Research Summary. Utilizing a blend of public government data and insights from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has developed average salary estimates for operations management roles across the United States. This analysis has identified the highest-paying types of operations managers based on their average annual salaries.
Here’s a summary of our findings on the highest-paying operations manager positions:
-
Senior Operations Manager is the highest-paid type of operations manager, earning an average salary of $126,839 with an hourly rate of $60.98.
-
The next highest-paying role is Technical Operations Manager, with an average salary of $115,501.
-
The average salary for operations managers is $76,894 per year, translating to an hourly wage of $36.97.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging, and while salary should not be the sole factor in your decision, it is undoubtedly significant. If you aspire to become an operations manager, understanding the highest-paying positions can assist you in planning your career trajectory.
Below are the top salaries for various types of operations managers:
-
Senior Operations Manager
Average Salary: $126,839
A senior operations manager supervises business operations within a specific department, ensuring compliance with company policies and standards. This role involves performance evaluations, budget and sales target setting, progress reporting, and collaboration with upper management. Additionally, they motivate teams and devise strategies to enhance workflow efficiency and achieve sales objectives on time.
-
Technical Operations Manager
Average Salary: $115,501
A technical operations manager is a senior-level position within an organization’s technical division. They are responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of technical processes and ensuring alignment with the company’s technical objectives. They also establish best practices and provide direction to technical teams during periods of uncertainty.
-
Operations Program Manager
Average Salary: $111,378
Operations program managers focus on enhancing organizational efficiency in administrative, financial, and programmatic operations. They oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting, lead teams toward business goals, and manage operational procedures. Their responsibilities also include developing dashboards that measure business health and assisting with planning and budgeting.
-
Business Operations Manager
Average Salary: $91,511
Business operations managers manage processes, personnel, project delivery, and strategies to ensure smooth company operations. Their duties involve production planning, adherence to key performance indicators, inventory management, budget monitoring, and compliance with health and safety regulations. They also oversee team and project management to meet targets effectively.
-
Operations Project Manager
Average Salary: $90,352
An operations project manager oversees project team performance, ensuring operations meet client standards and internal regulations efficiently. They manage budgets and resources, maintain expense records, and liaise with clients to make adjustments as necessary, while also leading project execution and deliverables.
Below is a comprehensive table showcasing the average salaries for the highest-paying operations manager roles, followed by a detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Operations Managers
Methodology
Zippia leverages publicly available data from government sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to formulate its salary estimates.
Our data science team also analyzes job postings and company resources for the most recent salary information for operations managers.
After gathering the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title. For further details on our salary estimates, please refer to our detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Operations Manager Jobs FAQs
-
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 translates to $60.98 per hour.
A senior operations manager oversees business operations within a specific department, ensuring compliance with company policies and standards. They evaluate employee performance, set budget and sales targets, generate progress reports, and coordinate with senior management. This role also involves motivating teams and developing strategies to enhance workflow and achieve sales targets efficiently.
-
What is a good salary for an operations manager?
A good salary for an operations manager is $76,894 or higher. The average operations manager salary stands at $76,894, meaning that those earning at least this amount are above the average pay scale.
However, it’s important to note that salaries can vary significantly based on location, as companies adjust their pay rates according to local living costs. Research the average salaries in your area for your level of expertise and experience to gain a clearer understanding of your compensation.
For instance, entry-level operations managers can expect an average starting salary of around $31,672, so it’s essential not to judge your salary against the average without considering your experience level.
-
Do Operations Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, operations manager jobs tend to pay well. While pay can vary across the industry, the average operations manager salary of $76,894 is significantly above the national average salary of approximately $44,225 per year.
Many operations manager positions also offer high earning potential, with the top 10% earning an average of $88,691 annually.
Keep in mind that salaries can fluctuate based on experience, industry, and location. Therefore, it’s advisable to research current rates for operations managers in your area and leverage that information during salary negotiations.
-
Where do operations managers earn the highest salaries?
Operations Managers earn the highest salaries in New Jersey. In New Jersey, the average annual salary for operations managers is $102,041, with an hourly rate of $49.06.
Following New Jersey, the states with the highest-paid operations managers include Rhode Island, Delaware, and Wisconsin, with average annual salaries of $96,631, $108,230, and $90,517 respectively.
Additionally, the cities offering the highest salaries for operations managers are:
-
San Francisco, CA – $107,162
-
New York, NY – $102,034
-
Washington, DC – $101,074
-
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.
