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The differences between chiefs of operations and chief operating officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a chief of operations, becoming a chief operating officer takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a chief operating officer has an average salary of $136,604, which is higher than the $124,927 average annual salary of a chief of operations.
The top three skills for a chief of operations include oversight, emergency operations and logistical support. The most important skills for a chief operating officer are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| Chief Of Operations | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $124,927 | $136,604 |
| Hourly rate | $60.06 | $65.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 93,283 | 128,993 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 44 | 52 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
The chief of operations is responsible for monitoring the overall operational process of a company, maintaining efficient project management, and accurate project deliverables. They contribute to the implementation of corporate decisions, including the development of the company's policies and procedures. They also support the CEO in board meetings to report the business' performance and identify opportunities to increase brand awareness and boost profitability. The chief of operations handles financial transactions of the business, as well as budgeting and allocating resources for each department.
A chief operating officer, also known as a COO, is a high-ranking official who oversees a company or organization's daily administrative and overall operations. They are typically the second in the chain of command, reporting directly to the company's chief executive officer, also known as a CEO. Among their duties include developing strategies and guidelines, reviewing reports, performing assessments, and implementing the company's policies, standards, and regulations. Additionally, they lead and empower staff to reach goals, helping solve issues and concerns when any arise.
Chiefs of operations and chief operating officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Of Operations | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average salary | $124,927 | $136,604 |
| Salary range | Between $86,000 And $181,000 | Between $81,000 And $229,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | University of Maryland, Baltimore | Baker McKenzie |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a chief of operations and a chief operating officer in terms of educational background:
| Chief Of Operations | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between chiefs of operations' and chief operating officers' demographics:
| Chief Of Operations | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average age | 44 | 52 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |