Operating Officer Salary in the United States

How much does an Operating Officer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Operating Officer in the United States is $76,002 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,797
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,788 to $81,653
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,131
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View as table View as graph 25% $69,788 10% $64,131 90% $86,797 75% $81,653 $76,002 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Operating Officer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $81,653 $6,804 $1,570 $39
Average $76,002 $6,334 $1,462 $37
25th Percentile $69,788 $5,816 $1,342 $34
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Key Factors That Influence Operating Officer Salaries

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

How Experience Level Affects Operating Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an 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): $74,636
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,397
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,584
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $77,249
  • Expert (over 8 years): $77,415
Levels Salary
Entry Level Operating Officer$74,636
Intermediate Level Operating Officer$75,397
Senior Level Operating Officer$76,584
Specialist Level Operating Officer$77,249
Expert Level Operating Officer$77,415
$74,636 0 yr
$75,397 < 2 yrs
$76,584 2-4 yrs
$77,249 5-8 yrs
$77,415 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for 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:

  • San Jose: $95,861
  • San Francisco: $94,919
  • Oakland: $92,814

What Skills Can Increase an Operating Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 3.91% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Marketing Plans (Mentioned in 3.12% Job Postings): A marketing plan is the advertising strategy that a business will implement to sell its product or service. The marketing plan will help determine who the target market is, how to reach them, at what price point the product or service should be sold.
  • Customer Interaction (Mentioned in 1.56% Job Postings): Fostering relationships and positive communication with customers to identify their demands to gain a competitive market advantage.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 3.91%
Marketing Plans 3.12%
Customer Interaction 1.56%
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 Operating Officer's salary.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 48%.
  • Business Analytics: Can increase your salary by up to 41%.
  • Sales Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Alignment
$112,483
48%
Business Analytics
$107,163
41%
Sales Strategy
$98,043
29%
Team Management
$95,003
25%
Customer Satisfaction
$91,203
20%
Credit Risk
$86,642
14%
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How Education impacts an Operating Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Operating Officers 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 Operating Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $72,341 and $76,050).

Operating Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Operating Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 10.2%
High School 10.2%
Associates 3.6%
Bachelors 59.9%
Masters 24.8%
Doctorate 1.5%
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Operating Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Operating Officer

Salaries for an Operating Officer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,581 in 2023 to around $74,338 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Operating Officer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Operating Officer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$75,581
2024
$75,220
2025
$74,338
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $75,581
2024 $75,220
2025 $74,338
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Operating Officer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Operating Officer

Here are companies hiring for Operating Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Operating Officer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Operating Officer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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