What are the main factors that influence a Chief Operating Officer's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

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.

How does experience change A Chief Operating Officer's salary?

A Chief Operating Officer's salary grows with experience: starting around $448,091 for beginners, reaching about $456,587 at mid-level, and approach $472,974 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Chief Operating Officer?

Chief Operating Officer salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Chief Operating Officer roles are District of Columbia $517,110, California $515,148, Massachusetts $508,283. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Chief Operating Officer roles make?

Salaries for Chief Operating Officer level roles vary by specialization: Chief Executive Officer: $816,066; hospital chief operating officer: $514,826; Deputy Chief Operating Officer: $456,084; Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer: $436,601; Chief Operating Officer - Physician Practice: $412,864.

Chief Operating Officer Salary in Delaware

How much does a Chief Operating Officer make in Delaware?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Operating Officer in Delaware is $472,974 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $227.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $590,980
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $432,310 to $534,743
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $395,288

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Chief Operating Officer Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$534,743	$44,562	$10,284	$257
Average	$472,974	$39,415	$9,096	$227
25th Percentile	$432,310	$36,026	$8,314	$208

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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, 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): $448,091
Early Career (1-2 years): $451,732
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $456,587
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $463,871
Expert (over 8 years): $472,974

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Chief Operating Officer	$448,091
Intermediate Level Chief Operating Officer	$451,732
Senior Level Chief Operating Officer	$456,587
Specialist Level Chief Operating Officer	$463,871
Expert Level Chief Operating Officer	$472,974

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Chief Operating Officer 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: $517,110.
California: $515,148.
Massachusetts: $508,283.

District of Columbia $517,110 California $515,148 Massachusetts $508,283 Washington $506,415 New Jersey $506,228 Alaska $505,574 Connecticut $499,129 New York $496,513

Hawaii $488,153 Rhode Island $484,230 Maryland $481,568 Minnesota $477,925 Colorado $476,524 Illinois $476,057 Oregon $474,282 Delaware $472,974

New Hampshire $472,152 Virginia $470,312 Pennsylvania $464,941 Nevada $462,232 North Dakota $461,345 Michigan $459,944 Wisconsin $459,430 Vermont $458,403

Texas $455,554 Maine $455,367 Arizona $455,087 Ohio $454,760 Georgia $450,463 Indiana $448,315 Wyoming $447,894 Utah $447,240

Iowa $446,960 Kansas $444,718 Louisiana $444,064 North Carolina $443,831 Missouri $443,738 Florida $441,916 Montana $440,935 Nebraska $440,001

Kentucky $439,487 South Carolina $437,619 Tennessee $436,452 Idaho $435,985 New Mexico $432,575 Oklahoma $431,828 Alabama $429,072 South Dakota $424,449

Arkansas $421,927 West Virginia $420,572 Mississippi $416,509

Top Paying Cities for Chief Operating Officers

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:

Lincoln: $470,845
Little Creek: $474,292
Magnolia: $473,610

Lincoln, DE $470,845 Little Creek, DE $474,292 Magnolia, DE $473,610 Milford, DE $472,040 Marydel, DE $472,816 Millsboro, DE $468,869 Millville, DE $469,593 Milton, DE $470,406

Nassau, DE $470,747 Ocean View, DE $469,514 Rehoboth Beach, DE $470,415 Seaford, DE $470,681 Selbyville, DE $468,734 Smyrna, DE $474,618 Viola, DE $472,433 Woodside, DE $473,703

Bear, DE $472,610 Newark, DE $472,433 Claymont, DE $473,399 Delaware City, DE $472,904 Hockessin, DE $472,391 Kirkwood, DE $472,816 Middletown, DE $472,998 Montchanin, DE $472,498

New Castle, DE $472,568 Odessa, DE $473,231 Port Penn, DE $473,549 Rockland, DE $472,545 Saint Georges, DE $472,848 Townsend, DE $473,577 Winterthur, DE $472,601 Lewes, DE $470,588

Wilmington, DE $472,414 Dover, DE $474,292 Dover Afb, DE $471,793 Bethany Beach, DE $469,019 Bethel, DE $469,504 Bridgeville, DE $470,611 Camden Wyoming, DE $472,956 Cheswold, DE $474,137

Clayton, DE $474,151 Dagsboro, DE $468,692 Delmar, DE $467,940 Ellendale, DE $469,360 Felton, DE $472,003 Fenwick Island, DE $468,794 Frankford, DE $467,977 Frederica, DE $472,470

Georgetown, DE $468,514 Greenwood, DE $470,686 Harbeson, DE $469,014 Harrington, DE $471,405 Hartly, DE $472,872 Houston, DE $470,733 Kenton, DE $474,175 Laurel, DE $468,234

Yorklyn, DE $472,531

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 $529,018. While startup companies pay approximate $447,391.

Chief Operating Officer Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$447,391
Growth Stage	51~500	$473,186
Established	501~5000	$510,868
Enterprise	5000+	$529,018

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	$804,057	$387.0	70%
Energy & Utilities	$756,759	$364.0	60%
Biotechnology	$709,462	$341.0	50%
Internet	$662,164	$318.0	40%
Aerospace & Defense	$614,867	$296.0	30%

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 July 01, 2026

$432,310

Average $472,974/year

$534,743

$36,026

Average $39,415/month

$44,562

$8,314

Average $9,096/week

$10,284

$208

Average $227/hour

$257

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$534,743	$44,562	$10,284	$257
Average	$472,974	$39,415	$9,096	$227
25th Percentile	$432,310	$36,026	$8,314	$208

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