Salary AI Book a Demo

Chief Operating Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief Operating Officer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Operating Officer in the United States is $467,236 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $225.

However, a Chief Operating Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $584,159
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $427,086 to $528,438
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $390,532
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Operating Officer Salaries

A Chief Operating Officer'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Chief Operating Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Operating Officer'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $442,667
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $446,262
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $451,056
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $458,247
  • Expert (over 8 years): $467,236
Levels Salary
Entry Level Chief Operating Officer$442,667
Intermediate Level Chief Operating Officer$446,262
Senior Level Chief Operating Officer$451,056
Specialist Level Chief Operating Officer$458,247
Expert Level Chief Operating Officer$467,236
View as Graph

How Do Chief Operating Officers Salaries Vary from State to State?

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 Chief Operating Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $517,324.
  • California: $515,361.
  • Massachusetts: $508,493.

Top Paying Cities for Chief Operating Officer

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:

  • San Jose: $589,325
  • San Francisco: $582,872
  • Oakland: $570,589

What Skills Can Increase a Chief Operating Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 17.81% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.68% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 17.81%
Microsoft Office 1.68%
Business Administration 1.24%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Chief Operating Officer's salary.

  • Long Term Care: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Long Term Care $513,960
10%
Commitment $509,287
9%
Communication Skills $504,615
8%
Get Latest Data

Chief Operating Officer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief Operating Officer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $523,044. While startup companies pay approximate $442,483.

Chief Operating Officer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $442,483
Growth Stage 51~500 $467,978
Established 501~5000 $505,092
Enterprise 5000+ $523,044

Chief Operating Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Operating Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 130% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 70% above the average. In contrast, Chief Operating Officer positions in Construction or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Operating Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Operating Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$794,301$382.070%
Energy & Utilities$747,578$359.060%
Biotechnology$700,854$337.050%
Internet$654,130$314.040%
Aerospace & Defense$607,407$292.030%

How Education impacts an Chief Operating Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chief Operating Officer enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Chief Operating Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $455,838 and $523,206.

Chief Operating Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chief Operating Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 5.8%
Associates 4.1%
Bachelors 39.2%
Masters 44.1%
Doctorate 5.7%
View as Graph

Chief Operating Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Operating Officer'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$427,086
Average $467,236/year
$528,438
$35,591
Average $38,936/month
$44,037
$8,213
Average $8,985/week
$10,162
$205
Average $225/hour
$254
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $528,438 $44,037 $10,162 $254
Average $467,236 $38,936 $8,985 $225
25th Percentile $427,086 $35,591 $8,213 $205

Most common benefits for Chief Operating Officer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chief Operating Officer

Here are companies hiring for Chief Operating Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Chief Operating Officer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Chief Operating Officer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Chief Operating Officer

1. Where can a Chief Operating Officer earn the most?

A Chief Operating Officer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chief Operating Officer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chief Operating Officer is $589,325.

2. What is the highest pay for Chief Operating Officer?

The highest pay for Chief Operating Officer is $584,159.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chief Operating Officer?

The lowest pay for Chief Operating Officer is $390,532.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chief Operating Officer?

Leads the planning and development of an organization's operational policies, objectives, and initiatives. Develops strategies and oversees the execution of plans to attain short- and long-term financial and mission-critical operational goals. Directs the development of the organization's functional capacity that will produce sustainable growth and minimize risk. Defines operating goals and develops budgets to support business objectives. Establishes effective operational policies and procedures. Researches technology changes to lead expansion efforts, drive scalability, and implement technology-driven solutions. Typically requires a master's degree. Typically reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). C-suite level management. Develops functional or business unit strategy for an organization. Executes multiple high impact initiatives to achieve organizational goals. Defines vision, strategy, and focus for a major functional or business unit. Substantial experience with setting key metrics like KPIs or OKRs and shaping plans to meet objectives. Typically requires progressive leadership experience in senior management roles. Has expert level knowledge of the overall departmental function. Demonstrated experience in developing and executing long term business strategies.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Operating Officer?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Operating Officer roles, with salaries approximately 70% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst