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Head operator salary
Average head operator salary
$138,787
Average Head Operator Salary
The average salary for a Head Operator stands at $138,787 per year, which is about $67 per hour. This figure varies based on factors such as experience level, geographic location, and the industry in which they operate. For instance, Head Operators in manufacturing tend to earn more than those in service industries.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions start significantly lower, and as Head Operators gain experience, their salary increases. Typically, those with over five years in the role can expect salaries exceeding $150,000.
Highest Paying States
Geographically, states like California and Texas offer higher salaries for Head Operators, due to the concentration of industries that require these roles. Understanding these variables can help candidates negotiate better salaries and choose job opportunities that align with their financial goals.
Opportunities for Advancement
As a Head Operator, opportunities for advancement are plentiful, especially for those willing to pursue additional training or certifications. Keeping an eye on industry trends can also provide insights into emerging roles that might offer higher compensation.
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Where can a Head Operator earn more?
Head operator salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level head operator | $57,200 | $27.48 |
| Mid-level head operator | $88,300 | $42.45 |
| Senior-level head operator | $160,000 | $76.96 |
Head operator salary estimates from across the web
Average head operator salary by state
The highest-paying states for head operators are Rhode Island, California, and Massachusetts. The lowest average head operator salary states are Missouri, West Virginia, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for head operators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $150,655 | $72.43 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $139,276 | $66.96 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $135,242 | $65.02 |
| 4 | California | $139,338 | $66.99 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $126,035 | $60.59 |
| 6 | Alaska | $124,827 | $60.01 |
| 7 | New York | $128,670 | $61.86 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $126,672 | $60.90 |
| 9 | Delaware | $123,188 | $59.23 |
| 10 | Washington | $121,365 | $58.35 |
| 11 | Nevada | $119,473 | $57.44 |
| 12 | Oregon | $113,710 | $54.67 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $108,687 | $52.25 |
| 14 | Maryland | $103,725 | $49.87 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $123,032 | $59.15 |
| 16 | Texas | $102,814 | $49.43 |
| 17 | Maine | $105,116 | $50.54 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $103,810 | $49.91 |
| 19 | Colorado | $104,940 | $50.45 |
| 20 | Vermont | $97,427 | $46.84 |
| 21 | Arizona | $94,246 | $45.31 |
| 22 | Virginia | $92,003 | $44.23 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $99,046 | $47.62 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $98,205 | $47.21 |
| 25 | Florida | $90,702 | $43.61 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $96,197 | $46.25 |
| 27 | Illinois | $82,817 | $39.82 |
| 28 | Idaho | $86,582 | $41.63 |
| 29 | Montana | $82,313 | $39.57 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $78,515 | $37.75 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| 32 | Kansas | $83,440 | $40.12 |
| 33 | Alabama | $85,430 | $41.07 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $69,604 | $33.46 |
| 35 | Michigan | $78,903 | $37.93 |
| 36 | Ohio | $75,430 | $36.26 |
| 37 | Indiana | $76,995 | $37.02 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $75,536 | $36.32 |
| 39 | Utah | $72,446 | $34.83 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $75,047 | $36.08 |
| 41 | Georgia | $70,740 | $34.01 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $72,974 | $35.08 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $72,214 | $34.72 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $72,938 | $35.07 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $68,510 | $32.94 |
| 46 | Missouri | $70,409 | $33.85 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $54,973 | $26.43 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $70,933 | $34.10 |
| 49 | Iowa | $71,124 | $34.19 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $70,128 | $33.72 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $67,411 | $32.41 |
Highest paying cities for head operators
The highest-paying cities for head operators are Providence, RI, San Francisco, CA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence, RI | $168,040 | $80.79 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $155,713 | $74.86 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $151,215 | $72.70 |
| 4 | Stamford, CT | $142,226 | $68.38 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $136,857 | $65.80 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $136,200 | $65.48 |
| 7 | Hoboken, NJ | $134,130 | $64.49 |
| 8 | Vancouver, WA | $128,845 | $61.94 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $114,645 | $55.12 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $114,446 | $55.02 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $109,650 | $52.72 |
| 12 | San Antonio, TX | $106,553 | $51.23 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $95,860 | $46.09 |
| 14 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,591 | $45.96 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $91,452 | $43.97 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $83,746 | $40.26 |
| 17 | Elyria, OH | $79,313 | $38.13 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $76,238 | $36.65 |
| 19 | Lincoln, NE | $72,647 | $34.93 |
| 20 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $69,929 | $33.62 |
Head operator salary details
A head operator's salary ranges from $79,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $243,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a head operator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $243,000 | $20,250 | $117 |
| 75th Percentile | $186,000 | $15,500 | $89 |
| Average | $138,787 | $11,566 | $67 |
| 25th Percentile | $103,000 | $8,583 | $50 |
| 10th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
Highest paying head operator jobs
The highest paying types of head operators are senior vice president-operations, operations vice president, and senior director, operations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| District Director | $100,695 | $8,391 | $48.41 | 57,276 |
| Director Of Business Operations | $111,945 | $9,329 | $53.82 | 202,032 |
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| Regional Director Of Operations | $115,156 | $9,596 | $55.36 | 130,533 |
| Operations Director | $104,050 | $8,671 | $50.02 | 114,993 |
Top companies hiring head operators now:
Which companies pay head operators the most?
