Surveillance Operations Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Surveillance Operations Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surveillance Operations Manager in the United States is $77,200 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, a Surveillance Operations Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $90,609
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,884 to $84,219
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $59,402

Key Factors That Influence Surveillance Operations Manager Salaries

A Surveillance Operations Manager'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 Surveillance Operations Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Surveillance Operations Manager'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): $73,724
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,141
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $75,531
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,200
  • Expert (over 8 years): $78,981
Levels Salary
Entry Level Surveillance Operations Manager$73,724
Intermediate Level Surveillance Operations Manager$74,141
Senior Level Surveillance Operations Manager$75,531
Specialist Level Surveillance Operations Manager$77,200
Expert Level Surveillance Operations Manager$78,981

Top Paying Cities for Surveillance Operations Manager

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: $97,372
  • San Francisco: $96,306
  • Oakland: $94,277

What Skills Can Increase a Surveillance Operations Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Integrity (Mentioned in 6.17% Job Postings): Is about having strong principles and values, which you demonstrate through your conduct in the work environment. A common integrity definition states that people with integrity do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.2% 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.
  • Customer Service Standards (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Customer service standards are a company's rules or guidelines that inform and shape the customer's relationship with the business at every step throughout the customer experience
Skills Demand Percentage
Integrity 6.17%
Microsoft Office 2.2%
Customer Service Standards 1.32%

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 Surveillance Operations Manager's salary.

  • Inventory Control: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Inventory Control $97,272
26%
Risk Management $88,780
15%
Regulatory Compliance $85,692
11%

Surveillance Operations Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Surveillance Operations Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $81,946. While startup companies pay approximate $69,566.

Surveillance Operations Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $69,566
Growth Stage 51~500 $73,516
Established 501~5000 $79,208
Enterprise 5000+ $81,946

Surveillance Operations Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surveillance Operations Manager roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Surveillance Operations Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Surveillance Operations Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Surveillance Operations Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$92,640$45.020%

How Education impacts an Surveillance Operations Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surveillance Operations Manager 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 Surveillance Operations Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $73,518 and $78,791.

Surveillance Operations Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surveillance Operations Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 44.8%
High School 44.8%
Associates 17.2%
Bachelors 34.5%
Masters 3.4%
Doctorate 0.0%

Surveillance Operations Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surveillance Operations Manager'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
$67,884
Average $77,200/year
$84,219
$5,657
Average $6,433/month
$7,018
$1,305
Average $1,485/week
$1,620
$33
Average $37/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $84,219 $7,018 $1,620 $40
Average $77,200 $6,433 $1,485 $37
25th Percentile $67,884 $5,657 $1,305 $33

Surveillance Operations Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Surveillance Operations Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Provider Billing Investigation Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $165,153 - a projected growth of 114% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Surveillance Operations Manager

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

Common company salaries for Surveillance Operations Manager

Here are companies hiring for Surveillance Operations Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Surveillance Operations Manager

1. Where can a Surveillance Operations Manager earn the most?

A Surveillance Operations Manager'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 Surveillance Operations Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Surveillance Operations Manager is $97,372.

2. What is the highest pay for Surveillance Operations Manager?

The highest pay for Surveillance Operations Manager is $90,609.

3. What is the lowest pay for Surveillance Operations Manager?

The lowest pay for Surveillance Operations Manager is $59,402.

4. What are the responsibilities of Surveillance Operations Manager?

Manages and directs the surveillance department. Organizes routine random surveillances and audits surveillance as required. Ensures compliance with gaming requirements set by state gaming authority and local law enforcement. Works with security team to resolve problems and disturbances. May require an associate degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a director. Supervises a group of primarily para-professional level staffs. May also be a level above a supervisor within high volume administrative/production environments. Makes day-to-day decisions within or for a group/small department. Has some authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 3-5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Surveillance Operations Manager?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Surveillance Operations Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.

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