Business40% remote-eligible+3.8% YoY growth

Director of Operations Salary
by City (2026)

Lead operational strategy, process improvement, and cross-functional execution. National median: $142K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$142K

Top 10% earn

$238K

Entry level

$108K

Salary growth

+3.8%/yr

Director of Operations salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$162K	$213K	$278K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$157K	$206K	$268K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$152K	$199K	$260K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$151K	$198K	$258K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$151K	$198K	$258K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$149K	$196K	$255K	185	9.3%
Washington, DC	$149K	$196K	$255K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$146K	$192K	$250K	162	10.75%
Bellevue, WA	$146K	$191K	$249K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$144K	$190K	$247K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$140K	$185K	$241K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$141K	$185K	$241K	165	6.85%
Seattle, WA	$140K	$185K	$241K	150	None ✓
Boston, MA	$140K	$185K	$241K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$140K	$185K	$241K	148	5.75%
Bethesda, MD	$141K	$185K	$241K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$139K	$183K	$238K	162	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$138K	$182K	$237K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$137K	$180K	$235K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$135K	$178K	$231K	148	9.3%
Hilo, HI	$136K	$178K	$233K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$133K	$175K	$228K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$132K	$174K	$227K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$132K	$174K	$227K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$132K	$173K	$226K	155	9.3%
Alexandria, VA	$131K	$172K	$224K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$131K	$172K	$224K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$128K	$169K	$220K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$127K	$168K	$218K	128	9.3%
Portland, OR	$127K	$168K	$218K	130	9.9%
Chula Vista, CA	$127K	$167K	$218K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$127K	$167K	$218K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$127K	$167K	$218K	138	None ✓
Austin, TX	$124K	$163K	$213K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$124K	$163K	$213K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$124K	$163K	$213K	118	2.5%
Denver, CO	$124K	$163K	$213K	118	4.55%
Miami, FL	$121K	$159K	$207K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$121K	$159K	$207K	128	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$121K	$159K	$207K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$121K	$159K	$207K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$121K	$159K	$207K	115	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$121K	$159K	$207K	192	11%
New Haven, CT	$119K	$157K	$205K	122	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$119K	$156K	$204K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$119K	$156K	$204K	105	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$119K	$156K	$204K	99	5.75%
Minneapolis, MN	$119K	$156K	$204K	106	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$119K	$156K	$204K	105	4.85%
Hartford, CT	$119K	$156K	$204K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$118K	$156K	$203K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$118K	$154K	$201K	118	5.99%
McKinney, TX	$117K	$153K	$200K	108	None ✓
Hialeah, FL	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$117K	$153K	$200K	118	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$117K	$153K	$200K	112	4.55%
Lakewood, CO	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	4.55%
Raleigh, NC	$117K	$153K	$200K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$117K	$153K	$200K	100	4.75%
Ann Arbor, MI	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	4.25%
St. Paul, MN	$117K	$153K	$200K	104	6.8%
Frederick, MD	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$116K	$153K	$199K	115	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$117K	$153K	$200K	128	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$115K	$151K	$196K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$115K	$151K	$196K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$115K	$151K	$196K	112	4.75%
Irving, TX	$113K	$149K	$194K	97	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$113K	$149K	$194K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$113K	$149K	$194K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$113K	$149K	$194K	105	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$113K	$149K	$194K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$113K	$149K	$194K	102	None ✓
Eugene, OR	$114K	$149K	$194K	110	9.9%
Provo, UT	$113K	$149K	$194K	100	4.85%
Houston, TX	$112K	$148K	$192K	91	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$113K	$148K	$193K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$113K	$148K	$193K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$113K	$148K	$193K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$113K	$148K	$193K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$113K	$148K	$193K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$113K	$148K	$193K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$111K	$146K	$190K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$111K	$146K	$190K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$111K	$146K	$190K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$111K	$146K	$190K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$111K	$146K	$190K	105	5.8%
Fort Worth, TX	$110K	$145K	$189K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$110K	$145K	$189K	100	None ✓
Reno, NV	$110K	$145K	$189K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$110K	$144K	$188K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$110K	$144K	$188K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$109K	$143K	$186K	100	6.6%
