Business Operations Manager

💰 $90K–$162K salary range

Median: $120K  ·  Based on 1,825 public job postings  ·  Updated July 1, 2026

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Serving as a lynchpin for an AI-native startup's growth, this professional optimizes operational efficiency and strategic execution. They are crucial for establishing scalable operational frameworks that support rapid AI product development, data pipeline optimization, and the efficient deployment and monitoring of AI models. Their work directly impacts the company's ability to innovate and scale effectively. Based on 253 recent job postings, the salary range for this position typically falls between $110,000 and $185,000, with a median salary of $135,000. Top compensation is often awarded to candidates demonstrating proficiency in MLOps tools, robust data governance frameworks, and practical experience with cloud-native AI services integration (e.g., AWS SageMaker, GCP Vertex AI). These skills are vital for managing the unique operational demands of AI technologies and driving sustained growth.

📊 Salary breakdown

Business Operations Manager salary by location

• All locations: $120K median ($90K–$162K typical range)
• New York: $153K median, $106K–$183K range (+27% vs. national)
• San Francisco: $150K median, $120K–$198K range (+25% vs. national)
• Remote: $125K median, $90K–$135K range (+4% vs. national)
• Los Angeles: $118K median, $88K–$135K range (-2% vs. national)
• Seattle: $150K median, $120K–$169K range (+25% vs. national)
• Chicago: $104K median, $90K–$142K range (-14% vs. national)
• Boston: $143K median, $88K–$170K range (+19% vs. national)
• Dallas: $130K median, $102K–$160K range (+8% vs. national)

Highest paying companies

San Francisco

• OpenAI: $266K median
• Thinking Machines Lab: $235K median
• Figma: $207K median
• Amazon: $194K median
• Sierra AI: $185K median
• Paraform: $164K median

New York

• Tenexlabs: $215K median
• Moment: $205K median
• Sapien: $200K median
• Stripe: $199K median
• Forus: $183K median
• Maybern: $179K median

Based on companies with 3+ active postings. Median of publicly advertised salary range.

What's typically included

• Health insurance: 77% of postings
• Equity (RSU/options): 53% of postings
• Flexible PTO: 46% of postings
• Parental leave: 17% of postings
• Learning/education budget: 13% of postings
• Visa sponsorship: 2% of postings

Typical experience required: 4–5 years.

Operations salaries by seniority

• Business Operations Analyst: $103K
• Revenue Operations Manager: $120K
• Business Operations Manager: $120K
• Senior BizOps Manager: $143K
• Operations Lead: $155K
• Head of Strategy & Operations: $172K
• Strategic Projects Lead: $173K
• VP Operations: $201K

What does a Business Operations Manager do?

Business Operations Managers are operators who keep the company running and scaling. This benchmark reflects Mid-level base compensation at high-growth and AI-native companies.

Common questions

What is the average Business Operations Manager salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $120K, with a typical range of $90K–$162K, based on 1,825 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.

How does Business Operations Manager pay compare in San Francisco vs. remote?
San Francisco roles pay a median of $150K, while fully-remote roles pay $125K.

What is the Business Operations Manager salary in New York?
New York Business Operations Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $153K, with a typical range of $106K–$183K (25th–75th percentile). That's 27% above the $120K US national median. 2% above San Francisco's $150K. Based on 175 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the Business Operations Manager salary in San Francisco?
San Francisco Business Operations Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $150K, with a typical range of $120K–$198K (25th–75th percentile). That's 25% above the $120K US national median. Based on 155 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the Business Operations Manager salary in Remote?
Remote Business Operations Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $125K, with a typical range of $90K–$135K (25th–75th percentile). That's 4% above the $120K US national median. 17% below San Francisco's $150K. Based on 85 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the Business Operations Manager salary in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Business Operations Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $118K, with a typical range of $88K–$135K (25th–75th percentile). That's 2% below the $120K US national median. 22% below San Francisco's $150K. Based on 61 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

What is the Business Operations Manager salary in Seattle?
Seattle Business Operations Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $150K, with a typical range of $120K–$169K (25th–75th percentile). That's 25% above the $120K US national median. 0% above San Francisco's $150K. Based on 54 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.

Where does this salary data come from?
It is aggregated from public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. We require a minimum of 15 postings per role.

Methodology

Figures are the midpoint of each posting's advertised USD salary range, aggregated from 1,825 public job postings (2025–2026). The range shown is the 25th–75th percentile; the median is the 50th percentile. Equity is separate and not included; where a posting's range reflects on-target earnings (OTE) for commission roles, that is included in the midpoint. Roles require at least 15 postings to be published. Last refreshed July 1, 2026.

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