Chief Operating Officer.
Jackson.
$210,000
median salary, 18% below the national average
$156,000 to $279,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Chief Operating Officer salary in Jackson is $210,000, 18% below the national average. Entry level starts near $156,000. Experienced professionals push past $279,000. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $189,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$137,000
to $168,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$179,000
to $221,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$231,000
to $273,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$263,000
to $326,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $130,000 to the total package.
Base
$210,000
Equity
$69,000
Bonus
$44,000
Signing
$17,000
Estimated total: $340,000
How Jackson compares
Jackson, MS
$210,000
Cost of living: 21% below average
National Average
$255,000
Jackson is $45,000 below
Chief Operating Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Jackson
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Chief Operating Officer offer in Jackson, understand the terrain. Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, with an economy driven by government, healthcare, and energy. The University of Mississippi Medical Center is a major employer. Jackson offers some of the lowest living costs in the country, making even moderate salaries deliver substantial purchasing power. Operational complexity, number of direct reports, and company revenue are the strongest predictors. COOs overseeing manufacturing, supply chain, and global operations earn more than those in services or tech. The COO role varies widely in scope, and those serving as clear CEO successors command premium compensation.
Senior VPs of operations earn $170,000 to $220,000 before the COO step. First-time COOs at mid-market companies start at $200,000 to $270,000. COOs at large enterprises with global operations earn $300,000 to $400,000 in base, with total comp reaching $700,000 to $2 million. In Jackson, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 21% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Annual bonuses of 30 to 60% of base tied to operational metrics like margin improvement and efficiency gains are standard. Equity packages at growth companies add $100,000 to $500,000 in annualized value. Retention bonuses are common for succession-track COOs. And on the tax side: mississippi's top income tax rate is 5%. Jackson has no city income tax. The very low cost of living means take home pay goes further here than almost any other metro. When someone quotes you $210,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Benchmark against regional healthcare and government pay scales. Jackson employers offer competitive benefits packages to compensate for lower base salaries. The range for Chief Operating Officers in Jackson runs from $156,000 to $279,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A CFO in Jackson earns $212,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Jackson is Chief AI Officer at $245,000
Common questions.
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Other salaries in Jackson
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