Chief operating officer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates chief operating officer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our chief operating officer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about chief operating officers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 74,376 chief operating officers currently employed in the United States.
- 23.4% of all chief operating officers are women, while 76.6% are men.
- The average chief operating officer age is 51 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of chief operating officers is White (76.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.5%), Asian (7.5%) and Unknown (3.9%).
- Chief operating officers are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The manufacturing industry is the highest-paying for chief operating officers.
- 12% of all chief operating officers are LGBT.
On This Page
Chief Operating Officer demographics by:
Chief Operating Officer gender statistics
23.4% of chief operating officers are women and 76.6% of chief operating officers are men.
- Male, 76.6%
- Female, 23.4%
Chief Operating Officer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 76.6% |
| Female | 23.4% |
Chief Operating Officer gender pay gap
Women earn 89¢ for every $1 earned by men
![Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (1)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw== "Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (1)")
Male Income
$128,575
Female Income
$113,985
Chief Operating Officer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in chief operating officer positions over time. Currently, 23.4% of chief operating officers are female.
Male
Female
100
%
80
%
60
%
40
%
20
%
%
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Chief Operating Officer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 82.27% | 17.73% |
| 2011 | 82.11% | 17.89% |
| 2012 | 81.56% | 18.44% |
| 2013 | 80.51% | 19.49% |
| 2014 | 80.08% | 19.92% |
| 2015 | 79.86% | 20.14% |
| 2016 | 79.38% | 20.62% |
| 2017 | 79.67% | 20.33% |
| 2018 | 79.54% | 20.46% |
| 2019 | 77.45% | 22.55% |
| 2020 | 76.56% | 23.44% |
| 2021 | 76.57% | 23.43% |
Chief Operating Officer related jobs gender ratio
We compared chief operating officers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, district commercial superintendent and street superintendent have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant To General Manager | 9% | 91% |
| Manager Stylist | 9% | 91% |
| Salon Manager | 12% | 88% |
| Chief Operating Officer | 77% | 23% |
| General Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| Street Superintendent | 97% | 3% |
| District Commercial Superintendent | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Chief Operating Officer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among chief operating officers is White, which makes up 76.8% of all chief operating officers. Comparatively, 7.5% of chief operating officers are Hispanic or Latino and 7.5% of chief operating officers are Asian.
- White, 76.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 7.5%
- Asian, 7.5%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- Black or African American, 3.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
Chief Operating Officer Race
| Chief Operating Officer Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 76.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.5% |
| Asian | 7.5% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| Black or African American | 3.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.6% |
Chief Operating Officer race and ethnicity over time
See how chief operating officer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Chief Operating Officer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.33% | 3.27% | 5.61% | 6.02% |
| 2011 | 83.52% | 3.67% | 5.23% | 5.62% |
| 2012 | 82.76% | 3.60% | 5.78% | 6.09% |
| 2013 | 83.02% | 3.40% | 5.88% | 5.83% |
| 2014 | 83.05% | 3.54% | 5.52% | 6.15% |
| 2015 | 83.00% | 3.40% | 5.50% | 6.15% |
| 2016 | 82.65% | 3.31% | 6.07% | 5.98% |
| 2017 | 81.29% | 3.47% | 6.61% | 6.56% |
| 2018 | 80.79% | 3.31% | 6.81% | 6.86% |
| 2019 | 81.92% | 3.02% | 6.55% | 6.63% |
| 2020 | 78.54% | 3.50% | 7.01% | 6.95% |
| 2021 | 76.79% | 3.67% | 7.47% | 7.55% |
Chief Operating Officer wage gap by race
According to our data, white chief operating officers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american chief operating officers have the lowest average salary at $124,094.
$135,000
$133,000
$131,000
$129,000
$127,000
$125,000
$123,000
Unknown
White
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $126,525 |
| White | $132,672 |
| Black or African American | $124,094 |
| Asian | $131,616 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $128,165 |
Average chief operating officer age
See how the average age of chief operating officers varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Chief Operating Officer age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 53 | 52 |
| Unknown | 51 | 49 |
| Asian | 49 | 48 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 50 | 46 |
| White | 53 | 52 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 52 | 48 |
Chief Operating Officer age breakdown
The average age of chief operating officers is 40+ years years old, representing 89% of the chief operating officer population.
40+ years
30-40 years
20-30 years
Chief Operating Officer age breakdown
| Chief Operating Officer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 89% |
| 30-40 years | 11% |
| 20-30 years | 0% |
Chief Operating Officer educational attainment
The most common degree for chief operating officers is bachelor's degree, with 65% of chief operating officers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 21% and master's degree degree at 7%.
- Bachelor's, 65%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 7%
- Doctorate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 4%
Chief Operating Officers by degree level
| Chief Operating Officer Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 65% |
| Master's | 21% |
| Associate | 7% |
| Doctorate | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 4% |
Chief Operating Officer Jobs You Might Like
Chief Operating Officer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, chief operating officers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $157,397 annually. With a Doctorate degree, chief operating officers earn a median annual income of $157,373 compared to $143,913 for chief operating officers with an Bachelor's degree.
