Chief Operating Officer.
Tulsa.
$220,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$164,000 to $293,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Chief Operating Officer pay in Tulsa ranges from $164,000 to $293,000 in 2026. The median is $220,000, 14% below the national average. Tulsa has diversified beyond energy into aerospace, healthcare, and a growing tech remote work community. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $198,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$143,000
to $176,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$187,000
to $231,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$242,000
to $286,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$275,000
to $341,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $137,000 to the total package.
Base
$220,000
Equity
$73,000
Bonus
$46,000
Signing
$18,000
Estimated total: $357,000
How Tulsa compares
Tulsa, OK
$220,000
Cost of living: 17% below average
National Average
$255,000
Tulsa is $35,000 below
Chief Operating Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Tulsa
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Chief Operating Officer offer in Tulsa, understand the terrain. Tulsa has diversified beyond energy into aerospace, healthcare, and a growing tech remote work community. The Tulsa Remote program has attracted thousands of remote workers with financial incentives. The extremely affordable cost of living means salaries stretch further here than almost anywhere. 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 Tulsa, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 17% 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: oklahoma's top income tax rate is 4.75%. Tulsa has no city income tax. The low rate plus extremely affordable housing create exceptional purchasing power. When someone quotes you $220,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Mention the Tulsa Remote program ecosystem. Employers know that remote workers are choosing Tulsa for the cost of living, and they benchmark accordingly against coastal rates. The range for Chief Operating Officers in Tulsa runs from $164,000 to $293,000. 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
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Common questions.
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