 1 | $62,000 |
| Carmel Partners Management LLC | Associate Development | 1 | $125,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate at KRL International LLC$77,012WashingtonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-394426
- Programme Senior Associate at Mission Possible Partnership USA, Inc.$103,688WashingtonDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-388965
- Senior Associate at ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC.$84,170Washington, D.C.Decided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-373868
- Business Data Analyst at Center for the Study of Services$67,167WashingtonWage Level IDecided Aug 26, 2025I-200-25231-251768
- Sustainability Specialist at Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC$110,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 24, 2025I-201-25167-096777
- Manager at ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC.$105,230Washington D.C.Wage Level IVDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-080846
- Project Support Engineer at Longenecker & Associates, Inc.$70,000Washington, D.C.Wage Level IDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-082476
- Sr. Energy Analyst at InSite, LLC$80,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25136-987364
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 District of Columbia
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 in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 23 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $87,585.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC. | 18 | $87,585 |
| Technology and software | Center for the Study of Services | 2 | $73,583 |
| Government and public sector | The ONE Campaign | 1 | $62,000 |
| Real estate | Carmel Partners Management LLC | 1 | $125,000 |
| Finance and insurance | UBS Business Solutions US LLC | 1 | $91,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$104,000
Compare Business Operations Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in District of Columbia is $106,810.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The District of Columbia median is +30.0% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,640 and the 90th-percentile at $191,880, 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.