$161,000
$151,000
$141,000
$131,000
$121,000
$111,000
$101,000
Master's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Doctorate Degree
Some College/ Associate Degree
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $157,397 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $143,913 |
| Doctorate Degree | $157,373 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $110,402 |
Chief Operating Officer employment statistics
Most chief operating officers work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where chief operating officers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where chief operating officers work.
< 50 employees
50 - 100 employees
100 - 500 employees
500 - 1,000 employees
1,000 - 10,000 employees
> 10,000
Chief Operating Officer jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 21% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 15% |
| > 10,000 employees | 26% |
Chief Operating Officer jobs by company type
Employees with the chief operating officer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most chief operating officers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Education
Public
Private
Government
Chief Operating Officer jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 3% |
| Public | 24% |
| Private | 68% |
| Government | 5% |
Chief Operating Officer jobs by industry
The most common industries for chief operating officers are health care, professional and finance.
Health Care
Finance
Professional
Technology
Fortune 500
Show More
Chief Operating Officer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 14% |
| Finance | 11% |
| Professional | 11% |
| Technology | 10% |
| Fortune 500 | 10% |
| Hospitality | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Government | 4% |
| Retail | 4% |
| Start-up | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Education | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Chief Operating Officer turnover and employment statistics
Chief Operating Officer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for chief operating officers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Chief Operating Officer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Chief Operating Officer Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.37% |
| 2011 | 3.53% |
| 2012 | 3.04% |
| 2013 | 2.67% |
| 2014 | 2.12% |
| 2015 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | 1.98% |
| 2017 | 1.88% |
| 2018 | 1.65% |
| 2019 | 1.72% |
| 2020 | 2.10% |
| 2021 | 2.06% |
Average chief operating officer tenure
The average chief operating officer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 26,911 chief operating officers resumes in Zippia's database.
Less than one year
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-7 years
8-10 years
11+ years
Chief Operating Officer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 8% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 18% |
| 5-7 years | 18% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 15% |
Chief Operating Officer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of chief operating officers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Director | 7.93% | 65,496 |
| Security Manager | 8.41% | 51,717 |
| Account Development Manager | 9.38% | 214,004 |
| Integrated Logistics Operations Manager | 9.63% | 227,631 |
| Chief Operating Officer | 11.54% | - |
| Human Resources Generalist/Manager | 13.02% | 46,682 |
| Advertising Manager | 14.95% | 43,083 |
Similar chief operating officer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Director | 7.93% | 65,496 |
| Security Manager | 8.41% | 51,717 |
| Account Development Manager | 9.38% | 214,004 |
| Integrated Logistics Operations Manager | 9.63% | 227,631 |
| Human Resources Generalist/Manager | 13.02% | 46,682 |
| Advertising Manager | 14.95% | 43,083 |
Foreign languages spoken by chief operating officers
The most common foreign language among chief operating officers is Spanish at 40.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.9% and German is the third-most popular at 8.5%.
- Spanish, 40.4%
- French, 13.9%
- German, 8.5%
- Chinese, 5.2%
- Mandarin, 4.9%
- Other, 27.1%
Chief Operating Officer languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 40.4% |
| French | 13.9% |
| German | 8.5% |
| Chinese | 5.2% |
| Mandarin | 4.9% |
| Other | 27.1% |
Chief Operating Officer Jobs
Chief Operating Officer location demographics
Where do chief operating officers earn the most?
Chief operating officers earn the most in New Jersey, where the average chief operating officer salary is $170,805. The map here shows where chief operating officers earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Average Salary
![Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (5)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/salary-maps/2.4.8/chief-operating-officer.svgz "Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (5)")
Which city has the most Chief Operating Officers?
By looking through more than 26,911 resumes, we found that the most popular places for chief operating officers are New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA.
