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The differences between county administrators and chief operating officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes More than 10 years to become both a county administrator and a chief operating officer. Additionally, a chief operating officer has an average salary of $136,604, which is higher than the $89,338 average annual salary of a county administrator.
The top three skills for a county administrator include county government, service delivery and federal laws. The most important skills for a chief operating officer are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.
| County Administrator | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Yearly salary | $89,338 | $136,604 |
| Hourly rate | $42.95 | $65.67 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 51,060 | 128,993 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 52 | 52 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A county administrator oversees the day-to-day activities of a county government, ensuring operations run smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities often entail developing and reviewing plans for different projects, assessing the budget for various departments, implementing programs, and communicating with department heads and the public. They also manage and supervise administrative staff, attend events like council meetings and public dialogues, and take part in relief operations during emergencies.
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.
County administrators and chief operating officers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| County Administrator | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average salary | $89,338 | $136,604 |
| Salary range | Between $55,000 And $142,000 | Between $81,000 And $229,000 |
| Highest paying City | Stockton, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Icma-rc | Baker McKenzie |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a county administrator and a chief operating officer in terms of educational background:
| County Administrator | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between county administrators' and chief operating officers' demographics:
| County Administrator | Chief Operating Officer | |
| Average age | 52 | 52 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.0% Female, 48.0% | Male, 76.6% Female, 23.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 7.5% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | 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 | 12% | 12% |