Arlington, TX	$108K	$142K	$185K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$108K	$142K	$185K	91	None ✓
Albany, NY	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	6.85%
St. Petersburg, FL	$108K	$142K	$185K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$108K	$142K	$185K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$108K	$142K	$185K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$108K	$142K	$185K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$108K	$142K	$185K	90	3.07%
Las Vegas, NV	$108K	$142K	$185K	102	None ✓
North Las Vegas, NV	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$108K	$142K	$185K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$108K	$142K	$184K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$106K	$140K	$182K	95	6.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$106K	$139K	$181K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$106K	$139K	$181K	88	3.99%
Kansas City, MO	$106K	$139K	$181K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$106K	$139K	$181K	102	5.3%
Midland, TX	$105K	$138K	$179K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$105K	$138K	$179K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$105K	$138K	$179K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$105K	$138K	$179K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$105K	$138K	$179K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$104K	$136K	$178K	102	4.55%
Sterling Heights, MI	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$104K	$136K	$178K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$104K	$136K	$178K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	5.3%
Huntsville, AL	$104K	$136K	$178K	88	5%
Fargo, ND	$104K	$136K	$178K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$103K	$135K	$176K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$103K	$135K	$176K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$103K	$135K	$176K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$103K	$135K	$176K	82	4.25%
Green Bay, WI	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	5%
Des Moines, IA	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	4.82%
Great Falls, MT	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$103K	$135K	$176K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$101K	$133K	$173K	85	4.9%
San Antonio, TX	$100K	$132K	$172K	87	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$99K	$131K	$170K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$99K	$131K	$170K	85	5%
Mobile, AL	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$100K	$131K	$171K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$99K	$131K	$170K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$99K	$130K	$169K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$98K	$129K	$167K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$98K	$129K	$167K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$98K	$129K	$167K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$98K	$129K	$167K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$98K	$129K	$167K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$98K	$129K	$167K	78	6.5%
Spokane, WA	$97K	$128K	$167K	95	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$97K	$128K	$167K	82	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$97K	$128K	$167K	90	4.25%
New Orleans, LA	$97K	$128K	$167K	92	6%
Brownsville, TX	$96K	$127K	$165K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$96K	$127K	$165K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$96K	$127K	$165K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$95K	$125K	$163K	84	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$95K	$125K	$163K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$95K	$125K	$163K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$95K	$125K	$163K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$95K	$125K	$163K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$95K	$125K	$163K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$95K	$125K	$163K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$95K	$125K	$163K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$95K	$125K	$163K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$95K	$125K	$163K	88	5.9%
Tulsa, OK	$93K	$122K	$159K	80	4.75%
El Paso, TX	$92K	$121K	$157K	82	None ✓
Wichita, KS	$92K	$121K	$157K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$89K	$116K	$152K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$89K	$116K	$152K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$84K	$111K	$144K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $142K Director of Operations 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 →

Director of Operations Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Director of Operations is $142,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $108,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $185,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Director of Operationss nationally earn $238,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Business or Engineering; MBA preferred; 10+ years operations. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Director of Operations compensation is growing at 3.8% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Director of Operations salary FAQ

How much does a Director of Operations make?

The median Director of Operations salary in the US is $142,000 per year — about $68/hour. Most earn between $108,000 (25th percentile) and $185,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Director of Operations?

Entry-level Director of Operations positions typically start around $108,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Director of Operationss earn?

The top 10% of Director of Operationss earn $238,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Director of Operationss the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Director of Operations salary at $213K 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 Director of Operations salaries going up?

Yes — Director of Operations pay is growing about 3.8% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Director of Operations Salaryby City (2026)