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DATA PROFILE · 2024

Business Operations Specialists salary in Rhode Island

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$86,880
Mean annual$92,290
Range (10th to 90th)$50,290 to $133,740
Rhode Island employment1,730
State vs national+5.8% vs national
Editorial commentary

What the numbers say

Rhode Island's median for Business Operations Specialists came in at $86,880 in 2024, about 5.8% above the US median of $82,135. The gap is real but modest. This is not a state where the occupation commands a dramatic premium over the national figure.

The spread between bottom and top earners is worth noting. Workers at the 10th percentile earned $50,290, while those at the 90th earned $133,740. Top earners made roughly 2.7 times what entry-level peers did. That kind of gap is common in this occupational group, which covers everything from compliance analysts to business continuity planners, roles that vary a lot by seniority and specialty.

Rhode Island's cost-of-living index sits at 100, right at the national baseline. So the $4,745 nominal premium over the US median translates almost directly into actual purchasing power. A dollar earned here buys about the same as a dollar earned in an average US metro. That makes the headline advantage more meaningful than it would be in, say, Massachusetts or Connecticut, where COL runs well above the national figure.

BLS projects average growth for this occupational group between 2024 and 2034, meaning demand should keep pace with the broader labor market without outrunning it. Rhode Island employs around 1,730 people in these roles, a small pool relative to larger states, so individual job openings may be harder to find even if the overall outlook is stable.

Methodology. Drafted with AI assistance using Anthropic Claude, reviewed by Adrian Serafin against BLS, O*NET, and BEA source data. No fact appears that does not exist in the cited public datasets.

Salary distribution

Where Rhode Island business operations specialists fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$50,29025TH$67,540MEDIAN$86,88075TH$111,32090TH$133,740

The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,540 and $111,320, with a median of $86,880.

By seniority

Business Operations Specialists pay by experience level in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, Rhode Island2023 to 2024
$79,2302023$86,8802024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    Less than 5 years

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

Skill data from O*NET is not yet ingested for this occupation. We refresh this section when O*NET publishes a new release.

Common tasks (O*NET)

Task data from O*NET is not yet ingested for this occupation.

10-year outlook

Growth 2024 → 2034

+3.0%

Projected annual openings

BLS outlook

Average growth

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in Rhode Island

Metro-level salary data for business operations specialists in major Rhode Island metropolitan areas.

Compare Business Operations Specialists pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in Rhode Island?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in Rhode Island is $86,880.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
The Rhode Island median is +5.8% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in Rhode Island?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $50,290 and the 90th-percentile at $133,740, 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.
Disclaimer

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.