Best cities for a chief operating officer
The best cities for chief operating officers are New York, NY, Henderson, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for chief operating officers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for chief operating officers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a chief operating officer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for chief operating officers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for chief operating officers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a chief operating officer. While the absolute best city for chief operating officers is New York, NY, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for chief operating officers in 2024.
If you're looking for a chief operating officer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for chief operating officers in 2025
1. New York, NY
Chief operating officer jobs in New YorkTotal chief operating officer jobs: 34 Average annual salary: $175,487 Lowest 10 percent warn: $102,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $299,000 Location quotient: 7.16 2. Henderson, NV
Chief operating officer jobs in HendersonTotal chief operating officer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $138,368 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 10.83 3. North Las Vegas, NV
Total chief operating officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $138,315 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 11.78 4. Corpus Christi, TX
Chief operating officer jobs in Corpus ChristiTotal chief operating officer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $140,905 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 5.64 5. Lubbock, TX
Chief operating officer jobs in LubbockTotal chief operating officer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $140,629 Lowest 10 percent warn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $246,000 Location quotient: 5.75 6. Philadelphia, PA
Chief operating officer jobs in PhiladelphiaTotal chief operating officer jobs: 37 Average annual salary: $142,585 Lowest 10 percent warn: $83,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 3.28 7. Las Vegas, NV
Chief operating officer jobs in Las VegasTotal chief operating officer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $138,674 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $249,000 Location quotient: 4.92 8. Oakland, CA
Chief operating officer jobs in OaklandTotal chief operating officer jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $161,169 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $292,000 Location quotient: 10.33 9. Houston, TX
Chief operating officer jobs in HoustonTotal chief operating officer jobs: 96 Average annual salary: $143,285 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $248,000 Location quotient: 3.67 10. San Francisco, CA
Chief operating officer jobs in San FranciscoTotal chief operating officer jobs: 134 Average annual salary: $161,351 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $293,000 Location quotient: 5.75
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Best cities for chief operating officers
- New York, NY
- Henderson, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Corpus Christi, TX
- Lubbock, TX
- Philadelphia, PA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Oakland, CA
- Houston, TX
- San Francisco, CA
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Detailed list of the best cities for a chief operating officer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $175,487 | $102,000 | 8,537,673 | 34 |
| 2 | Henderson, NV | $138,368 | $77,000 | 292,969 | 7 |
| 3 | North Las Vegas, NV | $138,315 | $76,000 | 238,702 | 3 |
| 4 | Corpus Christi, TX | $140,905 | $81,000 | 325,733 | 3 |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | $140,629 | $80,000 | 252,506 | 4 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $142,585 | $83,000 | 1,567,872 | 37 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $138,674 | $77,000 | 632,912 | 27 |
| 8 | Oakland, CA | $161,169 | $88,000 | 420,005 | 23 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $143,285 | $82,000 | 2,303,482 | 96 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $161,351 | $88,000 | 870,887 | 134 |
| 11 | Newark, NJ | $187,970 | $110,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $148,614 | $84,000 | 2,704,958 | 77 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $144,668 | $83,000 | 947,890 | 39 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $158,047 | $92,000 | 673,184 | 45 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $157,552 | $87,000 | 3,976,322 | 108 |
| 16 | Riverside, CA | $155,877 | $87,000 | 324,722 | 14 |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $159,664 | $87,000 | 307,072 | 4 |
| 18 | Dallas, TX | $137,963 | $79,000 | 1,317,929 | 43 |
| 19 | Reno, NV | $134,252 | $73,000 | 245,255 | 6 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $144,822 | $83,000 | 1,492,510 | 15 |
| 21 | Buffalo, NY | $175,231 | $100,000 | 256,902 | 5 |
| 22 | Long Beach, CA | $156,923 | $87,000 | 470,130 | 6 |
| 23 | Anaheim, CA | $156,592 | $87,000 | 351,043 | 5 |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CA | $156,407 | $87,000 | 334,217 | 5 |
| 25 | Glendale, AZ | $119,669 | $67,000 | 245,895 | 5 |
| 26 | Jersey City, NJ | $188,014 | $110,000 | 264,152 | 9 |
| 27 | Detroit, MI | $144,618 | $81,000 | 672,795 | 7 |
| 28 | El Paso, TX | $146,534 | $83,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 29 | Fresno, CA | $160,342 | $88,000 | 522,053 | 3 |
| 30 | Scottsdale, AZ | $119,390 | $67,000 | 246,645 | 12 |
| 31 | Sacramento, CA | $157,376 | $86,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 32 | Arlington, TX | $138,605 | $79,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 33 | San Diego, CA | $153,703 | $86,000 | 1,406,630 | 48 |
| 34 | Chandler, AZ | $119,349 | $67,000 | 247,477 | 10 |
| 35 | Irvine, CA | $156,161 | $87,000 | 266,122 | 15 |
| 36 | Brookhaven, NY | $176,822 | $103,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 37 | Toledo, OH | $116,211 | $66,000 | 278,508 | 3 |
| 38 | Islip, NY | $176,286 | $103,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 39 | Washington, DC | $158,536 | $92,000 | 681,170 | 45 |
| 40 | Pittsburgh, PA | $140,043 | $80,000 | 303,625 | 7 |
| 41 | Cleveland, OH | $118,529 | $67,000 | 385,809 | 8 |
| 42 | Oyster Bay, NY | $176,206 | $103,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 43 | Hempstead, NY | $175,711 | $103,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 44 | Plano, TX | $136,420 | $78,000 | 286,057 | 13 |
| 45 | Charlotte, NC | $119,725 | $70,000 | 842,051 | 43 |
| 46 | Laredo, TX | $142,053 | $81,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 47 | Hialeah, FL | $99,839 | $63,000 | 236,387 | 3 |
| 48 | Miami, FL | $99,566 | $63,000 | 453,579 | 97 |
| 49 | Orlando, FL | $106,985 | $65,000 | 277,173 | 23 |
| 50 | Fort Worth, TX | $138,626 | $79,000 | 854,113 | - |
Highest paying cities for chief operating officers
| Rank | City | Avg. chief operating officer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | $188,014 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $175,487 |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $161,799 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $158,536 |
| 5 | Cambridge, MA | $158,086 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $150,091 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $148,614 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $145,671 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $144,822 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $142,585 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $138,674 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $132,953 |
| 13 | Atlanta, GA | $120,764 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $119,725 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $119,592 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $119,586 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $110,902 |
| 18 | Denver, CO | $109,430 |
| 19 | Cincinnati, OH | $109,361 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $108,686 |
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Updated January 8, 2025