How to hire an associate manager

How to hire an associate manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The associate manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect associate manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of associate manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Associate Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$26-59
   General Manager	A general manager is responsible for handling the overall operations in the business. General managers manage the staff tasks efficiently, monitor the productivity and efficiency of the work environment, implement new strategies to improve the business performance, recognize the team's best efforts, and effective allocation of budget resources... Show more	$19-60
   Operations Manager	Operations managers are in charge of running the main business of the organization. They ensure that the business is running smoothly from an operations standpoint... Show more	$22-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • POS
   • Sales Floor
   • Product Knowledge
   • Payroll
   • Human Resources
   • Loss Prevention
   • Store Opening
   • Switches
   • Customer Service
   • PowerPoint
   • Digital Marketing
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Bank Deposits

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage payroll interface and process including researching payroll issues and enforcing adherence to audit and department guidelines; develop fit/gap analysis.
   • Schedule evictions for residents that have no means of paying delinquent rent.
   • Prepare food for daily plate lunches, take-out orders and in-orders and run kitchen.
   • Run monthly delinquency report on past due rents and sends notices for lockouts liens & evictions.
   • Supervise the management of the POS system and approves all cash wrap management, cash auditing, and tip reporting.
   • Created/Modify PowerPoint presentations for intern training and conferences.

   More associate manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An associate manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, associate managers' average salary in mississippi is 75% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate managers 56% less than senior-level associate managers.
   • Certifications. An associate manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an associate manager's salary.

   Average associate manager salary

   $83,246yearly

   $40.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level associate manager salary

   $55,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average associate manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$106,643	$51
   2	New York	$94,491	$45
   3	New Jersey	$94,460	$45
   4	Delaware	$92,960	$45
   5	Virginia	$89,624	$43
   6	California	$87,257	$42
   7	Connecticut	$82,467	$40
   8	Wisconsin	$82,044	$39
   9	Illinois	$80,607	$39
   10	Pennsylvania	$79,856	$38
   11	Washington	$76,065	$37
   12	North Carolina	$76,059	$37
   13	Minnesota	$75,208	$36
   14	Michigan	$75,183	$36
   15	Massachusetts	$74,066	$36
   16	Ohio	$71,718	$34
   17	Indiana	$69,441	$33
   18	Colorado	$56,536	$27
   19	Arizona	$56,283	$27
   20	Georgia	$46,459	$22

   Average associate manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PayPal	$122,984	$59.13	8
   2	Levi Strauss & Co.	$122,645	$58.96	47
   3	Bunge	$117,498	$56.49	20
   4	PVH	$115,900	$55.72	235
   5	Intuitive Surgical	$115,738	$55.64	3
   6	Meta	$114,215	$54.91	83
   7	Tesla	$113,017	$54.34	70
   8	Edwards Lifesciences	$112,331	$54.01	47
   9	General Motors	$111,936	$53.82	8
   10	Boehringer Ingelheim	$111,818	$53.76	10
   11	Novo Nordisk	$110,244	$53.00	3
   12	Eli Lilly and Company	$109,929	$52.85	14
   13	AbbVie	$109,809	$52.79	78
   14	Abbott	$109,644	$52.71	61
   15	WebMD	$109,357	$52.58	4
   16	Fresenius Kabi	$108,846	$52.33	1
   17	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$108,835	$52.32	34
   18	Merck	$108,831	$52.32	3
   19	eBay	$108,807	$52.31	21
   20	Bayer	$108,584	$52.20	11

4. Writing an associate manager job description

   An associate manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an associate manager job description:

   Associate manager job description example

   As a Product Specialist on the OBS team, your role will be to ensure a smooth transaction experience for the client and support the Underwriters by managing the inflow of new multifamily loan submissions and assisting with preliminary underwriting.
   Responsibilities:
   Coordinate with the borrowers, underwriters and bankers to obtain necessary due diligence required for loan file Assist in transition from screening to underwriting. Maintain loan file, applicable checklists, and any documents required. Review and analyze items received to ensure file is accurately documented. Order and review third party reports (appraisals, PCA, ESA, Zoning Report etc.) Manage all aspects of the underwriting and closing of transactions by working closely with Insurance, KYC and Legal to ensure all required information is completed. Run required credit checks applicable to the Firm, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Assist with Market, Property, and Sponsor Analysis. Assist underwriter by entering basic third-party report data to the sizer (appraisal, PCA, ESA, Zoning Report, etc.) Complete and/or assist Underwriters with applicable agency forms for submission. Assists with assembling loan package and delivering to closing. Occasional travel to inspect properties and prepare inspection reports. Other projects and duties, assigned and deemed appropriate from the manager.
   Experience, Skills, and Abilities Required:
   Excellent project management and organizational skills. Must be detail oriented and demonstrate excellent communication skills. Knowledge of multifamily real estate property fundamentals and agency lending/underwriting. Ability to learn multifamily underwriting technology systems and tools that are specific to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Must be able to work independently and as a team member. Bachelor's degree preferred. Requires 2-4 years of experience in multifamily and multifamily affordable housing. Must be able to work well under pressure in a fast paced environment; prioritizing work in order to meet deadlines.
   
   JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
   
   We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
   
   The health and safety of our colleagues, candidates, clients and communities has been a top priority in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. JPMorgan Chase was awarded the "WELL Health-Safety Rating" for all of our 6,200 locations globally based on our operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
   
   As a part of our commitment to health and safety, we have implemented various COVID-related health and safety requirements for our workforce. Employees are expected to follow the Firm's current COVID-19 or other infectious disease health and safety requirements, including local requirements. Requirements include sharing information including your vaccine card in the firm's vaccine record tool, and may include mask wearing. Requirements may change in the future with the evolving public health landscape. JPMorgan Chase will consider accommodation requests as required by applicable law.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find associate managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any associate managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level associate managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate manager job on Zippia to find and recruit associate manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit associate managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate manager

   Once you've found the associate manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new associate manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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