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Salary comparison

Accountants and Auditors vs. Airfield Operations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Accountants and Auditors out-earn Airfield Operations Specialists by $27K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Accountants and Auditors land at $83,680 and Airfield Operations Specialists at $56,850. The education gap is real: accountants and auditor programs typically require bachelor's degree, while airfield operations specialist programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Accountants and Auditors is District of Columbia ($111,530); for Airfield Operations Specialists it's Kentucky ($123,290).

Accountants and Auditors
Airfield Operations Specialists
Median salary
$83,680
$56,850
Hourly rate
$40.23/hr
$27.33/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$56,020
$35,870
Senior level (90th %)
$144,090
$102,120
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
1,449,500
15,190
Job growth (10-year)
4.6%
4.2%
Category
Business & Finance
Transportation
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Kentucky

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Accountants and Auditors median pay.

State
Accountants and Auditors
Airfield Operations Specialists
California
$97,050
$62,600
Colorado
$97,030
$77,500
Washington
$96,550
$84,050
Virginia
$93,290
$72,250
Oregon
$85,800
$75,130
Alaska
$83,460
$71,510
Georgia
$81,900
$66,790
Nevada
$81,600
$61,350
Texas
$80,920
$60,910
Arizona
$79,970
$77,570
Michigan
$78,820
$61,780
New Mexico
$78,580
$69,090
Kentucky
$75,270
$123,290
Alabama
$74,880
$78,590
Idaho
$74,730
$62,510

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Accountants and Auditors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Accountants and Auditors earn more nationally. The median is $83,680 for Accountants and Auditors versus $56,850 for Airfield Operations Specialists, a difference of $27K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Accountants and Auditors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Accountants and Auditors has the better 10-year outlook at 4.6% projected growth, compared to 4.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Accountants and Auditors or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Accountants and Auditors typically requires bachelor's degree. Airfield Operations Specialists requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Accountants and Auditors get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Accountants and Auditors at $111,530/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Accountants and Auditors vs. Airfield Operations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Accountants and Auditors earn $97,050 vs. $62,600 for Airfield Operations Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Accountants and Auditors salary breakdownView →Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Accountants and Auditors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialists by take-home payExplore →How to become a accountants and auditorsGuide →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →