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The role of a Director of Retail Operations is pivotal in managing retail strategies and operations. As of October 2025, the average salary for this role is $108,032 per year, translating to about $52 per hour. Compensation can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific retail sector.
For instance, directors in high-demand states often see higher salaries. In addition to base pay, many organizations offer bonuses and benefits that can enhance total compensation. The experience level is crucial; those with several years in leadership positions typically earn more.
To maximize earning potential, consider roles in industries where demand for retail expertise is growing, such as e-commerce or specialty retail. By understanding these dynamics, prospective candidates can make informed decisions about their career paths in retail management.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level director of retail operations | $44,500 | $21.39 |
| Mid-level director of retail operations | $68,700 | $33.04 |
| Senior-level director of retail operations | $125,000 | $59.91 |
The average director of retail operations salary in New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average director of retail operations salary states are Kansas, Idaho, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $118,332 | $56.89 |
| 2 | Texas | $112,250 | $53.97 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $116,857 | $56.18 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $102,842 | $49.44 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $107,976 | $51.91 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $129,635 | $62.32 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $120,995 | $58.17 |
| 8 | Washington | $111,147 | $53.44 |
| 9 | California | $127,409 | $61.25 |
| 10 | Indiana | $105,659 | $50.80 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $121,537 | $58.43 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $137,422 | $66.07 |
| 13 | New York | $121,243 | $58.29 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| 15 | Virginia | $117,809 | $56.64 |
| 16 | Illinois | $102,845 | $49.44 |
| 17 | Ohio | $100,294 | $48.22 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $103,830 | $49.92 |
| 19 | Alabama | $96,217 | $46.26 |
| 20 | Delaware | $108,555 | $52.19 |
| 21 | Nevada | $102,845 | $49.44 |
| 22 | Colorado | $104,742 | $50.36 |
| 23 | Iowa | $97,537 | $46.89 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $100,970 | $48.54 |
| 25 | Georgia | $98,336 | $47.28 |
| 26 | Maryland | $110,328 | $53.04 |
| 27 | Maine | $95,813 | $46.06 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $90,711 | $43.61 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $89,437 | $43.00 |
| 30 | Minnesota | $98,589 | $47.40 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $99,831 | $48.00 |
| 32 | Arizona | $98,966 | $47.58 |
| 33 | Oregon | $92,518 | $44.48 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $90,618 | $43.57 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $82,582 | $39.70 |
| 36 | Florida | $90,946 | $43.72 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $86,643 | $41.66 |
| 38 | Vermont | $84,614 | $40.68 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $81,010 | $38.95 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $92,720 | $44.58 |
| 41 | Alaska | $88,523 | $42.56 |
| 42 | Michigan | $92,469 | $44.46 |
| 43 | Utah | $78,819 | $37.89 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $77,240 | $37.13 |
| 45 | Missouri | $84,964 | $40.85 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $71,598 | $34.42 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $72,506 | $34.86 |
| 48 | Idaho | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $84,300 | $40.53 |
| 50 | Kansas | $78,746 | $37.86 |
| 51 | Montana | $71,792 | $34.52 |
The highest-paying cities for directors of retail operations are San Francisco, CA, Valley Stream, NY, and Cambridge, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $134,025 | $64.44 |
| 2 | Valley Stream, NY | $121,708 | $58.51 |
| 3 | Cambridge, MA | $121,559 | $58.44 |
| 4 | Alexandria, VA | $118,248 | $56.85 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $115,273 | $55.42 |
| 6 | Temple, TX | $113,180 | $54.41 |
| 7 | Englewood, CO | $104,826 | $50.40 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $102,934 | $49.49 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $102,392 | $49.23 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $100,147 | $48.15 |
| 11 | Atlanta, GA | $98,286 | $47.25 |
