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 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 managers:
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District Manager is the highest-paid type of manager with an average salary of $96,909 and an average hourly rate of $46.59.
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The second highest-paying type of manager is general manager of operations, with an average salary of $89,522.
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The average manager salary is $58,651 per year, and the average hourly pay is $28.20.
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 manager, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of managers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of managers:
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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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Associate Manager
Average Salary: $83,246
Associate managers are responsible for overseeing the support and clerical staff of the company. They recruit and train employees who perform different tasks that include greeting customers, answering phones, and faxing documents. They also perform other duties, including keeping employees’ motivation, ensuring that everyone understands the company’s guidelines and policies, and supervising other staff members. To be qualified as an associate manager, one should have a high school diploma, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic. One should also have the necessary computer skills, bookkeeping skills, and customer service skills.
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Business Manager
Average Salary: $83,198
A business manager is responsible for directing the overall operations of the company, ensuring that all employees do their tasks efficiently and accurately. Business managers’ duties include developing strategic solutions, evaluating employees’ performance, identifying business opportunities to grow, monitoring the company’s expenses to meet its budget goals, implementing techniques to boost the company’s revenue and profitability, and adhering to the company’s legal policies and procedures. A business manager must have excellent leadership and interpersonal skills to supervise daily operations.
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Operations Support Manager
Average Salary: $79,730
Operations Support Managers are employees who handle different support initiatives for the employees or operations-related departments. These support initiatives may come in people management and upskilling, IT infrastructure assistance, or process improvement, among others. Operations Support Managers must have a deep understanding of company operations and the employees’ needs. They manage processes and standards to ensure that company operations are fully supported and will not be disrupted. They resolve concerns and anticipate problems that may come. They can plan and create safeguards to ensure that such problems will not arise in the future.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various manager that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of 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 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 Manager Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid manager job?
The highest-paid manager job is a district manager. District Managers earn an average salary of $96,909, which is $ 46.59 hourly.
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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What is a good salary for a manager?
A good salary for a manager is $58,651 or more. The average manager salary is $58,651, so those making at least $58,651 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average 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 manager, the average entry level salary is $24,158, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $58,651 average, as this includes all managers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, manager jobs pay well. As in any industry, some manager jobs pay better than others, but the average manager salary of $58,651 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many manager jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of managers earning $67,650 a year on average.
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 manager. Do your research on the going rate for a 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 managers get paid the most?
Managers get paid the most in New Jersey. In New Jersey, managers earn an average annual salary of $98,845 and an average hourly wage of $47.52.
Following NJ, the states with the highest-paid managers are New York, California, and District of Columbia, with average annual salaries of $93,313, $90,017, and $90,789 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid manager salaries are:
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.
