What the numbers say
Business Operations Specialists in Washington earned a median of $93,450 in 2024, about 14% above the US median of $82,135. The mean came in at $102,960, which is noticeably higher than the median. A smaller group of senior specialists at the top of the pay scale pulls that figure up.
The spread across the field is wide. The bottom 10% earned around $61,350, while the top 10% reached $164,200. That gap of roughly $103,000 between the two ends reflects how much this occupation varies by seniority, scope, and the kind of work involved. Someone coordinating vendor contracts at a mid-size company and someone overseeing cross-functional operations at a large tech firm both fall under the same SOC code.
Washington's overall cost-of-living index sits at 108.9, about 9% above the national baseline. That trims the real value of the wage premium. In purchasing terms, the $11,315 nominal advantage over the US median narrows to something closer to $2,000 to $3,000 once the higher cost of living is factored in. The headline gap is real, but smaller than it looks.
BLS projects 3% growth for this occupation nationally between 2024 and 2034, in line with the average for all occupations. Washington's concentration in technology and professional services has historically kept demand for operations roles steady, though that pattern is not guaranteed going forward.
Salary distribution
Where Washington 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 $72,110 and $126,770, with a median of $93,450.
Business Operations Specialists in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 29 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $139,500. 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 | 2 | $65,884 |
| Level II — qualified | 7 | $93,392 |
| Level III — experienced | 9 | $139,500 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 11 | $139,823 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Business Operations Specialists in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Sustainability Specialist III | 5 | $128,128 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Business Program Management | 3 | $165,700 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Global Security Investigations Program Lead - IDC | 2 | $244,245 |
| AMAZON DATA SERVICES, INC. | SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST II | 2 | $145,000 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC. | Senior Associate | 2 | $111,997 |
| Deloitte & Touche LLP | Advisory Manager | 2 | $119,267 |
| Black & Veatch Corporation | Consultant | 1 | $128,128 |
| Arcadis U.S., Inc. | Associate Consultant | 1 | $93,392 |
| DuoDuo Tech Inc. | Senior Business Operations Specialist | 1 | $120,000 |
| Marsh USA LLC | Senior Engagement Lead (SVP) | 1 | $172,700 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Manager, Sustainability at Amazon.com Services LLC$128,128BellevueWage Level IVDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-292912
- Consultant at Black & Veatch Corporation$128,128SeattleWage Level IVDecided Sep 11, 2025I-200-25247-286700
- Associate Consultant at Arcadis U.S., Inc.$93,392SeattleWage Level IIDecided Sep 3, 2025I-200-25238-268152
- Senior Business Operations Specialist at DuoDuo Tech Inc.$120,000RedmondWage Level IIIDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-236905
- Senior Engagement Lead (SVP) at Marsh USA LLC$172,700SeattleWage Level IVDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-204579
- Sustainability Specialist II at Amazon Data Services, Inc$147,000SeattleWage Level IIDecided Jul 11, 2025I-200-25185-153944
- Global Security Investigations Program Lead - IDC at Meta Platforms, Inc$248,724SeattleWage Level IVDecided Jul 7, 2025I-200-25181-138587
- Client Relations Liaison at Compassionate Care Home LLC$66,560LaceyWage Level IIDecided Jun 26, 2025I-200-25170-110789
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 Washington
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 specialties in Washington
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 10 certified offers. The most common variant is Sustainability Specialist at a median of $139,750.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainability Specialist | Amazon.com Services LLC | 6 | $139,750 |
| Business Operations Specialist | DuoDuo Tech Inc. | 4 | $74,891 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Business Operations Specialists in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 29 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $119,267.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE, INC. | 9 | $119,267 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 8 | $133,814 |
| Technology and software | Microsoft Corporation | 7 | $165,700 |
| Finance and insurance | Marsh USA LLC | 2 | $161,350 |
| Healthcare | Compassionate Care Home LLC | 1 | $66,560 |
| Real estate | WACA88 Property Management LLC | 1 | $65,208 |
| Manufacturing | Bon Appetit Bakery LLC | 1 | $66,560 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington 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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Metro-level salary data for business operations specialists in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$101,420
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Business Operations Specialists in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Business Operations Specialists in Washington is $93,450.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Business Operations Specialists?
- The Washington median is +13.8% versus the BLS national figure of $82,135.
- What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $61,350 and the 90th-percentile at $164,200, 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.