Number of Chief Operating Officers
![Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (6)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/resume-chief-operating-officer.svgz "Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (6)")
Chief Operating Officer jobs by state
| Rank | State | Number of Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 4,130 | $148,076 |
| 2 | New York | 4,033 | $163,488 |
| 3 | Texas | 3,602 | $136,826 |
| 4 | Illinois | 2,851 | $141,160 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 2,338 | $150,774 |
| 6 | Virginia | 2,096 | $145,032 |
| 7 | Georgia | 2,085 | $119,472 |
| 8 | New Jersey | 1,973 | $170,805 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 1,886 | $138,436 |
| 10 | Florida | 1,657 | $104,718 |
| 11 | North Carolina | 1,612 | $120,165 |
| 12 | Ohio | 1,480 | $113,925 |
| 13 | Washington | 1,346 | $128,515 |
| 14 | Arizona | 1,341 | $117,720 |
| 15 | Colorado | 1,228 | $108,930 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 1,140 | $118,433 |
| 17 | Maryland | 1,135 | $140,780 |
| 18 | Michigan | 1,000 | $138,396 |
| 19 | Indiana | 990 | $91,657 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 927 | $104,717 |
| 21 | Missouri | 855 | $105,314 |
| 22 | Tennessee | 838 | $89,166 |
| 23 | Oregon | 774 | $105,424 |
| 24 | Connecticut | 718 | $162,206 |
| 25 | South Carolina | 641 | $111,549 |
| 26 | Alabama | 634 | $117,267 |
| 27 | Iowa | 632 | $103,067 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 514 | $151,180 |
| 29 | Kentucky | 495 | $95,599 |
| 30 | Louisiana | 462 | $118,328 |
| 31 | Kansas | 446 | $83,143 |
| 32 | Arkansas | 444 | $92,116 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 443 | $76,393 |
| 34 | Nevada | 434 | $132,764 |
| 35 | Idaho | 402 | $94,921 |
| 36 | Nebraska | 356 | $106,129 |
| 37 | New Mexico | 330 | $127,600 |
| 38 | Mississippi | 311 | $71,645 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 284 | $101,592 |
| 40 | Utah | 284 | $90,328 |
| 41 | Delaware | 276 | $139,163 |
| 42 | Maine | 258 | $120,022 |
| 43 | Rhode Island | 255 | $136,414 |
| 44 | West Virginia | 218 | $115,442 |
| 45 | North Dakota | 173 | $95,230 |
| 46 | Vermont | 170 | $103,310 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 163 | $87,158 |
| 48 | Montana | 103 | $83,818 |
| 49 | Alaska | 86 | $93,141 |
| 50 | Hawaii | 66 | $143,746 |
| 51 | Wyoming | 63 | $88,615 |
Where are chief operating officers in high demand?
Chief operating officers are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 59 job openings for chief operating officers here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country chief operating officers are in the most demand.
Jobs Openings
![Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (7)](https://i0.wp.com/media.zippia.com/demographics-maps/2.4.4/listing-chief-operating-officer.svgz "Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (7)")
Chief Operating Officer Demographics FAQs
How many Chief Operating Officer are there in the US?
What percentage of Chief Operating Officers are black?
What race are most Chief Operating Officers?
Are Chief Operating Officer jobs male - dominated?
How old is the average Chief Operating Officer?
Have more questions?
See all answers to common executive management questions.Search for chief operating officer jobs
Related Jobs Demographics
- Chief Executive Officer Demographics
- Chief Finance And Operating Officer Demographics
- Chief Finance Officer Demographics
- Chief Information Officer Demographics
- Corporate Vice President Demographics
- Director Of Business Operations Demographics
- Division Director Demographics
- Division Vice President Demographics
- Executive Director Of Operations Demographics
- Executive Vice President Demographics
- Managing Director Demographics
- Operating Partner Demographics
- Operations Director Demographics
- Operations Vice President Demographics
- President & Chief Operating Officer Demographics
Chief Operating Officer Related Hirings
- How To Hire A Chief Executive Officer
- How To Hire A Chief Finance And Operating Officer
- How To Hire A Chief Finance Officer
- How To Hire A Chief Information Officer
- How To Hire A Corporate Vice President
- How To Hire A Director Of Business Operations
- How To Hire A Division Director
- How To Hire A Division Vice President
- How To Hire An Executive Director Of Operations
- How To Hire An Executive Vice President
- How To Hire A Managing Director
- How To Hire An Operating Partner
- How To Hire An Operations Director
- How To Hire An Operations Vice President
- How To Hire A President & Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer Related Jobs
- Chief Executive Officer Jobs Near Me
- Chief Finance And Operating Officer Jobs Near Me
- Chief Finance Officer Jobs Near Me
- Chief Information Officer Jobs Near Me
- Corporate Vice President Jobs Near Me
- Director Of Business Operations Jobs Near Me
- Division Director Jobs Near Me
- Division Vice President Jobs Near Me
- Executive Director Of Operations Jobs Near Me
- Executive Vice President Jobs Near Me
- Managing Director Jobs Near Me
- Operating Partner Jobs Near Me
- Operations Director Jobs Near Me
- Operations Vice President Jobs Near Me
- President & Chief Operating Officer Jobs Near Me
Chief Operating Officer Jobs By Location
- Auburn, AL Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Buena Park, CA Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Forest Park, OH Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Hammond, IN Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Hemet, CA Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Henderson, NV Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- North Las Vegas, NV Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Pinellas Park, FL Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Saint Andrews, SC Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- San Jose, CA Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Sarasota Springs, FL Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Signal Hill, CA Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Virginia Beach, VA Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Wallingford Center, CT Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Wichita, KS Chief Operating Officer Jobs
- Zippia Careers
- Executive Management Industry
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Operating Officer Demographics
Updated July 21, 2023
![Chief Operating Officer Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Chief Operating Officers In The US (2024)](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mP8/h8AAvMB+NzmkbcAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)