Operations Managers Pay is Up 31% – Here’s Why

As venture rounds get bigger and the sub-$5M round disappears (PitchBook), it’s changed the way that companies recruit and retain talent – and the YoY compensation data is changing as a result. Take Operations Managers at companies that have raised less than $15 Million.

Median total cash compensation has increased from $87,500 in 2022 to $115,000 in 2026 – a 31% increase. At the 75th percentile, total cash has grown from $120,000 to $140,554 over the same period.

Non-founder equity has steadily trended up from 0.050% in 2022 to a peak of 0.175% in 2025 and holding there into 2026.

As you can see, both compensation figures have increased at lower financing levels, even as those rounds become less common. This is most likely a result of increasing competition for talent, as newer companies enter the market with more capital to spend on payroll.

The private markets have seen major shifts over the last few years – and compensation isn’t immune. Companies are continuing to be competitive and strategic, and one of the foundational pillars continues to be the mix of cash and equity.

You can trial the Thelander platform at no cost by submitting your current compensation data in the Thelander Private Company Compensation Survey. You’ll be able to access real-time compensation data tables for all the job titles you input data for. 

Categorised in: Data Drops

This post was written by jthelander