What the numbers say
Virginia's median wage for Business Operations Specialists was $85,800 in 2024, about 4.5% above the national median of $82,135. That gap is real but modest. It narrows further once you account for the state's cost of living, which runs roughly 2% above the national baseline. In purchasing-power terms, the premium shrinks to something closer to 2%.
The spread across earners is wide. At the 10th percentile, wages came in at $46,100. At the 90th, they reached $156,910. Top earners made about 3.4 times what entry-level peers did. That kind of range usually reflects a mix of seniority, specialization, and the sector someone works in. Virginia draws a large share of federal contractors and defense-adjacent firms, which tend to pay more for operations roles than retail or hospitality employers do.
The average wage of $94,590 sits well above the median of $85,800. That gap tells us a smaller group of senior or highly specialized specialists pull the average up. The median is the more useful figure for anyone trying to gauge a typical salary.
BLS projects employment in this occupational group to grow 3% between 2024 and 2034, which falls in the average category. That is not a standout growth rate, but it does suggest the role stays in demand rather than contracts.
Salary distribution
Where Virginia 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 $59,690 and $121,290, with a median of $85,800.
Business Operations Specialists in Virginia: 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: $86,615. 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 | $73,237 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $85,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $107,058 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $126,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Business Operations Specialists in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICF Resources, LLC | Energy Markets Analyst | 4 | $90,915 |
| Terrell L. Joyner | Practice Manager | 2 | $65,000 |
| Amazon Data Services, Inc | Operations Technical I | 2 | $90,147 |
| University of Mary Washington | Sustainability Coordinator | 1 | $64,667 |
| Virginia Department of Transportation | Senior Planning and Data Specialist | 1 | $124,984 |
| Guidehouse Inc. | Sustainability Senior Consultant | 1 | $94,900 |
| Asiacom Americas Inc. | Business Operations Specialist | 1 | $61,755 |
| Synechron, Inc. | Sr. Manager “ Sustainability | 1 | $102,815 |
| Nextday Beltsville, LLC | Business Development Analyst | 1 | $85,000 |
| Mead & Hunt, Inc. | Building Performance Sustainability Associate | 1 | $104,663 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Sustainability Coordinator at University of Mary Washington$64,667FredericksburgDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503550
- Senior Planning and Data Specialist at Virginia Department of Transportation$124,984RichmondWage Level IIIDecided Aug 27, 2025I-200-25232-254335
- Practice Manager at Terrell L. Joyner$65,000FairfaxWage Level IDecided Jun 27, 2025I-200-25171-115009
- Energy Markets Analyst at ICF Resources, LLC$88,230RestonWage Level IDecided Jun 25, 2025I-200-25168-101080
- Sustainability Senior Consultant at Guidehouse Inc.$94,900McleanWage Level IIDecided Jun 24, 2025I-200-25167-096730
- Business Operations Specialist at Asiacom Americas Inc.$61,755SterlingWage Level IDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25160-066560
- Practice Manager at Terrell L. Joyner$65,000FairfaxWage Level IDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-052035
- Sr. Manager “ Sustainability at Synechron, Inc.$102,815Virginia BeachWage Level IIIDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-037607
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 Virginia
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 Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 24 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $93,600.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | ICF Resources, LLC | 9 | $93,600 |
| Technology and software | Amazon Data Services, Inc | 6 | $93,908 |
| Education | University of Mary Washington | 2 | $62,525 |
| Finance and insurance | Terrell L. Joyner | 2 | $65,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Nextday Beltsville, LLC | 2 | $73,378 |
| Government and public sector | Virginia Department of Transportation | 1 | $124,984 |
| Manufacturing | Silgan Dispensing Systems Corporation | 1 | $82,992 |
| Transportation and logistics | MALWA TRUCK LINE INC | 1 | $84,406 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for business operations specialists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Virginia Beach$88,170
- Richmond$77,170
Compare Business Operations Specialists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in Virginia is $85,800.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The Virginia median is +4.5% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $46,100 and the 90th-percentile at $156,910, 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.