Aerospace Operations Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Aerospace Operations Director make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aerospace Operations Director in the United States is $103,673 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

However, an Aerospace Operations Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $122,953
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,333 to $113,765
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80,098
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View as table View as graph 25% $91,333 10% $80,098 90% $122,953 75% $113,765 $103,673 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Aerospace Operations Director Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $113,765 $9,480 $2,188 $55
Average $103,673 $8,639 $1,994 $50
25th Percentile $91,333 $7,611 $1,756 $44
Check out Aerospace Operations Director Job Openings in the United States
Director of Operations

LAZ Parking - Cleveland, OH

Director of Operations

FPC of Wake Forest - Dayton, OH

Director of Operations

Serve Freight - Cleveland, OH

Director of Fleet Operations

MH Equipment Company - Cincinnati, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Aerospace Operations Director Salaries

An Aerospace 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Aerospace Operations Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aerospace 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $93,005
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,258
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $95,930
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $98,437
  • Expert (over 8 years): $101,571
Levels Salary
Entry Level Aerospace Operations Director$93,005
Intermediate Level Aerospace Operations Director$94,258
Senior Level Aerospace Operations Director$95,930
Specialist Level Aerospace Operations Director$98,437
Expert Level Aerospace Operations Director$101,571
$93,005 0 yr
$94,258 < 2 yrs
$95,930 2-4 yrs
$98,437 5-8 yrs
$101,571 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Aerospace Operations Director 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 Aerospace Operations Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $114,787.
  • California: $114,351.
  • Massachusetts: $112,827.

Top Paying Cities for Aerospace Operations Directors

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: $130,763
  • San Francisco: $129,477
  • Oakland: $126,605

What Skills Can Increase an Aerospace Operations Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 9.73% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Data Capture (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Data capture is the process of extracting information from paper or electronic documents and converting it into data for key systems.
  • Stakeholder Management (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Stakeholder management is a critical component to the successful delivery of any project, programme or activity. A stakeholder is any individual, group or organization that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a programme. In a nutshell, the stakeholder management comprises four steps: Identify, recognize and acknowledge stakeholder; Determine their influence and interest; Establish communication management plan Influencing and engaging stakeholder
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 9.73%
Data Capture 1.62%
Stakeholder Management 1.62%
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 an Aerospace Operations Director's salary.
  • Operational Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 36%.
  • Medical Services: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Vendor Management: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Operational Planning
$140,995
36%
Medical Services
$130,628
26%
Vendor Management
$127,518
23%
Data Quality
$123,371
19%
Integrity
$121,297
17%
Quality Assurance
$116,114
12%
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How Education impacts an Aerospace Operations Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aerospace Operations Directors enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Aerospace Operations Director with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,508 and $113,973).

Aerospace Operations Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aerospace Operations Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 1.3%
Associates 57.3%
Bachelors 24.0%
Masters 57.3%
Doctorate 17.3%
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Aerospace Operations Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aerospace 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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Aerospace Operations Director

Salaries for an Aerospace Operations Director can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $81,696 in 2023 to around $79,604 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aerospace Operations Director salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Aerospace Operations Director Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$81,696
2024
$80,800
2025
$79,604
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $81,696
2024 $80,800
2025 $79,604
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Aerospace Operations Director

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Aerospace Operations Director

Here are companies hiring for Aerospace Operations Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.)

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