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COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Airfield Operations Specialistss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Airfield Operations Specialistss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $74,111/year, better purchasing power than Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue's higher nominal pay of $82,360. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$82,360
#2 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$73,280
#3 Memphis$63,170

Best purchasing power

#1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue$74,111
#2 Memphis$68,529
#3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$63,386

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed airfield operations specialistss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$82,360
$74,111
#2
Memphis
24% rent burden
$63,170
$68,529
#3
$73,280
$63,386
#4
$62,640
$62,453
#5
Salt Lake City-Murray
24% rent burden
$61,400
$60,870
#6
$60,250
$60,118
#7
$59,260
$59,224
#8
Anchorage
28% rent burden
$58,970
$55,938
#9
$58,220
$54,697
#10
Pittsburgh
30% rent burden
$51,140
$54,019
#11
Jacksonville
38% rent burden
$52,720
$52,996
#12
$59,270
$52,188
#13
$47,160
$49,279
#14
$48,080
$47,656
#15
$46,690
$47,339
#16
$47,830
$47,160
#17
$41,450
$36,825
#18
$39,880
$36,627

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Airfield Operations Specialistss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $82,360 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $68,633 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A airfield operations specialists in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Airfield Operations Specialistss?

Memphis has one of the lowest rent burdens for Airfield Operations Specialistss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,274/month, with a median salary of $63,170.

Where do Airfield Operations Specialistss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays the highest nominal median salary at $82,360/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Airfield Operations SpecialistssView →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →