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Best states for a senior program operations manager
Quoted expert
Karen Kus
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for senior program operations managers? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for senior program operations manager jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.In fact, our research shows that District of Columbia is the best state for senior program operations managers in America. The best city in America for senior program operations managers with the highest pay is Washington, DC.
The median salary for senior program operations managers in District of Columbia is $178,265. Compare that to the median salary in Oklahoma of $84,618, which ranked worst for senior program operations managers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.District of Columbia is the best state, and Longview is the city with the highest pay for senior program operations managers.
10 best states for senior program operations managers in 2026
1. District of Columbia
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 625 Average annual salary: $178,265 Lowest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location Quotient: 1.48
2. Washington
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 2,501 Average annual salary: $141,099 Lowest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
3. Rhode Island
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $131,504 Lowest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
4. New Jersey
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 2,446 Average annual salary: $137,277 Lowest 10 percent earn: $98,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
5. Nevada
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 526 Average annual salary: $129,938 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1
6. Connecticut
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 897 Average annual salary: $132,968 Lowest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $183,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
7. North Carolina
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 2,454 Average annual salary: $122,081 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $171,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
8. Massachusetts
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 1,913 Average annual salary: $140,212 Lowest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
9. Wisconsin
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 1,384 Average annual salary: $120,311 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1
10. Nebraska
Total senior program operations manager jobs: 550 Average annual salary: $121,284 Lowest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $170,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
Senior program operations manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior program operations manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior program operations manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $178,265 | $131,000 | 693,972 | 625 |
| 2 | Washington | $141,099 | $104,000 | 7,405,743 | 2,501 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $131,504 | $95,000 | 1,059,639 | 405 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $137,277 | $98,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,446 |
| 5 | Nevada | $129,938 | $91,000 | 2,998,039 | 526 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $132,968 | $96,000 | 3,588,184 | 897 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $122,081 | $86,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,454 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $140,212 | $101,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,913 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $120,311 | $86,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,384 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $121,284 | $86,000 | 1,920,076 | 550 |
| 11 | California | $139,305 | $98,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,759 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $120,245 | $88,000 | 869,666 | 260 |
| 13 | Indiana | $116,505 | $82,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,671 |
| 14 | New York | $127,197 | $91,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,287 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $117,598 | $86,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,813 |
| 16 | Maine | $113,783 | $82,000 | 1,335,907 | 368 |
| 17 | Virginia | $129,737 | $93,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,721 |
| 18 | Delaware | $117,792 | $84,000 | 961,939 | 336 |
| 19 | Colorado | $124,557 | $88,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,338 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $113,614 | $81,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,936 |
| 21 | Michigan | $112,911 | $81,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,832 |
| 22 | Texas | $109,582 | $72,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,802 |
| 23 | Alaska | $126,929 | $106,000 | 739,795 | 154 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $115,328 | $79,000 | 2,088,070 | 449 |
| 25 | Georgia | $110,333 | $75,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,963 |
| 26 | Arizona | $114,325 | $78,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,349 |
| 27 | Iowa | $111,407 | $79,000 | 3,145,711 | 816 |
| 28 | Oregon | $104,158 | $76,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,440 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $113,403 | $82,000 | 1,342,795 | 370 |
| 30 | Idaho | $101,112 | $73,000 | 1,716,943 | 490 |
| 31 | Alabama | $105,617 | $71,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,076 |
| 32 | Ohio | $107,137 | $76,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,355 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $111,719 | $84,000 | 755,393 | 127 |
| 34 | Utah | $98,425 | $70,000 | 3,101,833 | 1,053 |
| 35 | Illinois | $108,091 | $76,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,797 |
| 36 | Maryland | $115,413 | $82,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,112 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $106,664 | $74,000 | 5,024,369 | 961 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $84,252 | $67,000 | 1,427,538 | 323 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $97,120 | $67,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,366 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $93,277 | $65,000 | 4,454,189 | 939 |
| 41 | Montana | $90,948 | $68,000 | 1,050,493 | 341 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $87,667 | $63,000 | 579,315 | 207 |
| 43 | Kansas | $95,142 | $66,000 | 2,913,123 | 725 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $86,830 | $59,000 | 3,004,279 | 749 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $96,508 | $63,000 | 4,684,333 | 738 |
| 46 | Florida | $79,366 | $50,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,523 |
| 47 | Missouri | $98,074 | $68,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,190 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $90,224 | $64,000 | 1,815,857 | 333 |
| 49 | Vermont | $98,527 | $71,000 | 623,657 | 94 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $89,351 | $60,000 | 2,984,100 | 346 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $84,618 | $58,000 | 3,930,864 | 607 |
Highest paying states for senior program operations managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Program Operations Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $178,265 |
| 2 | Washington | $141,099 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $131,504 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $137,277 |
| 5 | Nevada | $129,938 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $132,968 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $122,081 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $140,212 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $120,311 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $121,284 |
| 11 | California | $139,305 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $120,245 |
| 13 | Indiana | $116,505 |
| 14 | New York | $127,197 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $117,598 |
| 16 | Maine | $113,783 |
| 17 | Virginia | $129,737 |
| 18 | Delaware | $117,792 |
| 19 | Colorado | $124,557 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $113,614 |
| 21 | Michigan | $112,911 |
| 22 | Texas | $109,582 |
| 23 | Alaska | $126,929 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $115,328 |
| 25 | Georgia | $110,333 |
| 26 | Arizona | $114,325 |
| 27 | Iowa | $111,407 |
| 28 | Oregon | $104,158 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $113,403 |
| 30 | Idaho | $101,112 |
| 31 | Alabama | $105,617 |
| 32 | Ohio | $107,137 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $111,719 |
| 34 | Utah | $98,425 |
| 35 | Illinois | $108,091 |
| 36 | Maryland | $115,413 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $106,664 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $84,252 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $97,120 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $93,277 |
| 41 | Montana | $90,948 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $87,667 |
| 43 | Kansas | $95,142 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $86,830 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $96,508 |
| 46 | Florida | $79,366 |
| 47 | Missouri | $98,074 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $90,224 |
| 49 | Vermont | $98,527 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $89,351 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $84,618 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior program operations managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior program operations managers to find work opportunities?
Karen Kus
Assistant Director of Career Services, SUNY Potsdam
Our graduates mostly stay within New York state, so it is a bit challenging for me to identify specific geographic areas that hire graduates with a degree in history. Larger metropolitan cities usually have more opportunities available, but candidate competition is likely higher. Since one can do so much with a degree in history, like work as a teacher, curator, researcher, etc., it's challenging to pinpoint a geographic area since the field of history can be open-ended. For instance, one might have luck landing a teaching position in New York or work as a researcher in Boston. I find if one is looking to find work that directly engages with history, it may be a good idea to explore opportunities in geographic areas that are known for or frequently celebrate history, like Washington, D.C. for instance.
Senior program operations manager best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025