What is the highest position after COO?
Asked by: Liliane Mraz | Last update: January 7, 2026Score: 4.9/5 (51 votes)
In the C-suite, the most prominent positions are the CEO, COO, and CFO – the chief executive officer, the chief operations officer, and the chief financial officer. These 3 positions, along with others, form the top-most tier of leadership at any organization.
What position is higher than a COO?
The CEO; this is the top-ranking position within the company. The COO comes second in the hierarchy and reports to the CEO. Depending on the structure of the company, the CEO could report to the board of directors, the investors or the founders of the company.
What is the next position after COO?
C-suite is the term used to describe the company's top tier leadership positions. These positions are known as C-suite executives or C-suite leaders, and the most common ones are the chief executive officer (CEO), chief operating officer (COO), chief financial officer (CFO), and chief information officer (CIO).
What is the next step after COO?
Some COOs, however, promote into the role of CEO. Many organizations consider the COO to be a prerequisite step to CEO. Scope: Traditionally, VPs of operations are long-term forecasters and decision makers for the company's operations, while COOs focus on the day-to-day structure and efficacy of the operations team.
What rank comes after COO?
The CEO is the highest-level C-suite role in a company, followed by the COO, then the CFO. In other words, COOs are usually second in command while CFOs are typically third in command. In terms of roles: CEOs focus on long-term strategy and, in some smaller businesses, the daily operations of a company.
CEO vs COO vs CFO - Roles, Responsibilities and Salary
What is next in line after COO?
In the C-suite, the most prominent positions are the CEO, COO, and CFO – the chief executive officer, the chief operations officer, and the chief financial officer. These 3 positions, along with others, form the top-most tier of leadership at any organization.
Is COO or VP higher?
The VP of Operations is often a senior executive responsible for the operational aspects of the company, similar to the COO. However, the COO typically has a broader role, overseeing not just operations but also other functions like marketing, sales, and HR. The VP of Operations usually reports to the COO.
What is the highest COO salary?
- Anaheim, CA. $201,775 per year. 2 salaries reported.
- New York, NY. $183,949 per year. 104 salaries reported.
- Nashville, TN. $149,883 per year. 9 salaries reported.
- Colorado Springs, CO. $143,458 per year. 5 salaries reported.
- Jacksonville, FL. $141,339 per year.
What is the average age of a COO?
COO Snapshot
In the US, COOs are predominantly male (76.6%) with an average age of 51 years old. The majority (89%) of these COOs are older than 40 years old, while the further 11% are between 30 and 40 years old.
Is COO more senior than CFO?
The COO is typically higher in the corporate hierarchy than the CFO and VP. While the CFO manages the company's finances, the COO oversees all operations, making the COO's role more encompassing.
Who gets paid more, COO or CFO?
Differences in CEOs, CFOs and COO
The average salary in the US for a CEO is $128,843 per year . The average salary for a COO in the US is $137,876 per year . CFOs earn an average of $139,658 per year .
What are the top 3 positions in a company?
Most management teams have at least a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and a Chief Operations Officer (COO).
What is the hierarchy of a corporation?
The term corporate hierarchy refers to the arrangement and organization of individuals within a corporation according to power, status, and job function. In general, a hierarchy is any system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
Who is higher, COO or CSO?
The COO is the second-in-command and is often the one who implements the CEO's vision. The CSO is responsible for developing and implementing the company's long-term strategy, including identifying new business opportunities, analyzing market trends, and assessing potential risks.
Does a COO report to the president?
The COO typically reports to the CEO and is often considered second-in-command, if the organization does not have a President or the CEO has taken on both roles. COO roles are typically found in organizations that have grown large enough that the CEO cannot efficiently manage day-to-day operations alone.
What are the top management positions?
Top management is made up of senior-level executives of an organization, or those positions that hold the most responsibility. Jobs titles such as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), President, or Vice President are commonly used by top managers in organizations.
Is COO a stressful job?
Sources of Stress for COOs
The role of the COO is inherently stressful, given their broad responsibilities and the high stakes involved in their decision-making.
What degree do most COO have?
Most COOs have at least a bachelor's degree in business or a related field. However, some employers prefer professionals who also have an MBA. On average, it takes 8 to 10 years of progressing through positions with increasing responsibilities to be considered for the role of COO.
What comes after a COO?
Common C-suite executives include the chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), and chief information officer (CIO). C-level members work together to ensure that a company stays true to its established plans and policies.
What is the bonus for a COO?
Annual Bonuses: As COO, you can typically look for a bonus with an annual target of at least 30% of your base salary, tied to the company's performance but often your personal performance as well.
How much does a CEO of a $500 million company make?
This includes base salary, bonuses, stock awards, and other benefits. For instance, in 2023, the average total cash compensation for CEOs in the United States was $908,000, with those at companies with revenue above $500 million earning an average of $1,427,000. 3.
What is the hierarchy of a COO?
The COO typically reports directly to the chief executive officer (CEO) and is considered to be second in the chain of command. In some corporations, the COO is known by other terms, such as "executive vice president of operations," "chief operations officer," or "operations director."
Who typically reports to the COO?
Who Typically Reports Directly to a COO? VP of Operations: The VP of Operations is often one of the closest direct reports to the COO, handling the day-to-day management of the company's operational activities.
Who is higher than the COO?
COOs typically report directly to the CEO. They are often the second-highest-ranking executives in the company and are responsible for executing the CEO's strategic vision. CEOs report to the board of directors.