Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aviation Operations Director in Kentucky is $229,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $110.
However, an Aviation Operations Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered Talent
Aviation Operations Director Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $237,900 | $19,825 | $4,575 | $114 |
| Average | $229,600 | $19,133 | $4,415 | $110 |
| 25th Percentile | $209,200 | $17,433 | $4,023 | $101 |
The Scott Radcliff Real Estate Team - REMAX Premier Properties - Louisville, KY
Ensign-Bickford Industries - Graham, KY
The Sports Facilities Companies - Elizabethtown, KY
Workiva Inc. - Northern, KY
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 | $150,306 |
| Aviation Operations Supervisor | 10+ years | $122,001 |
| Aviation Operations Manager | 10+ years | $155,442 |
| Aviation Operations Senior Manager | 10+ years | $185,105 |
| Aviation Operations Director | 10+ years | $229,502 |
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 $257,024. While startup companies pay approximate $217,436.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $217,436 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $229,965 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $248,202 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $257,024 |
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 | $252,560 | $121.0 | 10% |
| Biotechnology | $252,560 | $121.0 | 10% |
| Energy & Utilities | $252,560 | $121.0 | 10% |
| Financial Services | $252,560 | $121.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $252,560 | $121.0 | 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 | $237,900 | $19,825 | $4,575 | $114 |
| Average | $229,600 | $19,133 | $4,415 | $110 |
| 25th Percentile | $209,200 | $17,433 | $4,023 | $101 |
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.
Roland & Associates LLC
Mayfield, KY
Roland & Associates LLC | Mayfield, KY
Company DescriptionWe are seeking an experienced Director of Plant Operations to lead and oversee the daily operations of a healthcare facility's infrastru... more
9 Days Ago
Alliance Counseling Associates
Glasgow, KY
Alliance Counseling Associates | Glasgow, KY
This leadership support role within Alliance Counseling Associates is focused on assisting in the delivery of high-quality clinical operations, supporting ... more
9 Days Ago
Breckinridge Health
Hardinsburg, KY
Breckinridge Health | Hardinsburg, KY
POSITION SUMMARY:The Director of Plant Operations is responsible for the management and oversight of the hospital's physical environment, plant operations,... more
9 Days Ago
InstantServe LLC
Mayfield, KY
InstantServe LLC | Mayfield, KY
My name is Anuj Kumar and I am with InstantServe LLC. We're currently recruiting for a role that we think would be a great fit for someone with your skills... more
9 Days Ago
Village Caregiving - Lexington, KY
Lexington, KY
Village Caregiving - Lexington, KY | Lexington, KY
Job Description. Job Description. We are hiring a. Registered Nurse/Director of Operations. to join our team in. Lexington, KY. . This role will assist wit... more
9 Days Ago
Macpower Digital Assets Edge
Mayfield, KY
Macpower Digital Assets Edge | Mayfield, KY
Job Summary:We seek a Director of Plant Operations with an Associate's degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, or Healthcare Administration. The cand... more
9 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
