Best states for a general manager of operations

Q: What is the best state for general managers of operations?

The best state to be a general manager of operations is Washington based on general manager of operations salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for general managers of operations?

The highest paying state for general managers of operations is North Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for general managers of operations?

The worst state for general managers of operations is North Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Patrick Scott Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for general managers of operations in the United States. General manager of operations positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for general managers of operations.As general managers of operations are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for general managers of operations. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a general manager of operations, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for general managers of operations.We found that the Midwest is best for general managers of operations, and the Northeast is the worst. Jersey City, NJ is the best city in the country for general manager of operations jobs, where as Washington is the best state in the country.

10 best states for general managers of operations in 2026

1. Washington
Total general manager of operations jobs: 2,618
Average annual salary: $111,871
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
1.06
General manager of operations jobs in Washington
2. Delaware
Total general manager of operations jobs: 424
Average annual salary: $109,804
Lowest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $197,000
Location Quotient:
1
General manager of operations jobs in Delaware
3. New Jersey
Total general manager of operations jobs: 2,426
Average annual salary: $115,866
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $204,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
General manager of operations jobs in New Jersey
4. Wisconsin
Total general manager of operations jobs: 2,081
Average annual salary: $89,748
Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
General manager of operations jobs in Wisconsin
5. New York
Total general manager of operations jobs: 4,163
Average annual salary: $108,111
Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000
Location Quotient:
0.96
General manager of operations jobs in New York
6. North Carolina
Total general manager of operations jobs: 3,626
Average annual salary: $89,298
Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000
Location Quotient:
1.11
General manager of operations jobs in North Carolina
7. New Hampshire
Total general manager of operations jobs: 583
Average annual salary: $98,747
Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
General manager of operations jobs in New Hampshire
8. California
Total general manager of operations jobs: 9,938
Average annual salary: $104,060
Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000
Location Quotient:
1
General manager of operations jobs in California
9. Connecticut
Total general manager of operations jobs: 1,010
Average annual salary: $101,469
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $185,000
Location Quotient:
0.9
General manager of operations jobs in Connecticut
10. Rhode Island
Total general manager of operations jobs: 323
Average annual salary: $105,664
Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
0.78
General manager of operations jobs in Rhode Island

General manager of operations jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a general manager of operations

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a general manager of operations

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Washington	$111,871	$65,000	7,405,743	2,618
2	Delaware	$109,804	$61,000	961,939	424
3	New Jersey	$115,866	$65,000	9,005,644	2,426
4	Wisconsin	$89,748	$48,000	5,795,483	2,081
5	New York	$108,111	$60,000	19,849,399	4,163
6	North Carolina	$89,298	$47,000	10,273,419	3,626
7	New Hampshire	$98,747	$53,000	1,342,795	583
8	California	$104,060	$59,000	39,536,653	9,938
9	Connecticut	$101,469	$55,000	3,588,184	1,010
10	Rhode Island	$105,664	$58,000	1,059,639	323
11	Nevada	$95,251	$52,000	2,998,039	694
12	Michigan	$81,700	$42,000	9,962,311	3,093
13	Maine	$84,382	$43,000	1,335,907	486
14	Pennsylvania	$86,145	$45,000	12,805,537	4,042
15	Alabama	$77,751	$40,000	4,874,747	1,723
16	Massachusetts	$98,385	$53,000	6,859,819	2,649
17	Minnesota	$83,671	$45,000	5,576,606	2,387
18	Texas	$81,432	$42,000	28,304,596	7,167
19	Tennessee	$76,248	$39,000	6,715,984	2,196
20	District of Columbia	$98,191	$53,000	693,972	458
21	Virginia	$89,255	$47,000	8,470,020	2,730
22	Maryland	$87,046	$46,000	6,052,177	2,020
23	Arizona	$84,414	$45,000	7,016,270	1,435
24	Ohio	$64,162	$32,000	11,658,609	4,161
25	Louisiana	$80,492	$41,000	4,684,333	879
26	South Dakota	$75,502	$40,000	869,666	309
27	Alaska	$82,864	$48,000	739,795	209
28	West Virginia	$66,543	$33,000	1,815,857	541
29	Georgia	$68,829	$35,000	10,429,379	3,730
30	Colorado	$79,679	$42,000	5,607,154	1,523
31	Illinois	$75,914	$39,000	12,802,023	3,534
32	South Carolina	$67,585	$34,000	5,024,369	1,543
33	New Mexico	$77,826	$40,000	2,088,070	417
34	Florida	$63,170	$32,000	20,984,400	6,092
35	Idaho	$68,920	$37,000	1,716,943	529
36	Montana	$67,680	$36,000	1,050,493	398
37	Kentucky	$64,619	$32,000	4,454,189	1,229
38	Indiana	$59,700	$30,000	6,666,818	2,502
39	Arkansas	$58,715	$30,000	3,004,279	1,017
40	Kansas	$58,832	$30,000	2,913,123	1,111
41	Iowa	$64,684	$33,000	3,145,711	1,075
42	Nebraska	$55,228	$29,000	1,920,076	848
43	Mississippi	$60,615	$30,000	2,984,100	706
44	Oregon	$67,174	$37,000	4,142,776	1,197
45	Wyoming	$55,397	$29,000	579,315	225
46	Vermont	$66,066	$32,000	623,657	137
47	Missouri	$51,460	$26,000	6,113,532	2,180
48	Utah	$58,267	$30,000	3,101,833	919
49	Oklahoma	$55,661	$28,000	3,930,864	976
50	Hawaii	$52,807	$32,000	1,427,538	225
51	North Dakota	$50,356	$27,000	755,393	232

