Director of Operations Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Director of Operations. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Director of Operations.

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Job Duties

Directors of operations focus on a variety of different issues within their organization, but employee management is one of the key roles. Their goal is to make sure that everybody is as productive as possible, which sometimes involve hundreds or thousands of employees. They also often hold purchasing responsibilities so long as these purchases are related to production. Additionally, they usually oversee research and development departments.

Other job duties of a director of operations include:

  • Developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating all processes and procedures as they relate to operations, making sure they meet the relevant organizational standards
  • Making sure that all the relevant operational processes are delivered on time and within budget
  • Helping to create new strategies and action and implementation plans with a goal to improve operations and to standardize them

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.3 million general and operations managers in 2016, of which directors of operations are part of. The largest employers of directors of operations were:

  • Retail trade: 12%
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services: 11%
  • Manufacturing: 10%
  • Wholesale trade: 8%
  • Construction: 7%

How to Become

A director of operations will usually hold a master’s degree and have a number of years of work experience in the industry. Sometimes, they also have professional certifications relevant to their particular industry. These certifications often focus on goal setting and establishing improvements.

Education Requirements

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, the majority of directors of operations now hold a master’s degree, which is usually the master of business administration (MBA) degree. Others focus more strongly on liberal arts, law, or public administration, depending on the industry in which they work.

See 10 Best Online Operations MBA Programs for 2018

Having significant experience is usually of greater importance. Most directors of operations have climbed the ranks within their own organization, starting at entry level and moving into lower management and then senior management. Sometimes, external candidates are brought in because they provide a fresh, outsider look on the company. In the case of recruiting from outside the organization, education weighs more heavily as a requirement for the job.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective directors of operations have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Strong decision making skills
  • Leadership skills, being able to motivate others
  • Management skills
  • Excellent problem solvers
  • Strong time management skills
  • Great negotiation skills
  • Being a team player

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Director of Operations was $90,674. This number is estimated from over 2,919,624 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $47.23 and monthly of $7,556.

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$20,000

$212,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Director of Operations salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, New Jersey had the largest quoted salary of $108,845 while West Virginia had the smallest quoted salary of $52,965.

AlaskaIowaMontanaRhode Island
AlabamaIllinoisNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina
ArkansasIndianaNebraskaSouth Dakota
ArizonaKansasNew HampshireTennessee
CaliforniaKentuckyNew JerseyTexas
ColoradoLouisianaNew MexicoUtah
ConnecticutMassachusettsNevadaVirginia
DCMarylandNew YorkVermont
DelawareMichiganOhioWashington
FloridaMinnesotaOklahomaWisconsin
GeorgiaMissouriOregonWest Virginia
HawaiiMississippiPennsylvaniaWyoming
Alaska – $85,550Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Virginia.

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$20,000

$195,000

Salary Distribution
Alabama – $55,748Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Amedisys, University of Alabama, ITAC Solutions, and Personnel Resources.

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$14,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $71,844Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Great American Cookies, University of Arkansas, and University of Central Arkansas.

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$14,000

$174,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $84,223Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Corporate Job Bank, Prairie Hire Recruitment Inc., Goodwin Recruiting, and UNITED Medical Staffing.

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$21,000

$188,000

Salary Distribution
California – $106,223Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Request Technology – Jacqueline White, Phoenix 2.0, CMC Limited, and Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy.

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$26,000

$241,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $82,559Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ViewHouse, PrimeFlight Aviation, Mental Health Center of Denver, and The Creative Group.

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$19,000

$191,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $106,176Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SCA Appraisal Company, CAVCOMM LLC, JWM Group, LLC, and Global restaurant franchise.

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$26,000

$239,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $101,529Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Government, and Clinical Management Consultants.

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$28,000

$219,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $94,892Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Staffing Solutions Group, LLC, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and CyberCoders.

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$22,000

$217,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $80,938Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Diedre Moire, AutoNation, Epic Staffing Agency, and Ascendo Resources.

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$17,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $80,880Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Emory University, U.S. Army, Amedisys, and Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE).

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$18,000

$189,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $84,669Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ALTRES.

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$19,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $84,723Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like West Des Moines Community Schools, The University of Iowa, The Tiny Tots Learning Center, and Chick-fil-A.

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$18,000

$201,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $92,912Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Godfrey Personnel, Inc., Goodwin Recruiting, McDonald’s, and Accounting Career Network.

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$21,000

$215,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $82,816Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Clinical Management Consultants, State of Indiana, and preschool and daycare.

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$20,000

$187,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $59,444Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Premier Employment Solutions, Check ‘n Go, Lawrence Humane Society, and Goodwin Recruiting.

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$14,000

$144,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $86,748Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Right Recruiting and University of Kentucky.

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$23,000

$189,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $80,648Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Restaurant Management Search, NES Global Talent, and Franchise Career Advisors.

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$19,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $101,942Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like FPC National, EPM Scientific, WinterWyman, and MindCircuit.

