Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for head operators in the United States
Head operator job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected head operator job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 189,200 new jobs for head operators are projected over the next decade.
Head operator salaries have increased 4% for head operators in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,055 head operators currently employed in the United States.
There are 101,974 active head operator job openings in the US.
The average head operator salary is $138,787.
Are head operator jobs in demand?
Head operator job and salary trends over time
Head operator jobs over time
Head operator job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,055 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,976 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,065 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,878 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,747 | 0.00% |
Average head operator salary over time
Head operator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $138,787 | $66.72 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $134,944 | $64.88 | --0.1% |
| 2023 | $135,145 | $64.97 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $134,449 | $64.64 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $132,976 | $63.93 | +1.6% |
Head operator jobs by state
Most common states for head operators
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 510 | 73% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,645 | 39% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 293 | 28% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,403 | 23% |
| 5 | Alaska | 739,795 | 168 | 23% |
| 6 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,976 | 22% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 170 | 18% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 511 | 14% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 971 | 13% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 524 | 13% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,744 | 12% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 155 | 12% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 76 | 12% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,451 | 11% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 892 | 11% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 333 | 11% |
| 17 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 155 | 11% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 2,078 | 10% |
| 19 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 511 | 9% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 93 | 9% |
Most common cities for head operators
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belvidere | 2 | 8% | $83,756 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $67,993 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $107,149 |
| 4 | Dover | 2 | 5% | $129,679 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 3 | 3% | $150,985 |
| 6 | Lansing | 3 | 3% | $78,046 |
| 7 | Elgin | 2 | 2% | $83,642 |
| 8 | Hartford | 2 | 2% | $146,945 |
| 9 | Boston | 6 | 1% | $151,215 |
| 10 | Tampa | 4 | 1% | $94,613 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $69,878 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $98,783 |
| 13 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $70,378 |
| 14 | New York | 9 | 0% | $136,200 |
| 15 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $83,746 |
| 16 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $155,713 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $76,461 |
Head Operator job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of head operator experts
Murray State University
University Of Puget Sound
Pepperdine University, Seaver College
Sam Houston State University
Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College - City University of New York
Farmingdale State College
The City College of New York
Belmont University
Sonoma State University
Dr. Ben Littlepage
ProfessorMurray State University
Educational Administration And Supervision
What general advice would you give to a Head Operator?
Dr. Ben Littlepage: I believe skills associated with organizational systems (e.g. procedures, processes) and hybridized management are essential for the field. Organizations (e.g. schools, institutions) will continue to be lean for a variety of reasons. The ability to achieve results by refining systems and maximizing resources cannot be understated. Hybrid work schedules and communication are not leaving education. Leaders that embrace hybridized technologies for assessment, employee satisfaction and development, and content delivery will remain competitive in the face of a private market looking to capitalize on laggard leaders.
What will help Head Operators increase their earning potential?
Dr. Ben Littlepage: Salary is maximized when leaders are sought after. Leaders who pursue meaningful experiences and remain 'market ready' are viewed as an asset to any organization. Leaders must carefully consider where the field is moving and respond.
Andreas Udbye Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity Of Puget Sound
School of Business and Leadership
What soft skills should all Head Operators possess?
Andreas Udbye Ph.D.: Collaboration and teamwork skills are crucial, as well as the ability to focus and meet deadlines. Although it is nice to mention that you are a good multi-tasker, most people are these days, and employers seem to like people who can stay the course and complete tasks on time and with high quality. Tenacity and accuracy are other attractive attributes.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Head Operators?
Steven Bauer: The coronavirus has accelerated the transformation to a digital world, and this effect will continue after the pandemic is behind us. Graduates will need to be able to navigate a hybrid business environment, with in-person and virtual meetings, interactions and platforms. There will also be increased opportunities to be entrepreneurial and innovative in the digital area. In addition, graduates will have to become more skilled at navigating a global environment since greater digitization will draw countries closer to each other.