Highest paying states for general managers of operations

Rank	State	Avg. General Manager Of Operations Salary
1	Washington	$111,871
2	Delaware	$109,804
3	New Jersey	$115,866
4	Wisconsin	$89,748
5	New York	$108,111
6	North Carolina	$89,298
7	New Hampshire	$98,747
8	California	$104,060
9	Connecticut	$101,469
10	Rhode Island	$105,664
11	Nevada	$95,251
12	Michigan	$81,700
13	Maine	$84,382
14	Pennsylvania	$86,145
15	Alabama	$77,751
16	Massachusetts	$98,385
17	Minnesota	$83,671
18	Texas	$81,432
19	Tennessee	$76,248
20	District of Columbia	$98,191
21	Virginia	$89,255
22	Maryland	$87,046
23	Arizona	$84,414
24	Ohio	$64,162
25	Louisiana	$80,492
26	South Dakota	$75,502
27	Alaska	$82,864
28	West Virginia	$66,543
29	Georgia	$68,829
30	Colorado	$79,679
31	Illinois	$75,914
32	South Carolina	$67,585
33	New Mexico	$77,826
34	Florida	$63,170
35	Idaho	$68,920
36	Montana	$67,680
37	Kentucky	$64,619
38	Indiana	$59,700
39	Arkansas	$58,715
40	Kansas	$58,832
41	Iowa	$64,684
42	Nebraska	$55,228
43	Mississippi	$60,615
44	Oregon	$67,174
45	Wyoming	$55,397
46	Vermont	$66,066
47	Missouri	$51,460
48	Utah	$58,267
49	Oklahoma	$55,661
50	Hawaii	$52,807
51	North Dakota	$50,356

Expert opinions on the best states for general managers of operations

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for General managers of operations to find work opportunities?
Patrick Scott Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Louisiana Tech University
We have had success in placing our candidates from the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University in all portions of the country. Small towns, to large cities, to graduate programs, and beyond are all able to benefit from the skills learned by these majors.

General manager of operations best states FAQs

What is the best state for general managers of operations?

What is the highest paying state for general managers of operations?

What is the worst state for general managers of operations?

Have more questions? See all answers to common executive management questions.

Search for general manager of operations jobs

Zippia Careers
Executive Management Industry
General Manager Of Operations
Best states for General Managers Of Operations

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs

Total general manager of operations jobs:	2,618
Average annual salary:	$111,871
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$191,000
Location Quotient:	1.06

Best states for a general manager of operations

10 best states for general managers of operations in 2026

1. Washington

2. Delaware

3. New Jersey

4. Wisconsin

5. New York

6. North Carolina

7. New Hampshire

8. California

9. Connecticut

10. Rhode Island