Business Operations Specialists in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median wage for Business Operations Specialists in Illinois was $77,980 in 2024, about 5% below the national median of $82,135. That gap is modest, and cost of living almost closes it entirely. Illinois sits at a regional price index of 99.5, essentially flat with the national baseline, so the nominal gap translates to roughly the same gap in real purchasing power. There is no meaningful hidden premium or discount here.
The spread across the occupation tells the more interesting story. The bottom 10% earned $43,980. The top 10% earned $133,120. Top earners made about three times what entry-level peers did, a range wide enough to suggest that job title alone says little about where someone actually lands. Sub-specialties, industry, and how senior someone is account for a lot of that distance.
The mean came in at $85,600, about $7,600 above the median. A share of higher-paid specialists pulls the average up, so the median is the better anchor for someone early in this career.
BLS projects average growth of 3% for this occupation from 2024 to 2034. Average means it is expected to keep pace with most other occupations, not outpace them. Illinois employs around 41,810 people in this category, which makes it one of the larger state-level concentrations in the country.
Salary distribution
Where Illinois 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 $62,340 and $109,030, with a median of $82,070.
Business Operations Specialists in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 34 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $73,120. 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 | 8 | $48,920 |
| Level II — qualified | 15 | $70,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $84,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 6 | $144,750 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Business Operations Specialists in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. | Director, ESG Strategy & Intelligence | 2 | $230,000 |
| Avant, LLC | Associate, Business Risk Management | 2 | $96,233 |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Executive Director, Control Manager | 2 | $144,750 |
| Veris Insights, LLC | Growth Development Analyst | 2 | $63,500 |
| VISTALTECH INC | Security Consultant | 2 | $65,042 |
| Wellmax usa corp | Counselor of International Business Operation | 2 | $49,920 |
| Ahoyt Family Dental PC | Hygiene and Treatment Coordinator | 1 | $50,000 |
| AMG TECHNOLOGY | Business Analyst | 1 | $72,800 |
| AXPULSE INC | BUSINESS CONSULTANT | 1 | $83,000 |
| Black & Veatch Corporation | Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) Analyst | 1 | $100,547 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Executive Director, Control Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co.$157,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26019-569154
- Business Operation Specialist at Twigoal Fashion Inc.$87,360Elk Grove VillageWage Level IIIDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25310-385388
- Business Analyst at AMG TECHNOLOGY$72,800ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Sep 16, 2025I-200-25252-297758
- CFE - Industrial Electrification Senior Associate at ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC.$84,170ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Aug 5, 2025I-200-25210-208342
- BUSINESS CONSULTANT at AXPULSE INC$83,000PARK RIDGEWage Level IIIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25169-107740
- Director, ESG Strategy & Intelligence at AbbVie Inc.$230,000North ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-094795
- Counselor of International Business Operation at Wellmax usa corp$52,000Elk Grove VillageWage Level IDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25163-083169
- Growth Development Analyst at Veris Insights, LLC$63,500ChampaignWage Level IIDecided Jun 18, 2025I-200-25162-082580
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.
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Business Operations Specialists pay by experience level in Illinois
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 Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 34 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $78,279.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 11 | $78,279 |
| Technology and software | VISTALTECH INC | 6 | $71,400 |
| Finance and insurance | Avant, LLC | 5 | $90,000 |
| Manufacturing | AbbVie Inc. | 4 | $172,819 |
| Transportation and logistics | CEVA Air & Ocean USA Inc. | 2 | $64,720 |
| Healthcare | Ahoyt Family Dental PC | 2 | $50,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | U.S. Green Building Council - Illinois Chapter | 1 | $67,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Loyalsnap, Inc. | 1 | $84,000 |
| Education | Sky Team, Inc | 1 | $47,840 |
| Retail and wholesale | Twigoal Fashion Inc. | 1 | $87,360 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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 Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$81,170
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in Illinois is $82,070.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The Illinois median is -3.3% versus the BLS national figure of $84,856.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $46,360 and the 90th-percentile at $137,100, 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.