Business25% remote-eligible+3% YoY growth

Chief Operating Officer Salary
by City (2026)

Oversee daily business operations and drive operational efficiency across the organization. National median: $210K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$210K

Top 10% earn

$480K

Entry level

$145K

Salary growth

+3%/yr

Chief Operating Officer salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$218K	$315K	$480K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$210K	$305K	$464K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$203K	$295K	$449K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$202K	$293K	$446K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$202K	$293K	$446K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$200K	$290K	$442K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$200K	$290K	$442K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$196K	$284K	$432K	162	10.75%
Bellevue, WA	$195K	$283K	$431K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$194K	$280K	$427K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$189K	$274K	$417K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$189K	$274K	$417K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$189K	$273K	$416K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$189K	$273K	$416K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$189K	$273K	$416K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$189K	$273K	$416K	148	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$187K	$271K	$412K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$186K	$269K	$410K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$184K	$267K	$407K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$182K	$264K	$402K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$181K	$263K	$400K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$179K	$259K	$395K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$178K	$257K	$392K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$178K	$257K	$392K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$177K	$256K	$390K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$176K	$254K	$388K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$176K	$254K	$388K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$172K	$250K	$380K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$171K	$248K	$378K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$171K	$248K	$377K	138	9.3%
Portland, OR	$171K	$248K	$378K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$171K	$248K	$377K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$171K	$248K	$377K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$167K	$241K	$368K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$167K	$241K	$368K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$167K	$241K	$368K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$167K	$241K	$368K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$162K	$235K	$358K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$162K	$235K	$358K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$162K	$235K	$358K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$162K	$235K	$358K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$162K	$235K	$358K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$162K	$235K	$358K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$160K	$232K	$354K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$160K	$231K	$352K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$160K	$231K	$352K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$160K	$231K	$352K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$160K	$231K	$352K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$160K	$231K	$352K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$160K	$231K	$352K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$159K	$230K	$351K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$158K	$228K	$348K	118	5.99%
McKinney, TX	$157K	$227K	$346K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$157K	$227K	$346K	118	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$157K	$227K	$346K	112	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$157K	$227K	$346K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$157K	$227K	$346K	100	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$157K	$227K	$346K	104	6.8%
Anchorage, AK	$157K	$227K	$346K	128	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$156K	$226K	$344K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$154K	$223K	$340K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$154K	$223K	$340K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$154K	$223K	$340K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$152K	$221K	$336K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$152K	$221K	$336K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$152K	$221K	$336K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$152K	$221K	$336K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$152K	$221K	$336K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$152K	$221K	$336K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$152K	$221K	$336K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$152K	$221K	$336K	100	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$151K	$219K	$333K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$151K	$219K	$333K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$151K	$219K	$333K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$151K	$219K	$333K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$151K	$219K	$333K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$151K	$219K	$333K	108	6.6%
Houston, TX	$151K	$218K	$333K	91	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$149K	$216K	$329K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$149K	$216K	$329K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$149K	$216K	$329K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$149K	$216K	$329K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$149K	$216K	$329K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$148K	$214K	$326K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$148K	$214K	$326K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$148K	$214K	$326K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$147K	$213K	$325K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$147K	$213K	$325K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$146K	$211K	$322K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$145K	$210K	$320K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$145K	$210K	$320K	91	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$145K	$210K	$320K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$145K	$210K	$320K	98	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$145K	$210K	$320K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$145K	$210K	$320K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$145K	$210K	$320K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$145K	$210K	$320K	102	None ✓
Charleston, SC	$145K	$210K	$320K	105	6.5%
Albany, NY	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$145K	$209K	$319K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$142K	$206K	$314K	98	5.75%
Norfolk, VA	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$142K	$206K	$314K	88	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$142K	$206K	$314K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$142K	$206K	$314K	102	5.3%
North Charleston, SC	$143K	$206K	$315K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$141K	$203K	$310K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$141K	$203K	$310K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$141K	$203K	$310K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$141K	$203K	$310K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$141K	$203K	$310K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$139K	$202K	$307K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$139K	$202K	$307K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$139K	$202K	$307K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$139K	$202K	$307K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$139K	$202K	$307K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$138K	$200K	$304K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$138K	$200K	$304K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$138K	$200K	$304K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$138K	$200K	$304K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$138K	$200K	$304K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$136K	$197K	$300K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$135K	$195K	$298K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$134K	$194K	$296K	82	4.82%
Buffalo, NY	$133K	$193K	$294K	88	6.85%
Louisville, KY	$133K	$193K	$294K	85	5%
Omaha, NE	$133K	$193K	$294K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$133K	$192K	$292K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$131K	$190K	$290K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$131K	$190K	$290K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$131K	$190K	$290K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$131K	$190K	$290K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$131K	$190K	$290K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$131K	$190K	$290K	78	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$131K	$189K	$288K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$131K	$189K	$288K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$131K	$189K	$288K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$131K	$189K	$288K	92	6%
Brownsville, TX	$129K	$187K	$285K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$129K	$187K	$285K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$129K	$187K	$285K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$128K	$185K	$282K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$128K	$185K	$282K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$128K	$185K	$282K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$128K	$185K	$282K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$128K	$185K	$282K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$128K	$185K	$282K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$128K	$185K	$282K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$128K	$185K	$282K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$128K	$185K	$282K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$128K	$185K	$282K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$125K	$181K	$275K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$123K	$179K	$272K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$123K	$179K	$272K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$119K	$172K	$262K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$119K	$172K	$262K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$113K	$164K	$250K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $210K Chief Operating Officer salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Chief Operating Officer Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Chief Operating Officer is $210,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $145,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $320,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Chief Operating Officers nationally earn $480,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's; MBA; 15+ years operations experience. This role is 25% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Chief Operating Officer compensation is growing at 3% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Chief Operating Officer salary FAQ

How much does a Chief Operating Officer make?

The median Chief Operating Officer salary in the US is $210,000 per year — about $101/hour. Most earn between $145,000 (25th percentile) and $320,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Chief Operating Officer?

Entry-level Chief Operating Officer positions typically start around $145,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Chief Operating Officers earn?

The top 10% of Chief Operating Officers earn $480,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Chief Operating Officers the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Chief Operating Officer salary at $315K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Chief Operating Officer salaries going up?

Yes — Chief Operating Officer pay is growing about 3% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Chief Operating Officer Salaryby City (2026)