Airfield Operations Specialists Salary
The median pay for a airfield operations specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $43,930/year ($21.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $40,347 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 74.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for airfield operations specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $57K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 75.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for airfield operations specialistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level airfield operations specialists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $76K 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 with published data
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a airfield operations specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 75.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airfield operations specialists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,263/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 99% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $44K here vs. $57K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for airfield operations specialists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do airfield operations specialists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $43,930 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,720, and experienced airfield operations specialists can clear $113,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,981/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 75.3% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $40,347 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.