What the numbers say
The median wage for Business Operations Specialists in Montana was $72,690 in 2024, about 11.5% below the US median of $82,135. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
Montana's cost of living runs slightly below the national average. Our index puts it at 96.8, meaning a dollar here buys a little more than a dollar in the average US state. After adjusting for that, the effective gap between Montana and the national figure narrows to roughly 8%. Still a discount, but a smaller one than the headline number suggests.
The spread between low and high earners is wide. Workers at the 10th percentile earned $47,050 in 2024. Those at the 90th percentile earned $107,240. Top earners make about 2.3 times what bottom earners make in this state. That range reflects how much the role varies by employer size, industry, and how senior someone is. An operations coordinator at a small Billings firm and a senior business analyst at a regional bank both fall under this SOC code, which helps explain why the numbers stretch as far as they do.
The mean wage of $75,400 sits above the median, which tells us a smaller group of higher-paid specialists pulls the average up.
BLS projects employment for this occupation group to grow 3% nationally between 2024 and 2034, in line with the average for all occupations. Montana-specific projections are not available in this release, so the national figure is the closest benchmark we have.
Salary distribution
Where Montana 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 $60,380 and $83,860, with a median of $72,690.
Business Operations Specialists pay by experience level in Montana
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.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Montana 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in Montana?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in Montana is $72,690.
- How does Montana compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The Montana median is -11.5% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in Montana?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $47,050 and the 90th-percentile at $107,240, 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.