Airfield Operations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a airfield operations specialists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ is $88,420/year ($42.51/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $85,579 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,839/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $88K get you in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About airfield operations specialists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler sits well above the national pay line for airfield operations specialists, local pay runs about 56% higher than the U.S. median of $57K. Rent runs $1,839/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for airfield operations specialists in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $38K | $39K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $57K | $50K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $86K | $74K |
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $63K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level airfield operations specialists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Airfield Operations Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Airfield Operations Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $123K | +117% | 290 |
| Washington | $84K | +48% | 150 |
| Alabama | $79K | +38% | N/A |
| Arizona | $78K | +36% | 160 |
| Colorado | $78K | +36% | 70 |
| Oregon | $75K | +32% | 50 |
| Virginia | $72K | +27% | 280 |
| Alaska | $72K | +26% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $69K | +22% | 50 |
| Georgia | $67K | +17% | 340 |
| California | $63K | +10% | 1,660 |
| Idaho | $63K | +10% | 40 |
| Michigan | $62K | +9% | 440 |
| Nevada | $61K | +8% | 150 |
| Texas | $61K | +7% | 1,310 |
| Utah | $60K | +5% | 290 |
| Florida | $58K | +1% | 2,320 |
| Ohio | $57K | +1% | 360 |
| Massachusetts | $56K | -1% | 380 |
| Pennsylvania | $56K | -2% | 340 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -13% | 80 |
| Iowa | $49K | -14% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -19% | 610 |
| Mississippi | $44K | -22% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $42K | -25% | N/A |
| New York | $42K | -26% | 2,190 |
| Missouri | $40K | -29% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $40K | -29% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -31% | 100 |
| South Dakota | $38K | -33% | 190 |
| Indiana | $38K | -34% | 350 |
| North Dakota | $38K | -34% | 80 |
| Montana | $34K | -40% | 90 |
| South Carolina | $34K | -41% | 90 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -50% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track airfield operations specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a airfield operations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 32.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for airfield operations specialists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airfield operations specialists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,021/month. At HUD’s $1,839/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is airfield operations specialist a high-paying job in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Local pay is 56% above the national median — $88K here vs. $57K nationally.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for airfield operations specialists?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s +56%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do airfield operations specialists make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $88,420 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,350, and experienced airfield operations specialists can clear $101,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,698/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 32.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a airfield operations specialists salary go in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median airfield operations specialists salary is worth about $85,579 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do airfield operations specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.