Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of general managers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of general managers:
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Vice President & General Manager is the highest-paid type of general manager with an average salary of $172,487 and an average hourly rate of $82.93.
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The second highest-paying type of general manager is general sales manager, with an average salary of $118,744.
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The average general manager salary is $71,581 per year, and the average hourly pay is $34.41.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a general manager, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of general managers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of general managers:
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Vice President & General Manager
Average Salary: $172,487
A vice president and general manager’s role is to implement policies and regulations while overseeing the business operations. Typically, it is their primary responsibility to devise training programs that would produce more efficient workforce members, create new strategies to boost sales and customer satisfaction, and participate in budget and goals creation. They mainly report to high-ranking officials such as the president and board members. Furthermore, a vice president and general manager may perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports and presentations, managing schedules, and responding to correspondence.
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General Sales Manager
Average Salary: $118,744
General sales managers are responsible for monitoring the daily operation of the sales team and analyze marketing strategies to improve sales performance and generate more revenues. General sales managers develop strategic plans, adjust sales quotas as needed, identify business opportunities, research current market trends, and evaluate the annual budget. General sales managers also respond to the customers’ inquiries and high-level complaints, providing immediate resolutions to ensure customer satisfaction. A general sales manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the sales department, especially on sales techniques in reaching the business’ profitability goals.
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District Manager
Average Salary: $96,909
District managers oversee the operations of a group of stores or areas covered by the assigned district. They are responsible for ensuring that the sales, marketing, quality control, and people management of their community align with the company’s direction. They review the district’s financial statement, draft ways to improve the district’s key metrics, and mitigate any challenges that may come their way. They are also responsible for hiring store or area managers and training them to ensure that they will be significant contributors to the organization.
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General Manager Of Operations
Average Salary: $89,522
General managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management. They coordinate the primary performance goals for direct reporting functions and set the strategies for the organization. It is their responsibility to communicate strategy as well as results to employees. They also engage with the corporate officers in the strategic planning and development of the organization or enterprise.
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General Service Manager
Average Salary: $85,187
General service managers are professionals who manage the administrative activities of a company to ensure that a proper environment for its operations is achieved. These managers are required to supervise the maintenance activities and upgrades of equipment and systems so that they can minimize disruptions of business activities. Under the direction of the finance manager, general service managers must coordinate with service providers on matters related to finance and tax. They must also manage teams to ensure that they comply with local and occupational health laws.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various general manager that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of General Managers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for general managers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read 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. Vice President & General Managers earn an average salary of $172,487, which is $ 82.93 hourly.
A vice president and general manager’s role is to implement policies and regulations while overseeing the business operations. Typically, it is their primary responsibility to devise training programs that would produce more efficient workforce members, create new strategies to boost sales and customer satisfaction, and participate in budget and goals creation. They mainly report to high-ranking officials such as the president and board members. Furthermore, a vice president and general manager may perform clerical tasks such as preparing progress reports and presentations, managing schedules, and responding to correspondence.
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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. The average general manager salary is $71,581, so those making at least $71,581 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average general manager salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a general manager, the average entry level salary is $29,484, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $71,581 average, as this includes all general managers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do General Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, general manager jobs pay well. As in any industry, some general manager jobs pay better than others, but the average general manager salary of $71,581 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many general manager jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of general managers earning $82,563 a year on average.
General Managers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a general manager. Do your research on the going rate for a general manager in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do general managers get paid the most?
General Managers get paid the most in Hawaii. In Hawaii, general managers earn an average annual salary of $95,591 and an average hourly wage of $45.96.
Following HI, the states with the highest-paid general managers are New York, California, and New Jersey, with average annual salaries of $90,157, $92,259, and $92,019 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid general manager salaries 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.
