The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes more than 30 professions in its salary category for business and financial operations—from buyers and purchasing agents to accountants, market research analysts, and property appraisers and assessors.
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
National data
Median Salary: $76,850
Projected job growth: 5.6%
10th Percentile: $42,750
25th Percentile: $56,840
75th Percentile: $102,210
90th Percentile: $134,480
Projected job growth: 5.6%
State data
State
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Alabama
$65,670
$38,950
$123,910
Alaska
$77,230
$48,280
$124,500
Arizona
$66,870
$39,900
$122,890
Arkansas
$61,640
$34,670
$111,350
California
$80,850
$46,860
$153,530
Colorado
$79,890
$46,840
$135,370
Connecticut
$80,860
$48,480
$134,180
Delaware
$79,560
$47,750
$133,810
District of Columbia
$101,930
$60,640
$164,090
Florida
$66,090
$38,060
$127,950
Georgia
$73,150
$38,180
$132,000
Hawaii
$69,930
$44,900
$114,070
Idaho
$63,520
$36,950
$110,690
Illinois
$77,530
$43,730
$135,790
Indiana
$64,550
$38,080
$115,460
Iowa
$65,230
$41,700
$108,310
Kansas
$65,080
$39,160
$114,840
Kentucky
$63,780
$39,060
$109,100
Louisiana
$61,640
$36,170
$107,410
Maine
$70,010
$46,400
$114,160
Maryland
$83,860
$49,060
$140,430
Massachusetts
$83,290
$49,850
$155,080
Michigan
$72,760
$41,830
$125,720
Minnesota
$77,890
$48,130
$131,940
Mississippi
$58,990
$32,250
$107,430
Missouri
$65,860
$37,950
$125,240
Montana
$63,190
$38,790
$106,360
Nebraska
$64,350
$40,910
$107,440
Nevada
$65,310
$34,670
$122,950
New Hampshire
$75,510
$43,800
$127,120
New Jersey
$89,270
$55,260
$151,290
New Mexico
$65,800
$39,390
$121,890
New York
$94,050
$50,560
$172,120
North Carolina
$74,530
$41,600
$132,610
North Dakota
$65,660
$43,280
$106,800
Ohio
$71,380
$40,030
$124,190
Oklahoma
$65,010
$37,980
$112,090
Oregon
$75,310
$45,260
$126,260
Pennsylvania
$72,020
$41,810
$124,490
Rhode Island
$80,230
$47,610
$133,340
South Carolina
$64,650
$38,860
$118,180
South Dakota
$65,250
$46,800
$104,790
Tennessee
$62,670
$36,870
$106,930
Texas
$73,000
$39,150
$128,680
Utah
$64,280
$36,970
$119,620
Vermont
$68,640
$43,790
$112,570
Virginia
$81,730
$47,040
$149,570
Washington
$81,640
$50,060
$137,740
West Virginia
$61,530
$35,890
$106,810
Wisconsin
$67,560
$41,530
$116,110
Wyoming
$66,210
$40,910
$113,200
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Business administration includes an array of careers that require the management and operational skills crucial to running a business. That means business administrators can be found in many different kinds of companies and industries with a spectrum of salaries.
Because the BLS job category for business and financial operations is so broad, here's a look at some BLS salaries for individual careers.
Salaries for Popular Business Administrator Occupations
Career
Median Annual Salary
Logisticians
$77,520
Financial and Investment Analysts
$95,080
Marketing Managers
$140,040
Lodging Managers
$61,910
Medical and Health Services Managers
$104,830
What Factors Affect Salary Level?
Your job title and role will affect your salary, but they aren't the only factors. Your education, experience, certification, and employer can also influence your pay.
Education: Advanced Degrees Can Lead to Higher Salaries
You can begin your career in business administration with an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree. While you can launch your career with any of these degrees, but the higher the degree, the higher your salary likely will be.
As a general rule, you'll earn more with a bachelor's degree than you will with an associate degree. If you earn a master's degree, you'll have the potential to earn even more. In fact, survey data published by the Graduate Management Admission Council shows that earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) can increase your salary by an average of 77% over what professionals with a bachelor's degree might earn.
Experience and Certification Showcase Your Skills, Create Opportunities for Advancement
As with most careers, your salary in business administration can increase as you gain more experience. As you build your knowledge, expertise, and skills, you may be tapped for leadership positions or to manage projects. Responsibilities like these generally come with higher salaries.
Additionally, job performance can be a large factor in earning salary increases.
"There's a funny little saying we use: 'Make your boss look good, make your boss's job easier.' It's a way of just saying go in and do your job, knock it out, and always ask for more," says Ralph Griffith, BA, MBA, DBA, an associate professor of entrepreneurship at Lenoir-Rhyne University. "When I'm mentoring young men and women, I always advise them to be ambitious and see what else they can be working on. It's a way to get exposure across the organization. [Your boss] will see someone who's excited, can handle their current workload, and can take on smaller projects as part of multifunctional teams. They'll remember that when they're looking to fill roles and advance people."
"There's a funny little saying we use: 'Make your boss look good, make your boss's job easier.' It's a way of just saying go in and do your job, knock it out, and always ask for more."
Certification is a great way to demonstrate expertise and skill in business administration and stand out among your peers and job candidates. In some cases, employers might help pay the fees for the courses and tests you need to earn a certification, or they might compensate you after you pass a certification exam.
Certifications can prove you have the knowledge to oversee essential aspects of business administration. For example, becoming a Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) can help show an employer you're the right candidate for a related role. Similarly, Salesforce Administrator Certification (SAC) can help a resume for a marketing manager position rise to the top.
Different Workplaces Tend to Have Different Salaries
The industry you work in can also make a big difference in your pay. For instance, you'll generally make more working with investment accounts and portfolios than you will preparing taxes.
However, keep in mind that average salaries are not a rule. There will always be exceptions, and factors such as experience and education will still make a significant difference in your pay.
Top-Paying Industries for Business Administrators
Industry
Annual Salary for Business Admin Role
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
$119,690
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities
$135,250
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing
$120,910
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures
$118,340
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
$116,840
What Is the Job Outlook for Business Administrators?
According to the BLS, job growth in operations management occupations that correlate with business administration roles is projected at 4.2% through 2032, about the same as for all occupations. This translates into about 715,100 new jobs over the decade. However, job growth will vary by the field.
Finding a Job: How to Stand Out From the Competition
The job market for those in business has become increasingly competitive, and many roles now require more education.
Technology plays a big role in business, so the more knowledge and experience you have with computers and software, the better you may fare when it comes to job opportunities.
What can help you stand out and rise above the competition? Having in-demand skills in areas such as:
UX design
Cloud computing
Blockchain development
Affiliate marketing
Artificial intelligence
Video editing and production
Data analytics
Machine learning
Keep in mind that the level of competition you'll face will vary among business administration career paths. For example, there's expected to be a huge demand for medical administration and supply chain professionals over the next decade.
Healthcare, in general, is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. This can make the competition for roles in healthcare administration very different from the competition for other roles.
