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Best states for a retail operation manager
Quoted expert
Dr. Timothy Edwards
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It seems like retail operation managers are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for retail operation managers aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that Connecticut is the best state in the country for retail operation managers.
The median salary for retail operation managers in Connecticut is $121,585. Compare that to the median salary in Kentucky of $47,292, which ranked worst for retail operation managers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Connecticut is the best state, and New London is the city with the highest pay for retail operation managers.
10 best states for retail operation managers in 2025
1. Connecticut
Total retail operation manager jobs: 1,451 Average annual salary: $121,585 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. Colorado
Total retail operation manager jobs: 2,542 Average annual salary: $90,857 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
3. New Jersey
Total retail operation manager jobs: 2,838 Average annual salary: $114,422 Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $189,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
4. New York
Total retail operation manager jobs: 4,482 Average annual salary: $117,926 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
5. Wisconsin
Total retail operation manager jobs: 2,343 Average annual salary: $84,804 Lowest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
6. Pennsylvania
Total retail operation manager jobs: 4,194 Average annual salary: $89,238 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
7. California
Total retail operation manager jobs: 12,683 Average annual salary: $90,619 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
8. Illinois
Total retail operation manager jobs: 4,822 Average annual salary: $86,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Indiana
Total retail operation manager jobs: 2,977 Average annual salary: $77,504 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
10. Massachusetts
Total retail operation manager jobs: 3,071 Average annual salary: $101,441 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Retail operation manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a retail operation manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a retail operation manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $121,585 | $74,000 | 3,588,184 | 1,451 |
| 2 | Colorado | $90,857 | $54,000 | 5,607,154 | 2,542 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $114,422 | $69,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,838 |
| 4 | New York | $117,926 | $71,000 | 19,849,399 | 4,482 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $84,804 | $48,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,343 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $89,238 | $52,000 | 12,805,537 | 4,194 |
| 7 | California | $90,619 | $54,000 | 39,536,653 | 12,683 |
| 8 | Illinois | $86,597 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,822 |
| 9 | Indiana | $77,504 | $45,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,977 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $101,441 | $59,000 | 6,859,819 | 3,071 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $99,157 | $58,000 | 1,059,639 | 394 |
| 12 | Delaware | $82,412 | $48,000 | 961,939 | 516 |
| 13 | Texas | $78,847 | $44,000 | 28,304,596 | 8,539 |
| 14 | Arizona | $74,191 | $43,000 | 7,016,270 | 2,568 |
| 15 | Virginia | $78,258 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 3,641 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $96,315 | $57,000 | 693,972 | 487 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $75,380 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 3,642 |
| 18 | Michigan | $81,754 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 2,252 |
| 19 | Ohio | $72,089 | $41,000 | 11,658,609 | 4,161 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $69,593 | $40,000 | 6,715,984 | 2,561 |
| 21 | Maine | $81,541 | $46,000 | 1,335,907 | 419 |
| 22 | Alabama | $66,349 | $37,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,153 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $77,762 | $44,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,240 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $72,204 | $41,000 | 1,342,795 | 676 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $77,306 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 255 |
| 26 | Oregon | $76,363 | $44,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,409 |
| 27 | Washington | $73,513 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,780 |
| 28 | Georgia | $65,941 | $37,000 | 10,429,379 | 4,438 |
| 29 | Maryland | $72,468 | $42,000 | 6,052,177 | 2,374 |
| 30 | Missouri | $69,929 | $40,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,061 |
| 31 | Iowa | $63,686 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,353 |
| 32 | Nevada | $66,648 | $39,000 | 2,998,039 | 732 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $57,481 | $33,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,166 |
| 34 | Vermont | $67,095 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 272 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $65,016 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 293 |
| 36 | Kansas | $64,615 | $37,000 | 2,913,123 | 974 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $53,259 | $30,000 | 2,984,100 | 1,025 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $52,978 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 303 |
| 39 | Utah | $58,623 | $34,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,147 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $59,822 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 514 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $64,088 | $37,000 | 1,920,076 | 578 |
| 42 | Florida | $52,174 | $28,000 | 20,984,400 | 6,902 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $56,474 | $32,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,607 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $58,146 | $32,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,088 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $53,548 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 236 |
| 46 | Idaho | $59,815 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 486 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $52,833 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,104 |
| 48 | Alaska | $56,629 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 280 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $57,702 | $33,000 | 2,088,070 | 517 |
| 50 | Montana | $53,275 | $32,000 | 1,050,493 | 348 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $47,292 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,020 |
Highest paying states for retail operation managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Retail Operation Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $121,585 |
| 2 | Colorado | $90,857 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $114,422 |
| 4 | New York | $117,926 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $84,804 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $89,238 |
| 7 | California | $90,619 |
| 8 | Illinois | $86,597 |
| 9 | Indiana | $77,504 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $101,441 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $99,157 |
| 12 | Delaware | $82,412 |
| 13 | Texas | $78,847 |
| 14 | Arizona | $74,191 |
| 15 | Virginia | $78,258 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $96,315 |
| 17 | North Carolina | $75,380 |
| 18 | Michigan | $81,754 |
| 19 | Ohio | $72,089 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $69,593 |
| 21 | Maine | $81,541 |
| 22 | Alabama | $66,349 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $77,762 |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $72,204 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $77,306 |
| 26 | Oregon | $76,363 |
| 27 | Washington | $73,513 |
| 28 | Georgia | $65,941 |
| 29 | Maryland | $72,468 |
| 30 | Missouri | $69,929 |
| 31 | Iowa | $63,686 |
| 32 | Nevada | $66,648 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $57,481 |
| 34 | Vermont | $67,095 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $65,016 |
| 36 | Kansas | $64,615 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $53,259 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $52,978 |
| 39 | Utah | $58,623 |
| 40 | West Virginia | $59,822 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $64,088 |
| 42 | Florida | $52,174 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $56,474 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $58,146 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $53,548 |
| 46 | Idaho | $59,815 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $52,833 |
| 48 | Alaska | $56,629 |
| 49 | New Mexico | $57,702 |
| 50 | Montana | $53,275 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $47,292 |
Expert opinions on the best states for retail operation managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for retail operation managers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Timothy Edwards
Professor, Interim Director, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Like most jobs, opportunities exist in major media hubs like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta. But one can find digital media jobs in medium and small markets as well. Looking media and media-related jobs in non-traditional places such as hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, religious institutions could bear fruit for the enterprizing college graduate.
Retail operation manager best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025