Best cities for a head operator

The best cities for head operators are San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for head operators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for head operators in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a head operator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for head operators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for head operators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a head operator. While the absolute best city for head operators is San Francisco, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for head operators in 2024.

If you're looking for a head operator job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for head operators in 2026

1. San Francisco, CA

Total head operator jobs:	152
Average annual salary:	$155,713
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$88,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$275,000
Location quotient:	10.52

2. Boston, MA

Total head operator jobs:	20
Average annual salary:	$151,215
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$78,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$291,000
Location quotient:	1.93

3. Sacramento, CA

Total head operator jobs:	4
Average annual salary:	$155,117
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$87,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$276,000
Location quotient:	1.33

4. New York, NY

Total head operator jobs:	235
Average annual salary:	$136,200
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$69,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$266,000
Location quotient:	4.97

5. Newark, NJ

Total head operator jobs:	6
Average annual salary:	$133,733
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$68,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$262,000
Location quotient:	3.57

6. Reno, NV

Total head operator jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$128,910
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$71,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$233,000
Location quotient:	0.92

7. Los Angeles, CA

Total head operator jobs:	32
Average annual salary:	$143,506
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$79,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$258,000
Location quotient:	2.58

8. Santa Ana, CA

Total head operator jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$141,754
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$78,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$256,000
Location quotient:	1.39

9. Jersey City, NJ

Total head operator jobs:	6
Average annual salary:	$133,979
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$68,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$262,000
Location quotient:	1.26

10. San Antonio, TX

Total head operator jobs:	8
Average annual salary:	$106,553
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$52,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$217,000
Location quotient:	1.89

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Best cities for head operators

San Francisco, CA
Boston, MA
Sacramento, CA
New York, NY
Newark, NJ
Reno, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Santa Ana, CA
Jersey City, NJ
San Antonio, TX

(152 head operator jobs)
(20 head operator jobs)
(4 head operator jobs)
(235 head operator jobs)
(6 head operator jobs)
(1 head operator jobs)
(32 head operator jobs)
(1 head operator jobs)
(6 head operator jobs)
(8 head operator jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a head operator

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	San Francisco, CA	$155,713	$88,000	870,887	152
2	Boston, MA	$151,215	$78,000	673,184	20
3	Sacramento, CA	$155,117	$87,000	495,234	4
4	New York, NY	$136,200	$69,000	8,537,673	235
5	Newark, NJ	$133,733	$68,000	281,764	6
6	Reno, NV	$128,910	$71,000	245,255	1
7	Los Angeles, CA	$143,506	$79,000	3,976,322	32
8	Santa Ana, CA	$141,754	$78,000	334,217	1
9	Jersey City, NJ	$133,979	$68,000	264,152	6
10	San Antonio, TX	$106,553	$52,000	1,492,510	8
11	San Jose, CA	$154,478	$87,000	1,025,350	5
12	Albuquerque, NM	$130,915	$65,000	559,277	-
13	Austin, TX	$106,256	$51,000	947,890	18
14	Oakland, CA	$155,439	$87,000	420,005	-
15	Philadelphia, PA	$114,446	$57,000	1,567,872	5
16	Fremont, CA	$154,866	$87,000	233,136	-
17	Las Vegas, NV	$121,022	$65,000	632,912	1
18	North Las Vegas, NV	$120,867	$65,000	238,702	-
19	Stockton, CA	$154,458	$86,000	307,072	-
20	Henderson, NV	$120,487	$65,000	292,969	-
21	Fresno, CA	$151,303	$84,000	522,053	-
22	Dallas, TX	$102,740	$49,000	1,317,929	14
23	Portland, OR	$114,645	$61,000	639,863	6
24	Brookhaven, NY	$139,506	$72,000	486,040	-
25	Seattle, WA	$126,712	$67,000	704,352	9
26	Bakersfield, CA	$147,882	$82,000	376,380	-
27	Islip, NY	$138,479	$71,000	335,543	-
28	Colorado Springs, CO	$109,650	$52,000	465,101	5
29	San Diego, CA	$136,823	$75,000	1,406,630	7
30	Oyster Bay, NY	$137,702	$70,000	293,214	-
31	Washington, DC	$136,857	$65,000	681,170	7
32	Hempstead, NY	$137,064	$70,000	759,757	-
33	Anchorage, AK	$127,201	$77,000	298,192	-
34	Miami, FL	$95,860	$47,000	453,579	11
35	Long Beach, CA	$142,320	$78,000	470,130	-
36	Anaheim, CA	$142,158	$78,000	351,043	-
37	Riverside, CA	$141,775	$78,000	324,722	-
38	Irvine, CA	$141,369	$78,000	266,122	1
39	Plano, TX	$101,885	$48,000	286,057	5
40	Denver, CO	$107,516	$51,000	693,060	14
41	Houston, TX	$104,970	$50,000	2,303,482	10
42	Irving, TX	$102,853	$49,000	238,289	4
43	El Paso, TX	$113,992	$58,000	683,080	-
44	Tampa, FL	$94,613	$45,000	377,165	8
45	Lubbock, TX	$110,957	$54,000	252,506	-
46	Chula Vista, CA	$135,989	$74,000	267,172	-
47	Pittsburgh, PA	$98,185	$47,000	303,625	3
48	Buffalo, NY	$127,005	$63,000	256,902	-
49	Saint Petersburg, FL	$95,165	$45,000	260,999	1
50	Laredo, TX	$106,323	$53,000	257,156	-

Highest paying cities for head operators

Rank	City	Avg. head operator salary
1	Providence, RI	$168,040
2	San Francisco, CA	$155,713
3	Boston, MA	$151,215
4	Stamford, CT	$142,226
5	Washington, DC	$136,857
6	New York, NY	$136,200
7	Hoboken, NJ	$134,130
8	Vancouver, WA	$128,845
9	Portland, OR	$114,645
10	Philadelphia, PA	$114,446
11	Colorado Springs, CO	$109,650
12	San Antonio, TX	$106,553
13	Miami, FL	$95,860
14	Phoenix, AZ	$95,591
15	Richmond, VA	$91,452
16	Chicago, IL	$83,746
17	Elyria, OH	$79,313
18	Charlotte, NC	$76,238
19	Lincoln, NE	$72,647
20	Urban Honolulu, HI	$69,929