Research Summary. Following in-depth analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have compiled the latest data on department manager salaries across the United States for 2026:
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New Jersey boasts the highest average department manager salary at $95,153.
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Wyoming has the lowest average department manager salary at $43,881.
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The national average salary for department managers stands at $67,160.
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The national hourly wage for department managers is $32.29.
For further details, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
When it comes to job satisfaction, salary consistently ranks as the top priority for most individuals, particularly for those seeking positions as department managers. Understanding how much department managers earn in your area is crucial for career planning.
While a variety of factors influence an individual’s potential earnings, comprehensive data on average salaries for department managers, segmented by state and seniority level, provides a reliable benchmark. Although local conditions may vary, these averages can offer a clear picture of what to anticipate in terms of salary.
Currently, the state with the highest salary for department managers is New Jersey.
Here’s a concise overview of the top ten states for department manager salaries:
Let’s delve deeper into the data and explore a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Department Managers By State
| Rank | State | Average Department Manager Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $95,153 | $53,000 | $170,000 |
| 2 | New York | $85,519 | $47,000 | $155,000 |
| 3 | California | $79,584 | $41,000 | $150,000 |
| 4 | Virginia | $79,162 | $42,000 | $148,000 |
| 5 | Maryland | $76,081 | $40,000 | $142,000 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $73,016 | $39,000 | $135,000 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $71,563 | $46,000 | $110,000 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $70,998 | $39,000 | $128,000 |
| 9 | Delaware | $70,963 | $38,000 | $132,000 |
| 10 | Ohio | $70,387 | $37,000 | $132,000 |
| 11 | Michigan | $69,648 | $37,000 | $129,000 |
| 12 | Texas | $69,020 | $36,000 | $129,000 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $66,970 | $37,000 | $120,000 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $66,108 | $36,000 | $120,000 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $65,201 | $34,000 | $121,000 |
| 16 | Georgia | $62,485 | $34,000 | $114,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $60,996 | $32,000 | $114,000 |
| 18 | Nevada | $60,930 | $31,000 | $117,000 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $58,990 | $32,000 | $105,000 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $58,948 | $33,000 | $104,000 |
| 21 | Washington | $58,844 | $32,000 | $107,000 |
| 22 | Florida | $58,806 | $32,000 | $105,000 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $55,880 | $31,000 | $98,000 |
| 24 | Iowa | $55,290 | $30,000 | $100,000 |
| 25 | Idaho | $54,661 | $30,000 | $99,000 |
| 26 | Indiana | $54,590 | $29,000 | $102,000 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $54,392 | $28,000 | $103,000 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $53,723 | $30,000 | $95,000 |
| 29 | Arizona | $53,687 | $28,000 | $101,000 |
| 30 | Montana | $53,579 | $31,000 | $92,000 |
| 31 | Kansas | $53,161 | $29,000 | $95,000 |
| 32 | Illinois | $52,902 | $28,000 | $98,000 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $52,645 | $28,000 | $97,000 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $52,521 | $28,000 | $97,000 |
| 35 | Colorado | $52,324 | $29,000 | $91,000 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $51,452 | $29,000 | $89,000 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $50,437 | $26,000 | $95,000 |
| 38 | Alaska | $50,318 | $30,000 | $81,000 |
| 39 | Vermont | $49,686 | $28,000 | $87,000 |
| 40 | Arkansas | $48,894 | $26,000 | $89,000 |
| 41 | Alabama | $48,369 | $26,000 | $88,000 |
| 42 | Missouri | $48,170 | $26,000 | $87,000 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $47,061 | $25,000 | $85,000 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $46,810 | $25,000 | $86,000 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $46,131 | $24,000 | $86,000 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $46,024 | $24,000 | $87,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $45,480 | $24,000 | $83,000 |
| 48 | Maine | $45,439 | $26,000 | $78,000 |
| 49 | Utah | $45,410 | $25,000 | $82,000 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $43,881 | $25,000 | $75,000 |
Methodology: Department Manager Salary By State
To gain insights into department manager salaries by state, Zippia aggregates data from various sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM, along with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team computes a weighted average of these figures to determine the average pay for department managers across states.
This average annual salary data allows us to rank each state based on the average salary for department managers.
Department Manager Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for department managers?
The highest-paid state for department managers is New Jersey, with an average salary of $95,153 per year.
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What city pays department managers the most?
New York, NY offers the highest salaries for department managers, averaging $86,890 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for department managers?
The state with the lowest average salary for department managers is Wyoming, with an average salary of $43,881 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
