We analysed compensation data from 697 COOs operating within Private Equity-backed businesses across North America.
The data is segmented by revenue size to highlight how COO compensation, bonus structures, and equity participation evolve as companies scale.

RESPONDENT BREAKDOWN

• 34% from firms with under $50M revenue
• 36% from firms with $50M–$150M revenue
• 30% from firms with over $150M revenue

BASE SALARY

Firms < $50M Revenue

• Lowest: $80,000
• Median: $230,000
• Highest: $350,000

Firms $50M–$150M Revenue

• Lowest: $180,000
• Median: $300,000
• Highest: $420,000

Firms > $150M Revenue

• Lowest: $250,000
• Median: $375,000
• Highest: $850,000

BONUS STRUCTURE

• 65% of COOs at firms < $50M receive a bonus of 50% or less
• 60% of COOs at firms $50M–$150M receive a bonus of 50% or less
• 55% of COOs at firms > $150M receive a bonus of 50% or less

Key insight: Bonus structures gradually improve with scale, reflecting increasing operational accountability tied to EBITDA growth, efficiency, and execution.

EQUITY PARTICIPATION

• 40% of COOs at firms < $50M receive equity or equity equivalent
• 60% of COOs at firms $50M–$150M receive equity or equity equivalent
• 70% of COOs at firms > $150M receive equity or equity equivalent

Equity participation rises significantly as COOs take on broader operational responsibility and become central to scaling and integration strategies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Median COO salary scales from $230K to $375K as businesses grow beyond $150M revenue.
• Top-end compensation reaches $850K, driven by complexity and scale.
• Bonus structures improve modestly as operational performance becomes more measurable.
• Equity becomes increasingly important, particularly in mid-to-large PE-backed businesses.

Bottom Line

COO compensation reflects the role’s position at the heart of execution and value creation.
As companies scale, COOs are increasingly rewarded not just for operational oversight, but for driving EBITDA growth, integration, and scalable infrastructure.

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All insights in this salary report are derived from Raw Selection’s proprietary data.