Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Illinois

Chief Operating Officer jobs in Illinois are actively sought across finance, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing, with demand at every level from emerging operations leaders through seasoned C-suite executives. Chicago draws the largest share of openings, with substantial activity in Naperville and Schaumburg as well, where firms like Allstate, Baxter International, and United Airlines maintain significant operations and regularly recruit at the COO level. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois center on healthcare operations, supply chain leadership, and financial services execution. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Chief Operating Officer Jobs

Overview

Open roles184+
Top employerAbbVie
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring66
Work type59% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 184+ Chief Operating Officer jobs

Cornerstone Caregiving
Director of Operations and Business Development
We won't show you this job again
Cornerstone Caregiving
New 20h ago
Director of Operations and Business Development
Cornerstone Caregiving
Rock Island, Illinois
Clinical Support
Healthcare Administration
Human Resources
On-Site
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

DHL
Director Operations
We won't show you this job again
DHL
Added 1d ago
Director Operations
DHL
DeKalb, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Service
Customer Success
$150k - $200k/yr
Master's degree in business administration
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

CPKC
Director Intermodal & Automotive Operations
We won't show you this job again
CPKC
Added 1d ago
Director Intermodal & Automotive Operations
CPKC
Bensenville, Illinois
Business Operations
Business Strategy
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in business
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Lyric Opera of Chicago
Director of Front of House Operations
We won't show you this job again
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Added 1d ago
Director of Front of House Operations
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Business Operations
Customer Service & Support
Logistics & Fleet Management
Project Management
$75k - $82k/yr
51-200

Have you applied for this role?

Gerber Collision & Glass
Director, Operations Excellence
We won't show you this job again
Gerber Collision & Glass
Added 1d ago
Director, Operations Excellence
Gerber Collision & Glass
Chicago, Illinois
Account Management
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
$160k - $200k/yr
Master's degree in business
5,001-10,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 184+ Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Chief Operating Officer Jobs

Chief Operating Officer Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
84 jobs
Oak Brook
6 jobs
Northbrook
5 jobs
Lombard
4 jobs
Champaign
4 jobs
Springfield
4 jobs
North Chicago
4 jobs
Peoria
3 jobs
Mettawa
3 jobs

Chief Operating Officer Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

AbbVie
AbbVie6 open roles
The University of Chicago
The University of Chicago6 open roles
Pearl Healthcare
Pearl Healthcare4 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services10
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals6
  • Technology & Software5
  • Education3
  • Retail2

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in chief operating officer jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
  • Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in operations or general management
  • Demonstrated ability to oversee cross-functional teams across finance, HR, and supply chain
  • Experience driving P&L accountability and measurable operational performance improvements
  • Strong familiarity with Illinois regulatory environments in healthcare, finance, or manufacturing
  • MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred by most Illinois employers

Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a chief operating officer in Illinois?

Most chief operating officers in Illinois reach the role through a combination of an advanced degree, typically an MBA from a program such as those offered at Northwestern Kellogg, University of Chicago Booth, or University of Illinois, and a long track of progressive operational leadership. Illinois does not require a state-issued license to hold this title, but in regulated sectors like healthcare, COOs often work alongside licensed administrators. The clearest path is moving through director and VP-level operations roles within Illinois-headquartered companies before stepping into the C-suite.

How much do chief operating officers make in Illinois?

Chief operating officers in Illinois earn a median of about $331,920 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $133,170 for the lowest 10% to over $589,720 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire chief operating officers in Illinois?

Employers hiring chief operating officers in Illinois right now include AbbVie, The University of Chicago, and Pearl Healthcare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's deep concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters in the Chicago metropolitan area means consistent COO-level demand across industries including insurance, healthcare systems, logistics, and financial services.

Which Illinois cities have the most chief operating officer jobs?

Chicago, Oak Brook, and Northbrook account for the most chief operating officer openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because of its dense cluster of corporate headquarters, regional offices, and major hospital networks, while Naperville and Schaumburg attract COO roles through their established technology parks, insurance sector campuses, and manufacturing operations that require dedicated operations leadership.

Are there remote chief operating officer jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. Chief operating officers typically oversee on-site teams, facilities, and day-to-day organizational functions that require regular physical presence. About 41% of chief operating officer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, with hybrid arrangements more common than fully remote. Strategic planning, financial oversight, and investor reporting are the functions most often handled off-site when hybrid schedules apply.

How can I get hired as a chief operating officer in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is securing an operations manager or director of operations role at a mid-size Illinois company, then building toward the COO seat over time. Large Illinois employers in healthcare and manufacturing, including major hospital systems and logistics firms based in the Chicago region, hire operations associates and management trainees who can grow into senior roles. An MBA from an Illinois program accelerates the timeline, and completing a rotational leadership program at a company like Caterpillar or Advocate Aurora Health provides the cross-functional exposure Illinois COO searches consistently require.

Where can I find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to chief operating officer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the available roles by location or specialty to identify positions that match your background, then apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 184+ Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Chief Operating Officer Jobs