Vice Presidents of Operations in Jacksonville’s construction sector command a base salary range of $190K, $285K, with total compensation climbing significantly when bonuses and allowances are factored in. This 2026 salary guide reflects real placement data from Amundson Group’s senior-level construction recruiting, adjusted for Jacksonville’s cost of living and current market demand.
VP of Operations salary range in Jacksonville: $190K, $285K base
The $190K, $285K range captures the vast majority of VP of Operations roles in Jacksonville’s construction market. The spread reflects meaningful differences in experience, employer size, project complexity, and industry vertical.
What moves a candidate toward the lower end ($190K, $220K)? Typically 5-8 years in operations leadership, roles with smaller firms (50-150 employees), or early-stage responsibility for a single division. Candidates transitioning into VP-level from Project Manager or Senior Project Controls backgrounds often land here.
What pushes compensation to the upper band ($250K, $285K)? A decade-plus of operations leadership, proven track records managing $50M+ annual project portfolios, and demonstrated P&L ownership in mid-to-large firms (200+ employees). Verticals like heavy highway, energy infrastructure, and industrial construction tend to sit higher due to project scale and risk.
Total compensation beyond base: Bonuses and allowances add 10-30% on top. A VP earning $240K base might see $24K, $72K in annual bonus (tied to safety, profitability, or project delivery metrics), plus $5K, $12K annually in truck allowance or per-diem. Real total comp often reaches $290K, $330K for mid-to-upper-range placements.
What drives VP of Operations pay in Jacksonville’s construction market
Jacksonville’s construction sector has diversified significantly over the past five years. The market is no longer dominated by a single vertical; commercial office, multifamily residential, civil infrastructure, and light industrial all compete for leadership talent. This diversity supports strong, stable salary floors because demand is broad-based rather than cyclical to one sector.
Labor availability remains tight at the VP level. Jacksonville has experienced steady population and commercial growth, which increases project activity, but the pipeline of experienced operations leaders hasn’t kept pace. Firms are competing regionally and nationally to attract proven VPs; candidates with solid safety records, budget management experience, and the ability to scale operations can leverage that scarcity.
Employer size and project portfolio are the most visible salary drivers. A regional contractor doing $80M, $150M annual volume typically pays more aggressively for a VP than a smaller, single-state firm. Firms managing complex, multi-site portfolios (e.g., phased multifamily developments or long-duration infrastructure contracts) need senior operational bandwidth and pay accordingly.
VP of Operations compensation by experience level
Amundson Group’s 2026 placement data shows these Jacksonville-adjusted ranges by career stage:
- 3-5 years in operations leadership: $162K, $200K
Early VP roles, smaller firms, or transition from Project Manager. Strong growth potential.
- 5-10 years (proven mid-level VP): $190K, $238K
The most common band. Candidates with a track record managing multiple projects, teams of 10-30, and real P&L responsibility.
- 10-15 years (senior VP): $238K, $285K
Deep expertise, multi-site/multi-vertical experience, and the ability to influence strategy. Often placed with larger regional or national firms.
- 15+ years (director-level or chief operations impact): $285K, $342K+
Rare placements. Typically reporting to C-suite, managing $200M+ portfolios, or leading operations across multiple divisions. Bonus structures here often exceed base.
Benefits + total comp beyond base
Beyond salary, Jacksonville construction firms typically offer:
- 401(k) match: 3-6% of base (most common: 4%)
- Health insurance: Fully covered for employee; spouse/family plans vary by firm size
- Truck allowance or per-diem: $400, $1,000/month (higher in roles requiring frequent site visits)
- Annual bonus: 10-20% of base, tied to safety metrics (EMR/OSHA recordables), project profitability, or operational KPIs
- PTO: 15-25 days annually (increases with tenure)
- Professional development: Some firms cover PM certifications or AGC memberships
For a VP earning $240K base with a 15% bonus and $600/month truck allowance, total comp approaches $310K annually, a meaningful difference from base salary alone.
What Jacksonville construction companies pay top performers
Top-tier placements in 2026 are exceeding the typical range. Firms actively recruiting proven VPs with strong safety cultures and turnaround track records are willing to pay $300K, $330K base (sometimes higher) to secure them. This is especially true for roles in energy services, heavy highway, or positions requiring immediate leadership of 40+ person teams.
Amundson Group has placed VPs in Jacksonville’s market at the ceiling and beyond, particularly when:
- The candidate brings a specific sector expertise (e.g., civil/heavy highway) where Jacksonville has active demand
- Relocation is required; out-of-state talent commands premiums
- The role includes responsibility for business development, client relationships, or divisional profitability
These outlier placements still represent the top 15-20% of the market, but they signal that aggressive hiring is happening for the right talent.
See Amundson Group’s full VP of Operations Salary Guide
Salaries move quarterly. Amundson Group updates its Salary Guide with real placement data from across the US construction market, commercial, civil, multifamily, industrial, and energy verticals.
If you’re a construction firm in Jacksonville looking to hire a VP of Operations, or a candidate evaluating an offer, connect with our recruiting team for a confidential conversation. We place senior operations talent across the Southeast and can benchmark your role against current market conditions.