Operations managers in the US earn $97,000 on average — with senior directors and VPs of Operations earning $150,000-$250,000+.
Average Operations Manager Salary in 2026
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average salary | $97,000 |
| Median salary | $92,500 |
| Entry level (0-3 years) | $60,000-$80,000 |
| Mid-level (4-7 years) | $85,000-$115,000 |
| Senior (8+ years) | $115,000-$160,000 |
| Hourly equivalent | $46.63 |
Operations Manager Salary by Experience
| Level | Years | Salary Range | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Ops Manager | 0-2 | $50,000-$65,000 | $52,000-$70,000 |
| Operations Manager | 2-5 | $70,000-$95,000 | $75,000-$105,000 |
| Senior Ops Manager | 5-8 | $95,000-$125,000 | $105,000-$140,000 |
| Director of Operations | 8-12 | $125,000-$170,000 | $140,000-$200,000 |
| VP of Operations | 12+ | $160,000-$250,000 | $180,000-$300,000 |
| COO | 15+ | $200,000-$500,000+ | $250,000-$1M+ |
Operations Manager Salary by Industry
| Industry | Average Salary | Bonus | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | $115,000 | $20,000 | $135,000 |
| Finance/Banking | $110,000 | $22,000 | $132,000 |
| Manufacturing | $100,000 | $12,000 | $112,000 |
| Healthcare | $95,000 | $10,000 | $105,000 |
| Logistics/Supply Chain | $95,000 | $12,000 | $107,000 |
| Retail | $85,000 | $10,000 | $95,000 |
| E-commerce/Fulfillment | $92,000 | $15,000 | $107,000 |
| Food Service | $75,000 | $8,000 | $83,000 |
| Non-profit | $70,000 | — | $70,000 |
Operations Manager Salary by Location
| Metro Area | Average Salary | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $128,000 | +32% |
| New York | $120,000 | +24% |
| Boston | $112,000 | +15% |
| Seattle | $110,000 | +13% |
| Los Angeles | $108,000 | +11% |
| Chicago | $100,000 | +3% |
| Dallas | $95,000 | -2% |
| Atlanta | $92,000 | -5% |
| Denver | $98,000 | +1% |
| Phoenix | $88,000 | -9% |
Operations Manager Salary by Company Size
| Company Size | Average Salary | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Startup (<50) | $80,000 | $65,000-$100,000 |
| Small (50-200) | $90,000 | $75,000-$110,000 |
| Mid-size (200-1,000) | $100,000 | $85,000-$130,000 |
| Large (1,000-10,000) | $115,000 | $95,000-$150,000 |
| Enterprise (10,000+) | $130,000 | $110,000-$180,000 |
Types of Operations Managers
| Specialization | Average Salary | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| General Operations | $95,000 | Overall efficiency |
| Supply Chain Ops | $105,000 | Logistics, inventory |
| Manufacturing Ops | $100,000 | Production, quality |
| IT Operations | $115,000 | Systems, infrastructure |
| Fulfillment/Warehouse | $85,000 | Distribution centers |
| Restaurant Ops | $70,000 | Multi-unit management |
| Healthcare Ops | $100,000 | Clinical operations |
| Field Operations | $90,000 | Remote team management |
Operations Manager at Top Companies
| Company | Ops Manager Salary | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $115,000 | $145,000 |
| $145,000 | $190,000 | |
| Meta | $140,000 | $180,000 |
| Microsoft | $130,000 | $165,000 |
| UPS | $95,000 | $110,000 |
| FedEx | $90,000 | $105,000 |
| Walmart | $85,000 | $100,000 |
| Target | $80,000 | $95,000 |
| JPMorgan | $110,000 | $135,000 |
Skills That Increase Ops Manager Salary
Core skills:
- Project management (+8-12%)
- Six Sigma/Lean (+10-15%)
- Data analysis (+10-12%)
- ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) (+8-10%)
- P&L management (+15-20%)
Certifications:
| Certification | Salary Increase | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PMP | +10-15% | $555 |
| Six Sigma Black Belt | +15-20% | $1,000-$3,000 |
| CPIM (APICS) | +10-15% | $800 |
| MBA | +20-30% | $60,000-$200,000 |
Operations Manager Career Path
| Role | Years | Salary | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Coordinator | 0-2 | $50,000 | Supervisor, Analyst |
| Operations Supervisor | 2-4 | $65,000 | Manager |
| Operations Manager | 4-7 | $95,000 | Senior Manager |
| Senior Ops Manager | 7-10 | $120,000 | Director |
| Director of Operations | 10-14 | $160,000 | VP |
| VP of Operations | 14+ | $200,000+ | COO |
| COO | 18+ | $300,000+ | CEO |
Operations Manager vs. Related Roles
| Role | Average Salary | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Manager | $97,000 | Day-to-day operations |
| Project Manager | $100,000 | Specific projects |
| General Manager | $85,000 | P&L responsibility |
| Production Manager | $90,000 | Manufacturing focus |
| Supply Chain Manager | $105,000 | Logistics focus |
| Facility Manager | $80,000 | Physical plant |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | Starting Salary | Career Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| High school + experience | $55,000 | $100,000 |
| Associate degree | $60,000 | $110,000 |
| Bachelor’s degree | $70,000 | $150,000+ |
| MBA | $95,000 | $250,000+ |
Common degree fields:
- Business Administration (40%)
- Supply Chain/Logistics (15%)
- Industrial Engineering (15%)
- Finance (10%)
- Other (20%)
Job Outlook for Operations Managers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% growth for operations managers through 2032.
Growth drivers:
- E-commerce expansion
- Supply chain complexity
- Automation implementation
- Data-driven operations
- Sustainability initiatives
How to Become an Operations Manager
| Path | Timeline | Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Direct hire (degree) | 4 years college | $55,000 |
| Internal promotion | 3-5 years experience | $65,000 |
| MBA path | 2-3 years post-undergrad | $85,000 |
| Career change | 1-2 years transition | $60,000 |
Key steps:
- Get bachelor’s degree (business, engineering, supply chain)
- Start in entry-level operations role
- Learn ERP systems and data analysis
- Get PMP or Six Sigma certification
- Move to management within 3-5 years
- Consider MBA for director+ roles
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, Payscale, salary surveys. Updated March 2026.