| 12 | Beaverton, OR | $92,082 | $44.27 |
| 13 | Overland Park, KS | $79,154 | $38.05 |
| 14 | Little Rock, AR | $77,715 | $37.36 |
A director of retail operations's salary ranges from $72,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $161,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $161,000 | $13,417 | $77 |
| 75th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| Average | $108,032 | $9,003 | $52 |
| 25th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 10th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
The highest paying types of directors of retail operations are vice president of sales & operations, senior director, operations, and executive director of operations.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Director | $78,190 | $6,516 | $37.59 | 73,300 |
| Division Director | $120,757 | $10,063 | $58.06 | 63,545 |
| District Director | $100,695 | $8,391 | $48.41 | 57,276 |
| Managing Director | $129,690 | $10,808 | $62.35 | 81,022 |
| Operations Manager, District | $81,574 | $6,798 | $39.22 | 372,271 |
| Store Director | $56,596 | $4,716 | $27.21 | 225,468 |
Top companies hiring directors of retail operations now:
Director of retail operations salaries at DoorDash and VF are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average director of retail operations salary at companies like Christian Dior and BGC Partners are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DoorDash | $159,164 | $76.52 |
| 2 | VF | $151,914 | $73.04 |
| 3 | Christian Dior | $138,350 | $66.51 |
| 4 | BGC Partners | $138,022 | $66.36 |
| 5 | CHANEL | $135,846 | $65.31 |
| 6 | Neiman Marcus Group | $133,204 | $64.04 |
| 7 | BRP US Inc | $120,139 | $57.76 |
| 8 | USAA | $118,771 | $57.10 |
| 9 | First United Bank | $116,888 | $56.20 |
| 10 | Alliance Data | $112,067 | $53.88 |
| 11 | Altice USA | $105,522 | $50.73 |
| 12 | Goodwin Recruiting | $104,456 | $50.22 |
| 13 | Merkle | $104,233 | $50.11 |
| 14 | Aramark | $102,897 | $49.47 |
| 15 | Fossil | $101,479 | $48.79 |
| 16 | Intertape polymer group | $100,788 | $48.46 |
| 17 | Comerica | $98,420 | $47.32 |
| 18 | Recruit | $96,782 | $46.53 |
| 19 | Kering Americas Inc | $94,996 | $45.67 |
| 20 | Dandelion Chocolate | $94,328 | $45.35 |
The average director of retail operations salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $120,869 | $58.11 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $101,808 | $48.95 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $98,268 | $47.24 |
| 4 | Retail | $92,667 | $44.55 |
| 5 | Media | $69,450 | $33.39 |
The average director of retail operations salary has risen by $8,859 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average director of retail operations earned $99,173 annually, but today, they earn $108,032 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for directors of retail operations over the last decade.
Compare director of retail operations salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare director of retail operations salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $108,000 | $51.94 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $105,000 | $50.50 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | $105,000 | $50.58 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $105,000 | $50.31 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $104,000 | $49.76 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aritzia | Director, Retail Operations | San Francisco, CA | 06/30/2025 | $125,000 |
| Philz Coffee | Director, Retail Operations (Northern California) | Ione, CA | 06/28/2025 | $130,000 |
| Chip City | Director of Retail Operations | New York, NY | 06/26/2025 | $120,000 |
| Compass Group USA Inc. | Director Operations-Retail, Concessions, Athletics-Higher ED | Pittsburgh, PA | 06/25/2025 | $100,000 |
| Capital One | Director, Retail Bank-Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Advisory | Plano, TX | 06/24/2025 | $200,100 |
| Dick's Sporting Goods | Retail Operations | Canton, CT | 06/13/2025 | $33,392 |
| Diamond Foundry | Director of Retail Operations-NY, Miami or Boston | Boston, MA | 06/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| Diamond Foundry | Director of Retail Operations-NY, Miami or Boston | Miami, FL | 06/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| Diamond Foundry | Director of Retail Operations-NY, Miami or Boston | New York, NY | 06/13/2025 | $130,000 |
| Get It-Executive | Director of Retail Operations | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $114,000 |
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