Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of operations managers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of operations managers:
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Senior Operations Manager is the highest-paid type of operations manager with an average salary of $126,839 and an average hourly rate of $60.98.
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The second highest-paying type of operations manager is technical operations manager, with an average salary of $115,501.
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The average operations manager salary is $76,894 per year, and the average hourly pay is $36.97.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an operations manager, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of operations managers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of operations managers:
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Senior Operations Manager
Average Salary: $126,839
A senior operations manager oversees the business operations within a particular department or establishment, ensuring that all procedures adhere to the policies and standards of the company. There are also instances when they must evaluate workers’ performances, set budget and sales targets, produce progress reports and assessments, and coordinate with high-ranking officials. Moreover, a senior operations manager leads by motivating the workforce and devising strategies to improve the workflow and reach sales targets within the deadline. Should there be any issues, they must carry out corrective measures right away.
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Technical Operations Manager
Average Salary: $115,501
A technical operations manager is an upper management position in the technical department of an organization; they are considered leaders. They are responsible primarily for planning, coordinating, and executing company technical processes from the beginning to the end. It is part of their responsibility to sustain the technical goals of the company and handle any future potential needs. Typically, they create and sustain the best practice standards for technical operations and set the direction to technical staff in times of uncertainty.
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Operations Program Manager
Average Salary: $111,378
The role of operations program managers is to help improve organizational efficiency, particularly in the areas of administrative, financial, and programmatic operations. Their key duties and responsibilities include overseeing the collection, analysis, and reporting of data, overseeing and leading teams to achieve business goals, and managing the development and execution of operational procedures. In addition, they are responsible for developing and monitoring dashboards to measure business health and assisting with planning, reporting, and budgeting.
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Business Operations Manager
Average Salary: $91,511
Business operations managers are responsible for managing people, project delivery, operations, budget, and strategies to smoothly run the company. Their duties include helping in the production planning process, ensuring that key performance indicators are followed and production targets are achieved. Responsibilities of operation managers include managing stock control and inventory, monitoring budget changes, as well as reporting these changes to relevant parties. Also, they create and monitor teams and projects together with ensuring that health and safety regulations are followed. Additionally, they review workloads and manpower to make sure targets are met.
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Operations Project Manager
Average Salary: $90,352
An operations project manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the project team, ensuring that the operations meet the clients’ standards and internal regulations with maximum productivity and efficiency. Operations project managers manage the department’s budget and allocate materials and resources accurately, maintaining a record of expenses and costs forecasting. They coordinate with the clients, discussing project adjustments or additional tasks as needed, and lead project execution and deliverables by determining the team’s needs and concerns, and enforcing strategic procedures.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various operations manager that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Operations Managers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for operations managers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Operations Manager Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid operations manager job?
The highest-paid operations manager job is a senior operations manager. Senior Operations Managers earn an average salary of $126,839, which is $ 60.98 hourly.
A senior operations manager oversees the business operations within a particular department or establishment, ensuring that all procedures adhere to the policies and standards of the company. There are also instances when they must evaluate workers’ performances, set budget and sales targets, produce progress reports and assessments, and coordinate with high-ranking officials. Moreover, a senior operations manager leads by motivating the workforce and devising strategies to improve the workflow and reach sales targets within the deadline. Should there be any issues, they must carry out corrective measures right away.
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What is a good salary for an operations manager?
A good salary for an operations manager is $76,894 or more. The average operations manager salary is $76,894, so those making at least $76,894 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average operations manager salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an operations manager, the average entry level salary is $31,672, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $76,894 average, as this includes all operations managers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Operations Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, operations manager jobs pay well. As in any industry, some operations manager jobs pay better than others, but the average operations manager salary of $76,894 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many operations manager jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of operations managers earning $88,691 a year on average.
Operations Managers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an operations manager. Do your research on the going rate for an operations manager in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do operations managers get paid the most?
Operations Managers get paid the most in New Jersey. In New Jersey, operations managers earn an average annual salary of $102,041 and an average hourly wage of $49.06.
Following NJ, the states with the highest-paid operations managers are Rhode Island, Delaware, and Wisconsin, with average annual salaries of $96,631, $108,230, and $90,517 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid operations manager salaries are:
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San Francisco, CA – $107,162
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New York, NY – $102,034
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Washington, DC – $101,074
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
