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Chief Operating Officer salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a chief operating officer is $200,200 per annum, before tax, up $42,600 since 2018.
Pay at this level is set by individual negotiation rather than an award or enterprise agreement, and it tracks the size of the organisation and how many functions report through the role, so a chief operating officer running several business units is paid on a different scale from one in a smaller private firm. Bonuses tied to profit, margin or operational targets can make up a large part of the package, which means the split between base salary and incentive matters as much as the headline number. It is worth asking how the bonus is calculated and what proportion of it has actually been paid in recent years.
How to negotiate a higher chief operating officer salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time chief operating officer salary is $200,200; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Operations management and Strategy development tend to command a premium over general chief operating officer experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Chief Operating Officer salary questions
How much do chief operating officers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a chief operating officer is $200,200 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is chief operating officer pay rising or falling?
The median chief operating officer salary is up $42,600 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.