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As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aviation Operations Director in Illinois is $248,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $120.
However, an Aviation Operations Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
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Aviation Operations Director Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $257,600 | $21,467 | $4,954 | $124 |
| Average | $248,600 | $20,717 | $4,781 | $120 |
| 25th Percentile | $226,600 | $18,883 | $4,358 | $109 |
United Airlines - Chicago, IL
TriSearch - Springfield, IL
Quest Events LLC - Chicago, IL
Sunshine Gospel Ministries - Chicago, IL
An Aviation Operations Director's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of an Aviation Operations Director's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Flight Instruction Coordinator | 7-10 years | $162,813 |
| Aviation Operations Supervisor | 10+ years | $132,152 |
| Aviation Operations Manager | 10+ years | $168,376 |
| Aviation Operations Senior Manager | 10+ years | $200,508 |
| Aviation Operations Director | 10+ years | $248,599 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Aviation Operations Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
Aviation Operations Director salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $278,293. While startup companies pay approximate $235,430.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $235,430 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $248,995 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $268,742 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $278,293 |
For Aviation Operations Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Aviation Operations Director positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aviation Operations Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $273,460 | $131.0 | 10% |
| Biotechnology | $273,460 | $131.0 | 10% |
| Energy & Utilities | $273,460 | $131.0 | 10% |
| Financial Services | $273,460 | $131.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $273,460 | $131.0 | 10% |
Understanding how an Aviation Operations Director's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $257,600 | $21,467 | $4,954 | $124 |
| Average | $248,600 | $20,717 | $4,781 | $120 |
| 25th Percentile | $226,600 | $18,883 | $4,358 | $109 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Aviation Operations Director job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Claire Myers Consulting
Oak Brook, IL
Claire Myers Consulting | Oak Brook, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Base Salary. $125K–$145K + bonus + benefits. Target Total Compensation. $140K–$165K (including bonus). A growing and well... more
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Chicago, IL
KDM ENGINEERING LLC | Chicago, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Description. Director of Operations. Build the Future with KDM Engineering. At KDM Engineering, growth has always been dr... more
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Universal Corporation
Momence, IL
Universal Corporation | Momence, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Director of Operations. The Director of Operations is responsible to provide leadership to the. Receiving/Inventory. Prod... more
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Advatix, Inc.
Romeoville, IL
Advatix, Inc. | Romeoville, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Director of Operations. HRforGrowth® is engaged as the talent acquisition partner to conduct this search on behalf of a c... more
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MRINetwork Jobs
Libertyville, IL
MRINetwork Jobs | Libertyville, IL
Job Description. Job Description. Our Medtech partner is the diversified manufacturing company of choice that supports market-leading brands in designing, ... more
5 Days Ago
First Midwest Group
Rockford, IL
First Midwest Group | Rockford, IL
We are looking to add a Director of Operations to our Multi‑Business Portfolio (Hospitality, Storage, Multifamily, Senior Living, Leisure). This is an on-s... more
6 Days Ago
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