What is an assistant general manager and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become an Assistant General Manager?

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become an assistant general manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific assistant general manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 8 to 10 years years to become an assistant general manager.

Q: How much does a general manager's assistant make?

A general manager's assistant makes about $55,000 in yearly salary or $26.55 hourly. On the lower end of the salary range, they might make around $38,000. On the higher end, they can make around $79,000. As most jobs go, factors like industry, location, and experience can determine your salary.

Q: How much should an assistant manager get paid?

An assistant manager should get paid between $42,000 - $56,000 annually, or $20-27 per hour. This can vary based on location, work history, and what type of assistant manager we are talking about.

Q: Is GM higher than the manager?

Yes, GM (general manager) is typically higher than the manager. It depends on the size of the company, but a general manager generally ranks above most employees but below corporate-level executives. So, GMs usually supervise lower-level managers and oversee the hiring and training of these managers.

Q: What education do you need to be an assistant manager?

The education you need to be an assistant manager is usually a high school diploma. Depending on the industry and company, they may ask for postsecondary education, but in general, you can become an assistant manager with years of experience that shows your skills in leadership and decision-making.

Q: What makes a good assistant general manager?

What makes a good assistant general manager is having excellent leadership and decision-making skills. They also typically have postsecondary education, usually an associate's or bachelor's degree in business or management.

Q: Who reports to the assistant general manager?

Supervisors or lower-level managers generally report to the assistant general manager. Depending on your company, the typical management hierarchy has lower-level or first-level managers such as office managers and supervisors. Then, there is the mid-level management which includes the general manager.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Steve Wages Ph.D.,

Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.

An assistant general manager provides support for the general manager in running an organization. They oversee operations, manage staff, and ensure customer satisfaction. Assistant general managers work to create budgets, analyze reports, and develop company strategy. They also collaborate with marketing, sales, and accounting. An assistant general manager uses leadership skills, attention to detail, and communication skills. Additionally, they should work well under pressure and adapt to changes.

What general advice would you give to an assistant general manager?

Steve Wages Ph.D.

Director, Cloverdale Center for Youth and Family, Faulkner University

As soon as possible, establish a formal mentoring relationship with someone who is seasoned in pastoral counseling. Generally, the research demonstrates that the performance of employees with mentors is of a higher quality, they advance in their responsibilities and careers faster, and they avoid common mistakes exhibited by other employees. Establish short-term goals (6 months) for your position and a plan for overcoming obstacles; then ask your mentor to hold you accountable for implementing your plan. As part of your self-care. you also need to be proactive in developing a few close friendships, perhaps including colleagues, who can be a source of emotional support and encouragement to you personally.

You should be confident in your training while also being realistic and transparent about your limitations. There is still a lot that you do not know and much you will learn with experience. Until then, be willing to say "I don't know" when faced with problems you have not addressed before. Then commit to learning more about the issue through personal study and/or consulting with a more experienced colleague or mentor. In some cases, you may need to invite a more experienced counselor to meet with a client or where appropriate refer them to someone else.

You need to equip yourself to address structural changes to the delivery of pastoral care and counseling as a consequence of the pandemic. You will need to adapt to providing pastoral counseling virtually perhaps via Zoom sessions. Give thought as to how the virtual context impacts the counseling process and the spiritual resources you employ. For example, if you are comfortable praying with a client in your office, will you be equally inclined to pray with them online or over a phone. In light of the pandemic, Dr. Chuck Lawless noted, "Good pastoral care has required being more proactive than reactive." Ordinarily, pastoral counselors are reactive in that they respond to needs when they hear about them or when they are

ScoreAssistant General ManagerUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $51,238

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.36%

Black or African American 6.18%

Hispanic or Latino 15.17%

Unknown 4.34%

White 67.48%

Gender

female 37.32%

male 62.68%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an assistant general manager?

Pros

Opportunity for career advancement
Competitive salary and benefits
High level of autonomy in decision making
Opportunity to build relationships with customers and stakeholders
Opportunity for networking

Cons

Long hours and demanding workload
High pressure environment with tight deadlines
Limited work-life balance due to the nature of the role
Need for continuous learning and development in order to stay competitive
Dealing with unexpected emergencies or crises that require immediate attention

Key steps to become an assistant general manager

Explore assistant general manager education requirements

Most common assistant general manager degrees

Bachelor's

55.5 %

Associate

21.1 %

High School Diploma

12.7 %

Start to develop specific assistant general manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.90%
Math	9.72%
Cleanliness	6.22%
Strong Analytical	5.36%
Food Safety	5.05%

Complete relevant assistant general manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant general managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant general manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant general manager resumes.

Gain additional assistant general manager certifications

Assistant general manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific assistant general manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assistant general managers include Food Safety Manager Certification and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

More About Certifications

Research assistant general manager duties and responsibilities

Lead the initiative to prepare for Effient's review on Ohio Medicaid and PEIA.
Manage all phases of start-up operations including facility design, menu planning and staff selection/training.
Develop and implement strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
Develop inventory control and training programs, and create start-up procedures

Prepare your assistant general manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant general manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant general manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant general manager resume templates

Build a professional assistant general manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant general manager resume.

Apply for assistant general manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an assistant general manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do assistant general managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

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1 star

Assistant general manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2023

Pros

High energy job, fast paced, social interactions.

Cons

Long hours, late nights, staffing, constantly adjusting to economic changes.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022

Pros

I have leadership skills I always hire employees who like to work in a team I like to see sales increase and love to see the best customer service is given

Cons

In reality, i do not complain as its who i am

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2021

Pros

I do like the creative control that I get to have with my position. I do enjoy getting to know all of the guests and also getting to know my employees. It is a fun business to be in.

Cons

I do not care for guest complaints or overall park issues, I am sure that goes for everyone else out there in my position.

What is an assistant general manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an assistant general manager?

What are the pros and cons of being an assistant general manager?

Assistant general manager career paths

Key steps to become an assistant general manager

Explore assistant general manager education requirements

Most common assistant general manager degrees

Start to develop specific assistant general manager skills

Complete relevant assistant general manager training and internships

Gain additional assistant general manager certifications

Research assistant general manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your assistant general manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant general manager resume templates

Apply for assistant general manager jobs

How did you land your first assistant general manager job

Average assistant general manager salary

How do assistant general managers rate their job?

Assistant general manager reviews

Assistant general manager FAQs

How long does it take to become an Assistant General Manager?

How much does a general manager's assistant make?

How much should an assistant manager get paid?

Is GM higher than the manager?

What education do you need to be an assistant manager?

What makes a good assistant general manager?

Who reports to the assistant general manager?

Search for assistant general manager jobs

Assistant general manager jobs by state