What an operations manager costs in 2026
The median operations manager in the United States earned $105,770 a year, $50.85 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time operations manager at the median costs about $142,800 a year, or about $11,900 a month.
The middle half of operations managers earn $72,320 to $167,280. There are 3,503,020 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: New Jersey has the highest median at $173,690, and Arkansas the lowest of the 50 states at $74,050.
Liaison does the routine half of an operations manager’s job for 5% of that. See how.
What an operations manager would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Operations manager, the United States, 40 hours a week
$142,794 a year
$11,900 a month. Wages $105,768 at the median of $50.85 an hour, plus $37,026 in benefits. The middle half of operations managers here earn $72,320 to $167,280 in wages.
Operations manager wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $111,790 | $53.75 | $150,925 | $76,840 to $169,510 | 30,170 |
| Alaska | $116,630 | $56.07 | $157,459 | $85,770 to $160,810 | 6,020 |
| Arizona | $94,800 | $45.58 | $127,987 | $63,040 to $149,550 | 110,480 |
| Arkansas | $74,050 | $35.60 | $99,973 | $48,760 to $117,510 | 34,570 |
| California | $124,390 | $59.81 | $167,935 | $81,620 to $186,230 | 300,840 |
| Colorado | $131,840 | $63.39 | $177,993 | $91,180 to $195,190 | 41,870 |
| Connecticut | $137,220 | $65.97 | $185,257 | $95,300 to $207,860 | 39,070 |
| Delaware | $137,220 | $65.97 | $185,257 | $97,920 to $200,010 | 5,000 |
| District of Columbia | $168,000 | $80.77 | $226,812 | $127,110 to $204,890 | 36,150 |
| Florida | $101,580 | $48.84 | $137,140 | $68,400 to $158,340 | 236,290 |
| Georgia | $103,730 | $49.87 | $140,043 | $68,000 to $165,100 | 111,060 |
| Guam | $67,690 | $32.54 | $91,386 | $47,320 to $97,470 | 1,580 |
| Hawaii | $108,180 | $52.01 | $146,051 | $75,050 to $157,490 | 13,380 |
| Idaho | $80,390 | $38.65 | $108,532 | $57,470 to $121,050 | 24,880 |
| Illinois | $103,570 | $49.80 | $139,827 | $72,300 to $167,980 | 171,300 |
| Indiana | $108,170 | $52.01 | $146,037 | $75,690 to $167,830 | 47,180 |
| Iowa | $87,690 | $42.16 | $118,388 | $60,200 to $129,990 | 30,760 |
| Kansas | $92,840 | $44.63 | $125,341 | $65,350 to $139,410 | 24,660 |
| Kentucky | $79,370 | $38.16 | $107,155 | $53,820 to $124,710 | 52,100 |
| Louisiana | $101,790 | $48.94 | $137,424 | $68,750 to $156,040 | 43,220 |
| Maine | $98,860 | $47.53 | $133,468 | $71,090 to $135,210 | 14,770 |
| Maryland | $117,930 | $56.70 | $159,214 | $78,760 to $172,410 | 96,740 |
| Massachusetts | $127,220 | $61.16 | $171,756 | $82,190 to $199,540 | 95,880 |
| Michigan | $99,530 | $47.85 | $134,373 | $65,000 to $155,330 | 85,860 |
| Minnesota | $99,340 | $47.76 | $134,116 | $64,650 to $150,530 | 72,860 |
| Mississippi | $106,680 | $51.29 | $144,026 | $68,920 to $158,890 | 10,630 |
| Missouri | $79,300 | $38.12 | $107,061 | $54,850 to $123,340 | 109,020 |
| Montana | $91,380 | $43.93 | $123,370 | $64,990 to $128,650 | 11,840 |
| Nebraska | $85,090 | $40.91 | $114,878 | $61,870 to $131,370 | 24,030 |
| Nevada | $99,390 | $47.79 | $134,184 | $64,220 to $157,340 | 38,920 |
| New Hampshire | $124,680 | $59.94 | $168,327 | $79,830 to $175,660 | 22,110 |
| New Jersey | $173,690 | $83.51 | $234,494 | $111,580 to $284,250 | 53,000 |
| New Mexico | $98,630 | $47.42 | $133,158 | $64,090 to $142,650 | 16,330 |
| New York | $130,860 | $62.91 | $176,670 | $85,770 to $209,110 | 206,740 |
| North Carolina | $101,950 | $49.01 | $137,640 | $66,800 to $162,170 | 63,740 |
| North Dakota | $98,170 | $47.20 | $132,537 | $68,950 to $135,180 | 11,150 |
