Post job

What is a president & chief operating officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

Management teams are composed of different individuals who oversee the performance of the department they lead. One may oversee finance, while another may oversee marketing or human resources, or legal processes. One member may handle information technology, while another may be assigned to oversee the overall operations. Sometimes, one member of the team may have dual roles, such as being both the president and the chief operating officer.

Presidents and chief operating officers are high-ranking officials in a company, if not the highest-ranking. They run the whole company and are in charge of the execution of the company's strategic plans. They also make crucial company decisions and set directives. In addition, they manage the operations side of the business. They create plans to improve operations efficiency and ensure that these plans are implemented.

If you have high business acumen, a strategic mindset, and leadership capabilities, you might be born to lead companies. Just make sure you persevere and make connections with the right people.

ScorePresident & Chief Operating OfficerUS Average
Salary
10.0

Avg. Salary $211,982

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
1.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 7.73%

Black or African American 3.79%

Hispanic or Latino 7.87%

Unknown 3.90%

White 76.06%

Gender

female 13.92%

male 86.08%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.0

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

President & chief operating officer career paths

Key steps to become a president & chief operating officer

  1. Explore president & chief operating officer education requirements

    Most common president & chief operating officer degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.0 %

    Master's

    20.1 %

    Associate

    5.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific president & chief operating officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Financial Performance11.38%
    Revenue Growth7.29%
    Product Development7.12%
    R6.53%
    Strategic Partnerships4.63%
  3. Research president & chief operating officer duties and responsibilities

    • Establish, manage and coordinate activities of this start-up management company specializing in turning around trouble health insurance plans.
    • Institute financial and operational audits as part of normal ISO audit program to monitor branch operations.
    • Change this mid-size flexible packaging company from annual EBITDA losses of $-900K to a 3 year EBITDA avg.
    • Establish new partnerships in Asia for sourcing, manufacturing, leading engine technology, ISO certification for parent company.
  4. Get president & chief operating officer experience

    Generally, it takes more than 10 years to become a president & chief operating officer. The most common roles before becoming a president & chief operating officer include vice president, senior vice president team lead and president.
  5. Prepare your president & chief operating officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your president & chief operating officer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a president & chief operating officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable president & chief operating officer resume templates

    Build a professional president & chief operating officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your president & chief operating officer resume.
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
    President & Chief Operating Officer Resume
  6. Apply for president & chief operating officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a president & chief operating officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first president & chief operating officer job

Zippi

Are you a president & chief operating officer?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average president & chief operating officer salary

The average president & chief operating officer salary in the United States is $211,982 per year or $102 per hour. President & chief operating officer salaries range between $114,000 and $391,000 per year.

Average president & chief operating officer salary
$211,982 Yearly
$101.91 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do president & chief operating officers rate their job?

Working as a president & chief operating officer? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse executive management jobs