Research Summary. Our data team at Zippia has analyzed a wealth of public government and company data, along with insights from thousands of job postings, to estimate average salaries for various positions across the United States. This analysis has revealed the highest-paid types of general managers, providing valuable insights for career planning in 2026.
Here’s a summary of our findings regarding the top-earning general manager roles:
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Vice President & General Manager: The top-paying general manager position with an average salary of $172,487 and an hourly rate of $82.93.
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General Sales Manager: This role ranks second, earning an average salary of $118,744.
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The overall average salary for general managers stands at $71,581 per year, equating to an hourly wage of $34.41.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Deciding on a career path can be challenging. While salary is just one factor to consider, it plays a crucial role in your career decisions. For those aspiring to become general managers, understanding which roles offer the highest compensation can guide your career trajectory effectively.
Below are the top salaries for various types of general managers:
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Vice President & General Manager
Average Salary: $172,487
The vice president & general manager is tasked with implementing policies and overseeing business operations. Key responsibilities include developing training programs for staff efficiency, strategizing for sales improvements, and participating in budget planning. Reporting primarily to senior executives, they also manage clerical duties such as preparing reports and presentations.
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General Sales Manager
Average Salary: $118,744
General sales managers supervise daily sales operations, analyze strategies to enhance performance, and generate revenue. Their role involves developing plans, adjusting quotas, identifying opportunities, and addressing customer inquiries and complaints while ensuring high satisfaction levels.
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District Manager
Average Salary: $96,909
District managers oversee multiple store operations within a designated area, aligning performance with company goals. Their duties include reviewing financial statements, developing strategies for key metrics, and recruiting and training store managers to foster organizational success.
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General Manager Of Operations
Average Salary: $89,522
General managers of operations are responsible for enhancing efficiency across business operations. They are involved in setting performance goals and communicating strategy to employees, while also collaborating with corporate officers on strategic planning and development.
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General Service Manager
Average Salary: $85,187
General service managers handle administrative activities that ensure a conducive operational environment. They oversee maintenance and upgrades of systems to minimize disruptions, coordinate with finance managers, and ensure compliance with health laws.
Below is a comprehensive table showcasing the average pay for various general manager positions, followed by an explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of General Managers
Methodology
Zippia utilizes publicly available data from government sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to generate its salary estimates.
Our data team also reviews job postings and company resources for the most current salary information for general managers.
After collecting this data, the team computes a weighted average for each job title to determine salary estimates. For additional details on our methodology, please refer to the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of General Manager Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid general manager job?
The highest-paid general manager job is a vice president & general manager. This role earns an average salary of $172,487, which equates to $82.93 per hour.
A vice president & general manager implements policies while overseeing business operations, focusing on training programs, sales strategies, and budget participation. They report to senior officials and may handle clerical tasks like progress reports and presentations.
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What is a good salary for a general manager?
A good salary for a general manager is $71,581 or more. This average indicates that those earning at least this amount are above the average pay scale.
However, salaries vary based on location, so it’s essential to research local averages for your expertise and experience level to assess your compensation accurately. Entry-level general managers typically earn around $29,484, so consider your experience level when comparing salaries.
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Do General Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, general manager jobs pay well. The average general manager salary of $71,581 is significantly higher than the average national salary of approximately $44,225 per year.
Moreover, many general manager positions offer high earning potential, with the top 10% earning an average of $82,563 annually. Keep in mind that salaries vary based on experience, industry, and location, so do thorough research and negotiation when seeking a general manager role.
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Where do general managers get paid the most?
General Managers get paid the most in Hawaii. In Hawaii, they earn an average annual salary of $95,591, or $45.96 hourly.
Following Hawaii, the states with the highest general manager salaries include New York, California, and New Jersey, with average annual salaries of $90,157, $92,259, and $92,019, respectively.
The cities offering the highest salaries for general managers are:
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San Francisco, CA – $98,643
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Des Moines, WA – $93,660
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New York, NY – $90,656
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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.
