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The average salary for an Executive Director of Operations in the United States is approximately $131,945 per year. Salaries can differ significantly based on factors such as industry, geographical location, and years of experience. For instance, executive directors in high-demand industries such as finance and technology often command higher salaries compared to those in non-profit sectors.
Executive directors can expect varying salaries depending on the state they work in. States like California, New York, and Texas typically offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and the concentration of large companies. Understanding these regional salary differences can help potential candidates evaluate job offers more effectively.
Industries such as healthcare, technology, and finance tend to provide the highest salaries for executive directors of operations. These sectors value experienced leaders who can streamline operations and drive organizational success. For those aiming for high-paying positions, targeting these industries may enhance career prospects.
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The average executive director of operations salary in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average executive director of operations salary states are Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $164,650 | $79.16 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $155,354 | $74.69 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $176,615 | $84.91 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $138,073 | $66.38 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $151,777 | $72.97 |
| 6 | Washington | $130,837 | $62.90 |
| 7 | Maine | $134,596 | $64.71 |
| 8 | New York | $163,900 | $78.80 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $134,541 | $64.68 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $149,748 | $71.99 |
| 11 | Texas | $119,567 | $57.48 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $118,487 | $56.96 |
| 13 | Michigan | $130,615 | $62.80 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $121,721 | $58.52 |
| 15 | Delaware | $129,011 | $62.02 |
| 16 | Indiana | $125,011 | $60.10 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $116,830 | $56.17 |
| 18 | Maryland | $141,050 | $67.81 |
| 19 | Illinois | $120,804 | $58.08 |
| 20 | Alabama | $115,843 | $55.69 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $117,432 | $56.46 |
| 22 | Ohio | $116,537 | $56.03 |
| 23 | Colorado | $126,269 | $60.71 |
| 24 | Virginia | $125,639 | $60.40 |
| 25 | Florida | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $114,197 | $54.90 |
| 27 | Nevada | $110,614 | $53.18 |
| 28 | Georgia | $111,276 | $53.50 |
| 29 | California | $128,877 | $61.96 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $101,224 | $48.67 |
| 31 | Arizona | $114,075 | $54.84 |
| 32 | Oregon | $117,574 | $56.53 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $91,211 | $43.85 |
| 34 | Alaska | $110,191 | $52.98 |
| 35 | Kansas | $101,726 | $48.91 |
| 36 | Vermont | $110,345 | $53.05 |
| 37 | Utah | $92,600 | $44.52 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $98,924 | $47.56 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $95,271 | $45.80 |
| 40 | Iowa | $99,648 | $47.91 |
| 41 | Montana | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| 42 | Idaho | $92,158 | $44.31 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $110,213 | $52.99 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $84,211 | $40.49 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $101,683 | $48.89 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $101,984 | $49.03 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $97,691 | $46.97 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $83,167 | $39.98 |
| 49 | Missouri | $82,211 | $39.52 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $93,198 | $44.81 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $77,892 | $37.45 |
The highest-paying cities for executive directors of operations are Hartford, CT, Jersey City, NJ, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $185,518 | $89.19 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $169,886 | $81.68 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $168,437 | $80.98 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $157,975 | $75.95 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $154,393 | $74.23 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $151,635 | $72.90 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $139,956 | $67.29 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $137,918 | $66.31 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $133,375 | $64.12 |
| 10 | Colorado Springs, CO | $127,356 | $61.23 |
| 11 | Arlington, VA | $127,060 | $61.09 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $122,296 | $58.80 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $121,893 | $58.60 |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | $117,076 | $56.29 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $115,071 | $55.32 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $114,455 | $55.03 |
| 17 | Tucker, GA | $111,211 | $53.47 |
| 18 | New Orleans, LA | $101,602 | $48.85 |
| 19 | Manhattan, KS | $101,152 | $48.63 |
| 20 | West Des Moines, IA | $97,946 | $47.09 |
An executive director of operations's salary ranges from $85,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $203,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $203,000 | $16,917 | $98 |
| 75th Percentile | $165,000 | $13,750 | $79 |
| Average | $131,945 | $10,995 | $63 |
| 25th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| 10th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
The highest paying types of executive directors of operations are chief executive officer, senior director, operations, and director of sales and operations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Director | $104,050 | $8,671 | $50.02 | 114,993 |
| Operations Manager | $76,894 | $6,408 | $36.97 | 343,868 |
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Area Director | $100,433 | $8,369 | $48.29 | 47,326 |
| Division Director | $120,757 | $10,063 | $58.06 | 63,545 |
| Regional Director | $78,190 | $6,516 | $37.59 | 73,300 |
Top companies hiring executive directors of operations now:
Executive director of operations salaries at Billings Clinic and Novartis are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average executive director of operations salary at companies like Kaiser Permanente and Santander Private Banking International are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billings Clinic | $178,078 | $85.61 |
| 2 | Novartis | $172,734 | $83.05 |
| 3 | Kaiser Permanente | $172,123 | $82.75 |
| 4 | Santander Private Banking International | $171,367 | $82.39 |
| 5 | Piedmont Healthcare | $167,131 | $80.35 |
| 6 | Amgen | $166,683 | $80.14 |
| 7 | McFarland Clinic | $164,442 | $79.06 |
| 8 | Regeneron | $163,716 | $78.71 |
| 9 | ONR | $162,054 | $77.91 |
| 10 | J.P. Morgan | $160,022 | $76.93 |
| 11 | Iovance Biotherapeutics | $158,498 | $76.20 |
| 12 | UnityPoint Health | $156,023 | $75.01 |
| 13 | Trinity Health | $155,799 | $74.90 |
| 14 | Moderna | $154,964 | $74.50 |
| 15 | USAA | $149,490 | $71.87 |
| 16 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | $149,390 | $71.82 |
| 17 | Catalyst Pharmaceuticals | $149,136 | $71.70 |
| 18 | Washington and Lee University | $148,549 | $71.42 |
| 19 | Care New England Health System | $148,372 | $71.33 |
| 20 | Purdue Pharma L.P. | $147,280 | $70.81 |
The average executive director of operations salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $168,086 | $80.81 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $125,263 | $60.22 |
| 3 | Health Care | $120,858 | $58.10 |
| 4 | Transportation | $113,177 | $54.41 |
The average executive director of operations salary has risen by $10,820 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average executive director of operations earned $121,125 annually, but today, they earn $131,945 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for executive directors of operations over the last decade.
Compare executive director of operations salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare executive director of operations salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $132,000 | $63.44 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $128,000 | $61.68 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $128,000 | $61.77 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $128,000 | $61.45 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $126,000 | $60.78 | +1.6% |
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