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The average salary for a Director of Plant Operations is approximately $118,735 annually, translating to about $57 per hour. This salary can fluctuate based on several factors including experience, location, and the specific industry. For example, directors in manufacturing sectors often earn higher salaries compared to those in less technical fields.
As professionals gain more experience, their earning potential typically increases. Entry-level positions may start at around $80,000, while seasoned directors can earn well over $150,000. Moreover, additional certifications or advanced degrees can also contribute to higher compensation rates.
Geographical location significantly affects salaries. States like California and Texas often provide higher salaries due to the cost of living and industry concentration. Understanding regional salary trends can aid job seekers in negotiating better pay.
Many directors move into executive roles, further enhancing their earning potential. With experience and proven success, opportunities for advancement abound, making this career path both lucrative and fulfilling.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of plant operations | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Mid-level director of plant operations | $75,500 | $36.31 |
| Senior-level director of plant operations | $137,000 | $65.84 |
The highest-paying states for directors of plant operations are California, Maryland, and New Jersey. The lowest average director of plant operations salary states are Hawaii, Mississippi, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $134,125 | $64.48 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $125,702 | $60.43 |
| 3 | South Dakota | $111,658 | $53.68 |
| 4 | California | $148,884 | $71.58 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $115,266 | $55.42 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $145,858 | $70.12 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $135,084 | $64.94 |
| 8 | Alaska | $124,729 | $59.97 |
| 9 | Oregon | $113,190 | $54.42 |
| 10 | Delaware | $128,218 | $61.64 |
| 11 | Maryland | $137,779 | $66.24 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $131,939 | $63.43 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $111,631 | $53.67 |
| 14 | Virginia | $127,540 | $61.32 |
| 15 | Alabama | $100,820 | $48.47 |
| 16 | Maine | $112,277 | $53.98 |
| 17 | Nevada | $108,113 | $51.98 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $103,935 | $49.97 |
| 19 | New York | $118,729 | $57.08 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $124,100 | $59.66 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $116,923 | $56.21 |
| 22 | Georgia | $102,724 | $49.39 |
| 23 | Colorado | $116,560 | $56.04 |
| 24 | Arizona | $112,523 | $54.10 |
| 25 | Texas | $97,942 | $47.09 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $94,734 | $45.55 |
| 27 | Missouri | $100,661 | $48.39 |
| 28 | Michigan | $99,864 | $48.01 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $91,868 | $44.17 |
| 30 | Indiana | $94,347 | $45.36 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $98,155 | $47.19 |
| 32 | Iowa | $88,480 | $42.54 |
| 33 | Ohio | $91,939 | $44.20 |
| 34 | Illinois | $98,061 | $47.14 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $88,417 | $42.51 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $88,734 | $42.66 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $84,995 | $40.86 |
| 38 | Idaho | $89,482 | $43.02 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $80,795 | $38.84 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $81,107 | $38.99 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $89,512 | $43.03 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $87,525 | $42.08 |
| 43 | Kansas | $86,978 | $41.82 |
| 44 | Florida | $83,797 | $40.29 |
| 45 | Montana | $80,303 | $38.61 |
| 46 | Vermont | $92,873 | $44.65 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $78,762 | $37.87 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $85,536 | $41.12 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $68,444 | $32.91 |
| 50 | Utah | $86,716 | $41.69 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $83,567 | $40.18 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of plant operations are Fremont, CA, Washington, DC, and Kennewick, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $154,474 | $74.27 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $146,146 | $70.26 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $130,244 | $62.62 |
| 4 | Saint Paul, MN | $125,902 | $60.53 |
| 5 | Roanoke, VA | $123,590 | $59.42 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $118,780 | $57.11 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $117,263 | $56.38 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $112,997 | $54.33 |
| 9 | Milwaukee, WI | $111,939 | $53.82 |
| 10 | Garner, NC | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| 11 | Smyrna, GA | $103,125 | $49.58 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $100,107 | $48.13 |
| 13 | Cedar Park, TX | $99,590 | $47.88 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $98,803 | $47.50 |
| 15 | Manchester, NH | $98,245 | $47.23 |
| 16 | Greenwood, IN | $93,312 | $44.86 |
| 17 | Kingsport, TN | $92,642 | $44.54 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $91,382 | $43.93 |
| 19 | Fort Myers, FL | $84,294 | $40.53 |
| 20 | Billings, MT | $79,492 | $38.22 |
A director of plant operations's salary ranges from $85,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $165,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $165,000 | $13,750 | $79 |
| 75th Percentile | $141,000 | $11,750 | $68 |
| Average | $118,735 | $9,895 | $57 |
| 25th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 10th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
The highest paying types of directors of plant operations are senior director, operations, director, technical operations, and executive director of operations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Division Director | $120,757 | $10,063 | $58.06 | 63,545 |
| District Director | $100,695 | $8,391 | $48.41 | 57,276 |
| Business Director | $124,563 | $10,380 | $59.89 | 137,880 |
| Store Director | $56,596 | $4,716 | $27.21 | 225,468 |
| Area Director | $100,433 | $8,369 | $48.29 | 47,326 |
Top companies hiring directors of plant operations now:
Director of plant operations salaries at BridgePoint Healthcare and Desert Valley Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of plant operations salary at companies like Welch's and National Park Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BridgePoint Healthcare | $138,473 | $66.57 |
| 2 | Desert Valley Hospital | $136,987 | $65.86 |
| 3 | Welch's | $131,568 | $63.25 |
| 4 | National Park Medical Center | $129,988 | $62.49 |
| 5 | Kaiser Permanente | $129,946 | $62.47 |
| 6 | The Wonderful Company | $127,925 | $61.50 |
| 7 | Edwards Lifesciences | $127,370 | $61.24 |
| 8 | Vanguard Packaging | $126,789 | $60.96 |
| 9 | Pharmavite | $126,612 | $60.87 |
| 10 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $125,674 | $60.42 |
| 11 | Community Health Systems | $125,443 | $60.31 |
| 12 | Northpoint | $125,207 | $60.20 |
| 13 | The Coca-Cola Company | $124,816 | $60.01 |
| 14 | Hire Velocity | $124,164 | $59.69 |
| 15 | Tecomet | $124,021 | $59.63 |
| 16 | LCS Holdings, Inc. | $123,907 | $59.57 |
| 17 | Sika | $123,729 | $59.49 |
| 18 | Clinical Management Consultants | $123,166 | $59.21 |
| 19 | Russell Stover Chocolates | $119,956 | $57.67 |
| 20 | Trios Health | $119,867 | $57.63 |
The average director of plant operations salary has risen by $9,737 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of plant operations earned $108,998 annually, but today, they earn $118,735 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for directors of plant operations over the last decade.
Compare director of plant operations salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of plant operations salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $119,000 | $57.08 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $115,000 | $55.50 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | $116,000 | $55.59 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $115,000 | $55.30 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $114,000 | $54.69 | +1.6% |
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