Best cities for an operations director
The best cities for operations directors are Oakland, CA, North Las Vegas, NV, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for operations directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for operations directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an operations director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for operations directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for operations directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an operations director. While the absolute best city for operations directors is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for operations directors in 2024.
If you're looking for an operations director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for operations directors in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Operations director jobs in OaklandTotal operations director jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $141,056 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $243,000 Location quotient: 1.85 2. North Las Vegas, NV
Operations director jobs in North Las VegasTotal operations director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $107,372 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 4.05 3. San Francisco, CA
Operations director jobs in San FranciscoTotal operations director jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $141,492 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $244,000 Location quotient: 1.63 4. Stockton, CA
Total operations director jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $138,713 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $240,000 Location quotient: 1.75 5. Anchorage, AK
Operations director jobs in AnchorageTotal operations director jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $123,603 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location quotient: 1.57 6. Las Vegas, NV
Operations director jobs in Las VegasTotal operations director jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $107,771 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location quotient: 1.69 7. Fresno, CA
Operations director jobs in FresnoTotal operations director jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $137,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $79,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $237,000 Location quotient: 1.58 8. Newark, NJ
Operations director jobs in NewarkTotal operations director jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $127,703 Lowest 10 percent warn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $209,000 Location quotient: 1.52 9. Henderson, NV
Operations director jobs in HendersonTotal operations director jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $107,350 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $188,000 Location quotient: 1.60 10. Long Beach, CA
Operations director jobs in Long BeachTotal operations director jobs: 15 Average annual salary: $127,385 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $219,000 Location quotient: 2.18
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Best cities for operations directors
- Oakland, CA
- North Las Vegas, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- Stockton, CA
- Anchorage, AK
- Las Vegas, NV
- Fresno, CA
- Newark, NJ
- Henderson, NV
- Long Beach, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for an operations director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $141,056 | $81,000 | 420,005 | 20 |
| 2 | North Las Vegas, NV | $107,372 | $61,000 | 238,702 | 5 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $141,492 | $81,000 | 870,887 | 184 |
| 4 | Stockton, CA | $138,713 | $79,000 | 307,072 | 7 |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $123,603 | $72,000 | 298,192 | 9 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,771 | $61,000 | 632,912 | 45 |
| 7 | Fresno, CA | $137,171 | $79,000 | 522,053 | 10 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $127,703 | $77,000 | 281,764 | 20 |
| 9 | Henderson, NV | $107,350 | $61,000 | 292,969 | 5 |
| 10 | Long Beach, CA | $127,385 | $73,000 | 470,130 | 15 |
| 11 | Detroit, MI | $103,448 | $61,000 | 672,795 | 33 |
| 12 | Riverside, CA | $126,382 | $73,000 | 324,722 | 25 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $110,464 | $61,000 | 693,060 | 203 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $104,543 | $58,000 | 1,492,510 | 46 |
| 15 | Los Angeles, CA | $128,565 | $74,000 | 3,976,322 | 148 |
| 16 | Raleigh, NC | $104,274 | $60,000 | 458,880 | 36 |
| 17 | Islip, NY | $113,293 | $69,000 | 335,543 | 4 |
| 18 | Sacramento, CA | $137,140 | $78,000 | 495,234 | 22 |
| 19 | Santa Ana, CA | $126,735 | $73,000 | 334,217 | 7 |
| 20 | Irvine, CA | $126,384 | $73,000 | 266,122 | 39 |
| 21 | El Paso, TX | $106,561 | $60,000 | 683,080 | 6 |
| 22 | Colorado Springs, CO | $111,381 | $61,000 | 465,101 | 30 |
| 23 | Seattle, WA | $122,074 | $70,000 | 704,352 | 81 |
| 24 | Madison, WI | $103,342 | $59,000 | 252,551 | 19 |
| 25 | Austin, TX | $103,521 | $57,000 | 947,890 | 79 |
| 26 | Reno, NV | $108,989 | $62,000 | 245,255 | 7 |
| 27 | Chesapeake, VA | $107,061 | $63,000 | 237,940 | 10 |
| 28 | New York, NY | $112,915 | $68,000 | 8,537,673 | 218 |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $94,637 | $52,000 | 280,364 | 22 |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $98,481 | $54,000 | 1,317,929 | 98 |
| 31 | Houston, TX | $102,780 | $57,000 | 2,303,482 | 129 |
| 32 | Aurora, CO | $110,442 | $61,000 | 361,710 | 17 |
| 33 | Mesa, AZ | $97,018 | $55,000 | 484,587 | 11 |
| 34 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $124,961 | $89,000 | 351,792 | 27 |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $104,303 | $60,000 | 595,047 | 15 |
| 36 | Jersey City, NJ | $127,764 | $78,000 | 264,152 | 21 |
| 37 | San Diego, CA | $123,651 | $71,000 | 1,406,630 | 67 |
| 38 | Fremont, CA | $140,898 | $81,000 | 233,136 | 11 |
| 39 | Scottsdale, AZ | $97,107 | $55,000 | 246,645 | 19 |
| 40 | San Jose, CA | $141,016 | $81,000 | 1,025,350 | 34 |
| 41 | Winston-Salem, NC | $102,702 | $58,000 | 242,203 | 4 |
| 42 | Washington, DC | $119,123 | $71,000 | 681,170 | 147 |
| 43 | Philadelphia, PA | $96,650 | $58,000 | 1,567,872 | 46 |
| 44 | Anaheim, CA | $127,067 | $73,000 | 351,043 | 4 |
| 45 | Omaha, NE | $95,036 | $52,000 | 446,970 | 26 |
| 46 | Minneapolis, MN | $102,390 | $59,000 | 413,651 | 38 |
| 47 | Saint Paul, MN | $102,444 | $59,000 | 302,398 | 19 |
| 48 | Atlanta, GA | $101,640 | $57,000 | 472,522 | 85 |
| 49 | Miami, FL | $79,627 | $45,000 | 453,579 | 150 |
| 50 | Durham, NC | $104,181 | $60,000 | 263,016 | 8 |
Highest paying cities for operations directors
| Rank | City | Avg. operations director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $141,492 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $127,764 |
| 3 | Stamford, CT | $124,629 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $122,074 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $119,123 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $112,915 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $110,464 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $107,945 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,771 |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | $104,543 |
| 11 | Raleigh, NC | $104,274 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $103,448 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $103,342 |
| 14 | Boston, MA | $102,923 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $102,390 |
| 16 | Columbus, GA | $101,767 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $99,428 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $98,610 |
| 19 | Baltimore, MD | $97,885 |
| 20 | Phoenix, AZ | $97,283 |
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Updated January 8, 2025