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Business Operations Specialists

Business Operations Specialists handle critical behind-the-scenes functions that keep organizations running smoothly across diverse industries. These professionals negotiate contracts, ensure regulatory compliance, manage purchasing and logistics, investigate claims, and coordinate complex projects from planning through completion. They work in corporate offices, government agencies, manufacturing facilities, and field locations, serving as essential links between different business functions and stakeholders.

Median Annual Pay
$77,374
Range: $26,700 - $163,040
Training Time
4-5 years
AI Resilience
🟑AI-Augmented
Education
Bachelor's degree

🎬Career Video

πŸ€–AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: balanced factors means AI will assist but humans remain essential (estimated from legacy data)

🟑AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

36% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

0% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 13/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

πŸ“‹Key Responsibilities

  • β€’Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
  • β€’Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
  • β€’Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
  • β€’Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
  • β€’Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
  • β€’Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
  • β€’Develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
  • β€’Schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients.

πŸ’‘Inside This Career

Business Operations Specialists spend their days analyzing, coordinating, and optimizing the complex systems that keep organizations running smoothly. A typical morning might begin with reviewing reports, assessing compliance requirements, or evaluating vendor proposals, while afternoons often involve site visits, stakeholder meetings, or detailed investigations. Whether they're negotiating contracts in a corporate boardroom, inspecting facilities in the field, or analyzing cost data at their desk, these professionals constantly balance multiple priorities while ensuring operations meet regulatory standards and organizational goals.

The work varies dramatically based on specialization and industry. Some specialists focus on procurement and supply chain management, spending significant time building vendor relationships and analyzing market trends. Others concentrate on risk assessment and compliance, conducting thorough investigations or audits to ensure adherence to regulations. Project-focused specialists coordinate timelines, resources, and deliverables across departments, while those in human resources or labor relations navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and policy implementation. Many split their time between office-based analysis and fieldwork, whether that means visiting manufacturing sites, attending industry conferences, or meeting with clients and contractors.

Collaboration defines much of the daily experience, as Business Operations Specialists regularly interface with executives, department heads, external vendors, regulatory agencies, and specialized teams. They might spend one hour presenting findings to senior leadership, another hour training staff on new procedures, and yet another coordinating with legal teams on compliance issues. The role demands strong analytical skills and attention to detail, as decisions often impact budgets, timelines, and organizational reputation across multiple departments and stakeholder groups.

πŸ“ˆCareer Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$26,700
$24,030 - $29,370
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$46,970
$42,273 - $51,667
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$77,374
$69,637 - $85,111
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$120,207
$108,186 - $132,228
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$163,040
$146,736 - $179,344

πŸ“šEducation & Training

Requirements

  • β€’Entry Education: Bachelor's degree
  • β€’Experience: One to two years
  • β€’On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
4-5 years (typically 4)
Estimated Education Cost
$39,474 - $147,390
Public (in-state):$39,474
Public (out-of-state):$81,702
Private nonprofit:$147,390
Source: college board (2024)
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πŸ’»Technology Skills

CRM softwareMicrosoft OfficeContract management toolsScheduling softwareSocial media platformsMicrosoft Office (Excel)Commodity trading softwareERP systemsInventory managementMarket analysis toolsInventory management softwareMicrosoft ExcelVendor management toolsMerchandising softwareERP systems (SAP, Oracle)

⭐Key Abilities

β€’Oral Expression
β€’Oral Comprehension
β€’Written Comprehension
β€’Problem Sensitivity
β€’Speech Recognition
β€’Speech Clarity
β€’Deductive Reasoning
β€’Written Expression
β€’Inductive Reasoning
β€’Near Vision

🏷️Also Known As

Business Operations SpecialistsAdvance AgentAgentArtist ManagerArtist RepresentativeArtist's ManagerArtist's RepresentativeAthlete ManagerAthlete Marketing AgentAthletic Agent+20 more

πŸ“‘Specializations

This career includes 21 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

πŸ”—Related Careers

Other careers in business-finance

πŸ”—Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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