Business Operations Specialists, All Other vs Cost Estimators: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Business Operations Specialists, All Other professionals earn $4,200 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 5.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Business Operations Specialists, All Other earns $147,830 compared to $128,640 for Cost Estimators.
Salary Range Comparison
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$46,230 – $147,830
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
$46,230$147,830
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Business Operations Specialists, All Other | Cost Estimators | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,230 | $46,330 | $-100 |
| 25th Percentile | $60,820 | $59,830 | +$990 |
| Median (50th) | $81,270 | $77,070 | +$4,200 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,030 | $99,630 | +$10,400 |
| 90th Percentile | $147,830 | $128,640 | +$19,190 |
| Mean (Average) | $92,380 | $83,160 | +$9,220 |
Employment Numbers
Business Operations Specialists, All Other
1,128,200
employed nationwide
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Business Operations Specialists, All Other
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,680 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $104,000 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $101,420 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $100,440 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $96,300 |
Best Cities for Cost Estimators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $104,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $103,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Business Operations Specialists, All Other or Cost Estimators?
Business Operations Specialists, All Other professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $4,200 (5.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Business Operations Specialists, All Other?
Business Operations Specialists, All Other salaries range from $46,230 (10th percentile) to $147,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $81,270.
What is the salary range for Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators salaries range from $46,330 (10th percentile) to $128,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,070.
How many Business Operations Specialists, All Other and Cost Estimators jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,128,200 Business Operations Specialists, All Other positions and 219,530 Cost Estimators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cost Estimators to Business Operations Specialists, All Other?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Business Operations Specialists, All Other has a median salary of $81,270 while Cost Estimators earns $77,070. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS