What the numbers say
The median wage for Business Operations Specialists in Tennessee was $72,550 in 2024, about 12% below the US median of $82,135. That gap is real, but it tells only part of the story.
Tennessee's cost of living runs roughly 7.5% below the national average. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective gap narrows to around 5%. A dollar in Nashville or Knoxville goes further than the same dollar in most coastal markets, which softens the headline difference considerably.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is wide. The 10th percentile landed at $42,080 while the 90th reached $134,430. That is a range of more than $92,000 within the same occupation category. Part of what drives that range is the breadth of roles grouped under this SOC code: compliance specialists, management analysts, business continuity planners, and several other functions all fall under the same umbrella. Experience, sub-specialty, and the size of the employer all pull wages in different directions. The average wage of $83,050 sits well above the median, which suggests a smaller group of senior or highly specialized workers pulls the average upward.
Employment for this group stood at 11,560 in Tennessee. BLS projects average growth for the occupation nationally through 2034, with a 3% increase expected over that period. Nothing in the state-level data points to a sharp departure from that pace.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee 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 $53,930 and $100,470, with a median of $72,550.
Business Operations Specialists in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 7 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $68,000. 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 II — qualified | 4 | $65,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $60,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $125,200 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Business Operations Specialists in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Corporation | Senior ESG Reporting and Compliance Analyst | 2 | $108,100 |
| SERVEONE America Inc. | Business & Supply Chain Specialist | 1 | $68,000 |
| Arch Plastics Packaging, LLC | Sustainability Champion | 1 | $62,000 |
| Hormann Group North America, Inc | Business Operations Specialist | 1 | $60,000 |
| First Horizon Bank | Senior Operations Data Analyst | 1 | $60,902 |
| Federal Express Corporation | ESG Reporting and Compliance Principal | 1 | $125,200 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Business & Supply Chain Specialist at SERVEONE America Inc.$68,000LebanonWage Level IIDecided Sep 25, 2025I-200-25261-319686
- Sustainability Champion at Arch Plastics Packaging, LLC$62,000ChattanoogaWage Level IIDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-095014
- Business Operations Specialist at Hormann Group North America, Inc$60,000SpartaWage Level IIIDecided Apr 25, 2025I-200-25108-881576
- Senior ESG Reporting and Compliance Analyst at FedEx Corporation$91,000MemphisWage Level IIDecided Apr 22, 2025I-200-25106-868688
- ESG Reporting and Compliance Principal at FedEx Corporation$125,200MemphisWage Level IVDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25101-858343
- Senior Operations Data Analyst at First Horizon Bank$60,902MemphisWage Level IIDecided Mar 3, 2025I-200-25055-720247
- ESG Reporting and Compliance Principal at Federal Express Corporation$125,200MemphisWage Level IVDecided Feb 13, 2025I-200-25037-672843
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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 7 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Transportation and logistics leads with a median of $125,200.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and logistics | FedEx Corporation | 3 | $125,200 |
| Manufacturing | Arch Plastics Packaging, LLC | 2 | $61,000 |
| Professional services | SERVEONE America Inc. | 1 | $68,000 |
| Finance and insurance | First Horizon Bank | 1 | $60,902 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in Tennessee is $72,550.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The Tennessee median is -11.7% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $42,080 and the 90th-percentile at $134,430, 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.