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Business Administration Salary Guide

a man talks to coworkers in a conference room with a business chart on the wall
a man talks to coworkers in a conference room with a business chart on the wall

Median Annual Salaries

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: $76,570

Projected job growth: 7.2%

10th Percentile: $39,060

25th Percentile: $53,410

75th Percentile: $100,220

90th Percentile: $130,620

Projected job growth: 7.2%

State data

State Median Salary Bottom 10% Top 10%
Alabama $63,170 $37,930 $122,390
Alaska $77,290 $47,570 $124,850
Arizona $62,980 $37,760 $122,030
Arkansas $60,550 $30,760 $104,030
California $79,330 $47,040 $150,110
Colorado $77,610 $47,230 $130,350
Connecticut $79,110 $47,570 $131,920
Delaware $77,750 $47,630 $131,920
District of Columbia $100,620 $60,490 $161,290
Florida $62,050 $37,140 $124,030
Georgia $66,790 $37,110 $128,440
Hawaii $66,640 $45,090 $110,840
Idaho $61,480 $35,290 $104,030
Illinois $76,940 $38,910 $131,520
Indiana $62,230 $37,620 $107,660
Iowa $62,970 $38,470 $103,230
Kansas $62,420 $37,740 $105,810
Kentucky $62,170 $37,660 $103,940
Louisiana $61,040 $34,090 $104,070
Maine $63,970 $46,890 $104,030
Maryland $80,160 $47,740 $134,120
Massachusetts $81,090 $48,710 $155,090
Michigan $69,910 $38,870 $123,430
Minnesota $76,920 $47,570 $128,590
Mississippi $57,530 $30,220 $100,390
Missouri $63,460 $37,820 $122,780
Montana $61,990 $37,740 $101,760
Nebraska $62,390 $38,330 $102,660
Nevada $62,170 $34,050 $106,410
New Hampshire $75,940 $45,170 $127,370
New Jersey $81,710 $50,120 $134,800
New Mexico $62,830 $37,760 $121,690
New York $88,340 $48,710 $166,100
North Carolina $75,300 $38,950 $129,970
North Dakota $63,040 $38,880 $102,670
Ohio $64,050 $38,080 $121,460
Oklahoma $62,100 $37,040 $105,640
Oregon $76,040 $41,690 $125,930
Pennsylvania $71,790 $41,060 $124,040
Rhode Island $79,330 $47,240 $131,620
South Carolina $61,980 $37,570 $116,290
South Dakota $62,340 $46,210 $101,340
Tennessee $61,110 $36,980 $102,640
Texas $75,460 $38,630 $128,430
Utah $62,020 $35,450 $111,900
Vermont $64,650 $41,370 $103,240
Virginia $79,580 $47,040 $139,260
Washington $79,930 $48,480 $153,150
West Virginia $60,550 $31,090 $101,340
Wisconsin $63,850 $38,290 $121,930
Wyoming $62,470 $38,670 $104,420

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2021 median salary; projected job growth through 2031. 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.

In this Article

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 $77,030
Financial and Investment Analysts $91,580
Marketing Managers $135,030
Lodging Managers $59,430
Medical and Health Services Managers $101,340

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.

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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

IndustryAnnual Salary for Business Admin Role
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil$122,680
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities$122,570
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$118,370
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures$116,450
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank$113,440

What Is the Job Outlook for Business Administrators?

According to the BLS, job growth in management occupations that correlate with business administration roles is projected at 7% through 2031, 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.

CareerProjected Growth Through 2031
Supply Chain Manager/ Logistician27.7%
Financial Analyst8.6%
Marketing Manager9.9%
Hospitality Manager18%
Healthcare Administrator28.3%

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.


stephanie behring

Written and reported by:

Stephanie Behring

Contributing Writer

With professional insight from:

Ralph Griffith

Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, Lenoir-Rhyne University

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