Head operator salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average head operator salary at companies like Airbnb and Lyft are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $206,230 | $99.15 |
| 2 | Meta | $200,492 | $96.39 |
| 3 | Airbnb | $195,998 | $94.23 |
| 4 | Lyft | $194,117 | $93.33 |
| 5 | $187,425 | $90.11 | |
| 6 | Brex | $186,251 | $89.54 |
| 7 | Zoetis | $183,125 | $88.04 |
| 8 | Apple | $182,727 | $87.85 |
| 9 | Fiverr | $181,371 | $87.20 |
| 10 | $181,312 | $87.17 | |
| 11 | Asana | $181,001 | $87.02 |
| 12 | Biogen | $177,617 | $85.39 |
| 13 | Gaia | $177,494 | $85.33 |
| 14 | Sprinklr | $177,319 | $85.25 |
| 15 | SADA | $175,602 | $84.42 |
| 16 | Flexport | $175,039 | $84.15 |
| 17 | Netflix | $174,767 | $84.02 |
| 18 | Bain & Company | $174,216 | $83.76 |
| 19 | Gilead Sciences | $169,520 | $81.50 |
| 20 | Ampere | $168,607 | $81.06 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Head Operator salary by industry
The average head operator salary varies across industries:
- The average head operator salary in the finance industry is $114,789, the highest of any industry.
- The average head operator salary in the finance industry is $109,986.
- Head operators in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $94,741, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for head operators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $114,789 | $55.19 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $109,986 | $52.88 |
| 3 | Technology | $109,632 | $52.71 |
| 4 | Telecommunication | $99,991 | $48.07 |
| 5 | Transportation | $94,741 | $45.55 |
High paying head operator jobs
Head operator salary trends
The average head operator salary has risen by $11,381 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average head operator earned $127,406 annually, but today, they earn $138,787 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for head operators over the last decade.
Compare head operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average head operator salary over time
Compare head operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Head operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $139,000 | $66.72 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $135,000 | $64.88 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $135,000 | $64.97 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $134,000 | $64.64 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $133,000 | $63.93 | +1.6% |
Recently added head operator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sevenrooms | Head of Revenue Operations & Strategy | New York, NY | 06/29/2025 | $225,000 |
| Pacific Investment Management Co | Head of Trade Floor Operations, Investment Accounting and Performance Technology | Newport Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $204,000 |
| Harbinger Motors Inc. | Head of Workplace Operations | Garden Grove, CA | 06/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Timelycare | Head of Revenue Operations | Dallas, TX | 06/29/2025 | $175,000 |
| The Lean Way Consulting | Head of Operations (With Optometry Experience)-Remote | Marietta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $80,000 |
| Novartis AG | Clinical Operations Program Head | East Hanover, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $204,400 |
| Gusto | Head of Workplace Operations & Physical Security | San Francisco, CA | 06/28/2025 | $145,955 |
| MCM Worldwide | Head of Operations | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $130,000 |
| Madison Logic | Head of Revenue Operations | Ione, CA | 06/28/2025 | $200,000 |
| Zenobe Energy | Head of Operations-US EV | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $145,000 |
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