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Salary comparison

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders vs. Airfield Operations Specialists: Who Earns More?

Airfield Operations Specialists out-earn Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders land at $46,460 and Airfield Operations Specialists at $56,850. The education gap is real: adhesive bonding machine operators and tender programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while airfield operations specialist programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders is Utah ($65,500); for Airfield Operations Specialists it's Kentucky ($123,290).

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Airfield Operations Specialists
Median salary
$46,460
$56,850
Hourly rate
$22.34/hr
$27.33/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,460
$35,870
Senior level (90th %)
$60,810
$102,120
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
11,500
15,190
Job growth (10-year)
1%
4.2%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Transportation
Top-paying state
Utah
Kentucky

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders median pay.

State
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
Airfield Operations Specialists
Utah
$65,500
$59,780
Idaho
$57,670
$62,510
Washington
$56,580
$84,050
Kentucky
$52,140
$123,290
Oregon
$50,050
$75,130
Colorado
$49,920
$77,500
Texas
$48,450
$60,910
Virginia
$47,250
$72,250
Georgia
$46,350
$66,790
Michigan
$45,470
$61,780
Nevada
$45,320
$61,350
Arizona
$41,600
$77,570
California
$40,440
$62,600
Alabama
$37,790
$78,590
Florida
$34,650
$57,650

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Airfield Operations Specialists earn more nationally. The median is $46,460 for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders versus $56,850 for Airfield Operations Specialists, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Airfield Operations Specialists has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to 1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders or Airfield Operations Specialists?

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Airfield Operations Specialists requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders get paid the most?

Utah is the top-paying state for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders at $65,500/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders vs. Airfield Operations Specialists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Utah, Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders earn $65,500 vs. $59,780 for Airfield Operations Specialists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders salary breakdownView →Full Airfield Operations Specialists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airfield Operations Specialists by take-home payExplore →How to become a adhesive bonding machine operators and tendersGuide →How to become a airfield operations specialistsGuide →