Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates earn $28,311 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $20,213 and $49,250. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Business Operations Support and Assistant as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Business and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Business Operations Support and Assistant is a focused area of study within Business. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $28,311 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 940 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 16,604 students complete it each year. The curriculum blends analytical and applied coursework aimed at the workplace.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$16,658
Median Earnings · 4yr
$28,311
Colleges Offering
940
Graduates / Year
16,604
Avg Net Price / yr
$8,110
How Much Do Business Operations Support and Assistant Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Business Operations Support and Assistant, a typical graduate earns $28,311, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $20,213 and $49,250, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $16,658 at one year out to $28,311 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$28,311
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$23,549
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Business Operations Support and Assistant graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Industry and seniority explain most of the spread. Finance, consulting, and strategy roles pull the top end up; operations and administrative roles sit at the bottom.
$20,21325th pct.
$28,311Median
$49,25075th pct.
Based on outcomes from 46 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 16,604 students who complete Business Operations Support and Assistant programs each year, the majority (40%) earn a doctorate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
31%27%40%
Doctorate40%
Certificate31%
Associate's27%
What Can You Do With a Business Operations Support and Assistant Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants pay the most at $76,590/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
Make travel arrangements for executives.
Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
High school diploma or equivalent127,400 openings/yr1.4M employed nationally
Social PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingMonitoring
Day-to-day responsibilities
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
Supervise the work of office, administrative, or customer service employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures, correcting errors or problems.
Resolve customer complaints or answer customers' questions regarding policies and procedures.
Provide employees with guidance in handling difficult or complex problems or in resolving escalated complaints or disputes.
Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.
Process, verify, and maintain personnel related documentation, including staffing, recruitment, training, grievances, performance evaluations, classifications, and employee leaves of absence.
Record data for each employee, including such information as addresses, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports on performance, and dates of and reasons for terminations.
Explain company personnel policies, benefits, and procedures to employees or job applicants.
Top Colleges for Business Operations Support and Assistant
Not sure where to study Business Operations Support and Assistant? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Business Operations Support and Assistant graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Business Programs
Business Operations Support and Assistant is not the only path through Business: 21 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Business Operations Support and Assistant program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
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Business Operations Support and Assistant Degree: Pros & Cons
Business Operations Support and Assistant carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 4 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $16,658 at graduation to $28,311 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 178,600 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 940 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $28,311 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($20,213) and 75th ($49,250) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Business Operations Support and Assistant Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates earn?
$28,311 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $20,213 and $49,250, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Business Operations Support and Assistant degree?
$16,658 in the first year out. That grows to $28,311 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Business Operations Support and Assistant degree?
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants are one path, and it pays a median of $76,590 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Business Operations Support and Assistant program take?
Four or more years of graduate study for a Business Operations Support and Assistant doctorate, on top of the bachelor's or master's you need to get in. This is the standard finishing credential in the field.
How many colleges offer Business Operations Support and Assistant?
940 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Business Operations Support and Assistant degree worth it?
$28,311 median earnings four years out against $8,110 a year in average net price. Whether that math works for you depends heavily on which school you pick. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Business Operations Support and Assistant and Business?
Business Operations Support and Assistant is the narrower of the two: Business covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Business Operations Support and Assistant-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates consistently look for financial analysis, communication, project management, and strategic thinking. Internship experience and proficiency in tools like Excel, SQL, or business software tend to set candidates apart. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates?
It depends on the program. An MBA or specialized master's can boost earnings and open paths into management and strategy roles, but the return is strongest at selective schools with strong recruiting pipelines, not everywhere. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Business Operations Support and Assistant graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average -2.0% projected job growth over the next 10 years. First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers are among the strongest-growth roles at +0.1%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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