| Ohio | $97,700 | $46.97 | $131,902 | $62,880 to $153,310 | 153,160 |
| Oklahoma | $90,430 | $43.48 | $122,087 | $60,130 to $135,600 | 43,890 |
| Oregon | $103,490 | $49.76 | $139,719 | $74,670 to $160,590 | 36,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,130 | $49.58 | $139,233 | $72,580 to $158,800 | 172,010 |
| Puerto Rico | $73,570 | $35.37 | $99,325 | $48,940 to $109,420 | 7,190 |
| Rhode Island | $117,380 | $56.43 | $158,471 | $85,700 to $171,220 | 9,150 |
| South Carolina | $106,080 | $51.00 | $143,216 | $75,480 to $158,250 | 32,230 |
| South Dakota | $137,400 | $66.06 | $185,500 | $105,210 to $185,100 | 4,280 |
| Tennessee | $106,970 | $51.43 | $144,417 | $72,500 to $163,820 | 63,720 |
| Texas | $103,230 | $49.63 | $139,368 | $64,470 to $168,510 | 431,310 |
| Utah | $97,850 | $47.04 | $132,105 | $62,140 to $152,310 | 42,580 |
| Vermont | $98,640 | $47.42 | $133,171 | $75,460 to $148,620 | 8,000 |
| Virgin Islands | $82,850 | $39.83 | $111,853 | $62,400 to $114,990 | 1,040 |
| Virginia | $122,080 | $58.69 | $164,817 | $78,240 to $178,490 | 103,590 |
| Washington | $133,750 | $64.30 | $180,572 | $101,030 to $188,290 | 50,630 |
| West Virginia | $82,500 | $39.66 | $111,381 | $59,550 to $125,180 | 15,300 |
| Wisconsin | $118,730 | $57.08 | $160,294 | $79,360 to $171,130 | 36,910 |
| Wyoming | $99,700 | $47.93 | $134,602 | $64,090 to $144,250 | 7,470 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 392 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for operations managers. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $181,450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $163,860 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $157,000 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,460 |
| Boulder, CO | $152,100 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Hot Springs, AR | $62,810 |
| Jonesboro, AR | $69,370 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | $70,330 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $71,170 |
| Owensboro, KY | $73,460 |
The routine part of the operations manager’s job
Much of what an operations manager does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of an operations manager’s job, for 5% of what one costs.
- Pulls the numbers from every system into one page every morning.
- Logs what was decided and chases what slipped, across every team.
- Brings you the three things that need a decision instead of the thirty that do not.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $142,800 a year for an operations manager at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI chief of staff.
Questions
How much does an operations manager cost a small business?
The median operations manager earned $105,770 a year, or $50.85 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time operations manager at the median costs about $142,800 a year. The middle half earn $72,320 to $167,280.
Which states pay operations managers the most?
New Jersey ($173,690), District of Columbia ($168,000) and South Dakota ($137,400) have the highest median wage for operations managers. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Arkansas ($74,050), Missouri ($79,300) and Kentucky ($79,370).
Which metro areas pay operations managers the most?
Trenton-Princeton, NJ ($181,450), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,860) and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($157,000), out of the 392 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for operations managers.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 11-1021. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
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