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$26,000

$227,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $101,345Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like JWM Group, LLC, Mindlance, Federal Government Jobs, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$31,000

$210,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $93,632Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Harper Associates, Gecko Hospitality, and Philips Recruiting Services.

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$18,000

$229,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $90,333Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Minnesota Department of Human Services, University of Minnesota, State of Minnesota, and Right Choice Movers.

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$21,000

$208,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $83,563Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gecko Hospitality, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri, and PEG.

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$17,000

$199,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi – $63,308Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Candlewood Suites Hattiesburg.

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$16,000

$142,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $61,108Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MSU-Northern Alumni Foundation and Montana State University.

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$14,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $83,939Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ProductStaff, a division of ProfitStaff, LLC, Joerns Healthcare, CyberCoders, and U.S. Army.

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$17,000

$201,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $57,485Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Nebraska, Capital Humane Society, West Corporation, and Talent Logic.

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$14,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $91,724Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Watkins Staffing and MRINetwork.

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$26,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $108,845Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Skills Alliance, Barrington James, Smith Hanley Associates, LLC, and Clark Davis Associates.

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$27,000

$244,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $69,074Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The BioScience Center & FatPipe ABQ.

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$16,000

$159,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $83,103Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Venue of Las Vegas, Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Link Tech, and CIG.

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$18,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $99,431Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Russell Tobin + Associates, GATE Staffing, LLC, Peak Organization, and DSJ Global.

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$24,000

$226,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $83,024Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Restaurant Management Search, Metasense, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Care Alliance Health Center.

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$17,000

$200,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $81,258Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Goodwin Recruiting, Premier Solutions, Inc., Gecko Hospitality, and O&M Restaurant Group.

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$22,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $74,158Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Quadrant Resource LLC, Metro, University of Oregon, and Willamette Humane Society.

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$16,000

$174,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $95,607Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aramark, JWM Group, LLC, TTS Media, and Goodwin Recruiting.

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$21,000

$223,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $88,456Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Rhode Island Research Foundation, Kforce Finance and Accounting, and State of Rhode Island.

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$24,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $74,946Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Medical University of South Carolina, Production Services, University of South Carolina, and Chick-Fil-a North Mount Pleasant.

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$16,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $82,835Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Executive Recruiting Services, Inc. and Franchise Career Advisors.

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$18,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $84,896Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Amedisys, Goodwin Recruiting, Knowledge Academies, Inc., and First Class Workforce Solutions.

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$20,000

$196,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $92,684Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Mackenzie Stuart plc, Progressive Global Energy & Natural Resources, Consumer Products & Services, Houston, TX, and Cube Management.

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$21,000

$214,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $75,651Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Utah, Four Corners School of Outdoor Education, and Children’s Discovery Learning Center.

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$17,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $88,490Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gecko Hospitality, ApplyLogic Consulting, U.S. Army, and Cornerstone Consulting Group, LLC.

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$18,000

$213,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont – $59,199Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Humane Society of Chittenden County, State of Vermont, Clinical Management Consultants, and CMC Limited.

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$14,000

$144,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $99,025Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Restaurant Management Search, Gecko Hospitality, Project Patch, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

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$26,000

$219,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $94,069Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Restaurant Management Search, Gecko Hospitality, UNITED Medical Staffing, and University of Wisconsin.

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$23,000

$211,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia – $52,965Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Mr. Delivery and Dairy Queen.

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$14,000

$133,000

Salary Distribution
Wyoming – $99,165Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Black Hills Corporation.

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$30,000

$208,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Director of Operations. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Philips Recruiting Services Director of OperationsMichigan$252,191
JWM Group, LLC Director of OperationsOhio$227,470
Diedre Moire Director of OperationsFlorida$223,624
Skills Alliance Director of OperationsNew Jersey$220,000
Request Technology – Jacqueline White Director of OperationsCalifornia$216,799
Global restaurant franchise Director of OperationsConnecticut$203,552
FPC National Director of OperationsMassachusetts$200,000
Mackenzie Stuart plc Director of OperationsTexas$199,068
EPM Scientific Director of OperationsMassachusetts$192,665
Russell Tobin + Associates Director of OperationsNew York$191,542
Barrington James Director of OperationsNew Jersey$191,479
Smith Hanley Associates, LLC Director of OperationsNew Jersey$190,000
Progressive Global Energy & Natural Resources Director of OperationsTexas$189,737
Phoenix 2.0 Director of OperationsCalifornia$182,171
Clark Davis Associates Director of OperationsNew Jersey$178,015
CyberCoders Director of OperationsIndiana$177,744
CMC Limited Director of OperationsCalifornia$177,651

Learn More

Related Careers

Career NameAverage Salary
Treasury Manager$94,000
Data Manager$93,937
Transportation Manager$93,639
Director of Human Resources$93,347
Compensation Manager$93,104
Director of Purchasing$90,585
Director of Marketing$90,048
Network Engineer$88,447
Finance Manager$88,446
Management Consultant$88,374

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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