Carliss Miller Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ManagementSam Houston State University
Department of Management & Marketing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Head Operator job market given the pandemic?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Flexible working arrangements were considered a perk or benefit, but given the pandemic more and more jobs will be designed with flexible work arrangements in mind. We will continue to see trends in the labor market with a push towards personal services (e.g. virtual assistants, professional organizers) and professional services. There will also continue to be a demand for knowledge work. More and more, employers are looking to hire applicants that can provide concrete evidence of being "Day 1" ready.
Employers will focus more on identifying prospects with certain "soft skills" which were a nice-to-have pre-pandemic, but are now critical for organizational survival. These skills include: critical thinking, agility, ability to adapt to change, resilience, virtual team effectiveness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, data analysis and interpretation is a highly sought after skill even for jobs that historically did not require analytical ability.
Dr. Mary Kern Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorZicklin School of Business at Baruch College - City University of New York
Narendra P. Loomba Department of Management
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Head Operator job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Mary Kern Ph.D.: - Internships are going to be far fewer in number, and so many new graduates may be have less work experience, making it both more difficult to obtain a strong position and making the initial learning curve much more steep when they do land a job.
- Employers are going to have to navigate the role of remote work going forward much more actively. For example, we have learned that a lot of work can be done from our living rooms, and many find a lot of value in not having to commute in to an office. Being able to work remotely is going to be a prominent issue in employment negotiations going forward. Both employers and employees will need to evaluate the value (vs. costs) of being able to work from home and consider trade-offs in other forms of compensation.
Xu Zhang Ph.D.
ChairFarmingdale State College
Department of Economics
What skills stand out on Head Operator resumes?
Xu Zhang Ph.D.: I believe the most important attributes employers seek on a resume remain the same-problem solving skills, team work skills, analytical/quantitative skills, verbal and written communication skills. However, given the pandemic or any other unexpected shock to work environment, how to quickly and efficiently adapt to new work modes can be a very valuable attribute standing out on resume.
What type of skills will young Head Operators need?
Prabal Kumar De Ph.D.: I think the necessary skills remain the same. One modification that would stay is greater virtual engagement. Therefore, newly essential skills such as acing a virtual interview, making a mark during a Zoom meeting, or managing or being a valuable part of a remote working group would be useful long after the immediate threats from the COVID-19 crisis be gone.
Nina Woodard
Senior Career Development SpecialistBelmont University
Office of Career & Professional Development
What Head Operator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nina Woodard: For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Head Operator job market given the pandemic?
Nina Woodard: The pandemic hasn't impacted all areas of the entertainment industry in the same way. Anything related to live events and touring has been placed on an extended pause, which has been very difficult for graduates hoping to work in those fields. On an encouraging note, consumers will always find a way back to live experiences, so that segment of the industry will absolutely recover; the timing is just still a bit unknown. Other areas such as record or publishing companies have held steady. And, digital marketing and content creation companies are as busy, if not busier, than they've ever been as artists seek alternative ways to stay connected to their fans. Technology has intersected with entertainment in exciting, creative ways that will continue even as some of the more traditional avenues become available again. For many companies, ideas that started as pivots are now vibrant components of their long-term strategies.
The way we work may have also permanently changed. Companies have realized that remote working is a truly viable option for most businesses. While maintaining company culture, and the social nature of an entertainment-based organization, may still require some level of in-person interaction, it seems likely that many organizations may continue with remote/hybrid office models.
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.
Adjunct LecturerSonoma State University
School of Business & Economics
What type of skills will young Head Operators need?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.
What experience really stands out on Head Operator resumes?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: Most important on resumes to only show accomplishments you are proud of and reflect measurable success and completion of past work. These accomplishments should be a snapshot of what we have done and can do in the future. The most important two lines of a resume are in the objectives, to list what the person is seeking. These two lines give the reader a quick view of what the person wants.
Now is a great time to start the new year to build a portable work portfolio to represent an alignment of what a person is excited about and enjoys in their work.