US Operations hiring up 6%, but defense contractors are pulling back hard
New postings rose over the past 30 days and 6,341 roles are open now, though the weekly pace has eased slightly from its late-October peak.
The middle posted range across all levels. 56% of open roles post their pay.
3,554 roles with yearly payof open roles are at employers with recent US H-1B visa filings. Amazon, JPMorganChase, Apple and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are on the list.
US H-1B filings, matched by employeris what the typical role asks for. 21% ask for 10 years or more.
80% of open roles state yearsThis week's read
There are 6,341 open Operations roles in the US right now, posted by 2,882 companies. New postings are up 6% over the last 30 days compared with the 30 days before. The weekly count peaked the week of 19 October and has slipped 3% since, so the growth is real but it has cooled a touch from its high point.
Look closer and the growth is uneven. Microsoft's new postings rose 115% and GHR's rose 55% over the past 30 days. At the same time, defense contractors are cutting back: Northrop Grumman's new postings fell 73% and Boeing's fell 75% in the same window. If you are targeting aerospace and defense operations work, that drop is worth knowing before you apply.
Pay is solid if you can clear the experience bar. The typical range across all levels is $120k to $170k, but employers want experience: the median posting asks for 5 years minimum, and 21% of roles ask for 10 years or more. Only 12% of these jobs are remote, so most of this hiring expects you in an office or on site. Roles stay open a median of 26 days, which is a reasonably fast pace for hiring decisions.
If visa sponsorship matters to you, 25% of open roles sit at employers with recent H-1B filings, and Microsoft is one of them. On the skills side, AI and machine learning shows up in 16% of postings, more than any other tool or technology named. Most roles, 49%, are pitched at mid-level, so this is not mainly a market for entry-level operations jobs right now.
What this means for you
Three things you can act on this week
- Expect a 5-year minimum
The median posting asks for 5 years of experience, and 21% want 10 years or more. Build your resume and cover letter around a clear, provable track record before you apply.
- Defense roles are shrinking fast
Northrop Grumman and Boeing postings both fell sharply over the past 30 days. If you are coming from aerospace or defense operations, widen your search to other industries right now.
- Remote is rare here
Only 12% of open Operations roles are remote. Plan your search around roles that expect you on site, and treat a remote listing as the exception, not the norm.
Pay
What Operations roles in the United States pay, by level
The middle (median) of the pay ranges employers post. Read each bar from the typical low end to the typical high end of a posting. 56% of open roles post their pay.
See the numbers
| Level | Roles with pay | Typical low | Typical high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director | 729 | $170k | $228k |
| Principal / Staff | 131 | $150k | $218k |
| Senior / Lead | 859 | $120k | $170k |
| Mid level | 1,835 | $103k | $145k |
Yearly USD ranges only (hourly pay and other currencies are left out). Level is read from the job title.
Momentum
New Operations roles each week
Last 30 days: 3,171 new roles, against 2,986 the 30 days before (+6%). Each week counts the same companies, and a role counts as new only in the week it was posted, so a careers site we start reading never shows up as growth.
See the numbers
| Week starting | New roles |
|---|---|
| 7 Sep | 679 |
| 14 Sep | 772 |
| 21 Sep | 660 |
| 28 Sep | 749 |
| 5 Oct | 718 |
| 12 Oct | 675 |
| 19 Oct | 933 |
| 26 Oct | 902 |
Who is hiring
The companies with the most open Operations roles
2,882 companies are hiring. The top eight hold 8% of the open roles.
| Company | Open roles | Change in new roles | H-1B filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 168 | On the list | |
| JPMorganChase | 77 | On the list | |
| GHR | 60 | +55% | |
| MS | 41 | ||
| Apple | 35 | On the list | |
| Hewlett Packard Enterprise | 35 | On the list | |
| Microsoft | 35 | +115% | On the list |
| DoorDash | 33 | -8% | On the list |
Change compares new roles in the last 30 days with the 30 days before, shown where a company posted 25 or more in the earlier 30 days. Staffing agencies are left out. A company name links to its Ashney company page where there is one.
What they ask for
The technology Operations roles ask for most
Ask Rate is the share of roles that name a skill, from 6,127 postings read in full. Ways of working (methods such as Agile, tools such as Jira) are listed apart; office tools and soft skills are left out.
Ways of working
Industries named most: Healthcare 9%, Consulting 8%, Management consulting 7%. Certifications named: PMP 4%, Series 7 1%, Six Sigma Black Belt 1%. 12% of open roles say they are remote.
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