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The role of a Business Unit Manager is pivotal in shaping a company's direction and performance. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $122,782 per year. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the industry in which one works.
For instance, Business Unit Managers in higher-paying states such as California and New York tend to earn more due to the cost of living and market demand. Moreover, those with extensive experience may command salaries significantly above the average.
In addition to traditional roles, diverse opportunities exist within various industries, allowing managers to leverage their skills for better compensation. Understanding the salary landscape can empower professionals to negotiate better terms and pursue roles that align with their aspirations.
Entry-level positions typically start at lower salaries, while senior managers with extensive experience can earn upwards of $150,000 annually. It's crucial for aspiring Business Unit Managers to continuously develop their skills and expand their networks to enhance their career prospects and salary potential.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level business unit manager | $50,600 | $24.31 |
| Mid-level business unit manager | $78,100 | $37.55 |
| Senior-level business unit manager | $142,000 | $68.09 |
The average business unit manager salary in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average business unit manager salary states are Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $151,519 | $72.85 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $145,120 | $69.77 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $154,476 | $74.27 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $122,250 | $58.77 |
| 5 | New York | $140,168 | $67.39 |
| 6 | Delaware | $135,104 | $64.95 |
| 7 | Ohio | $112,090 | $53.89 |
| 8 | Washington | $142,309 | $68.42 |
| 9 | Indiana | $114,118 | $54.86 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $111,890 | $53.79 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $120,483 | $57.92 |
| 12 | Nevada | $107,488 | $51.68 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $135,330 | $65.06 |
| 14 | Michigan | $105,765 | $50.85 |
| 15 | Virginia | $124,837 | $60.02 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $118,742 | $57.09 |
| 17 | Texas | $108,102 | $51.97 |
| 18 | Connecticut | $118,062 | $56.76 |
| 19 | Kansas | $99,339 | $47.76 |
| 20 | Alabama | $105,707 | $50.82 |
| 21 | South Dakota | $108,264 | $52.05 |
| 22 | California | $114,137 | $54.87 |
| 23 | Colorado | $118,202 | $56.83 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $104,966 | $50.46 |
| 25 | Maryland | $116,835 | $56.17 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $94,841 | $45.60 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $91,342 | $43.91 |
| 28 | Illinois | $96,839 | $46.56 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $95,834 | $46.07 |
| 30 | Florida | $98,341 | $47.28 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $87,459 | $42.05 |
| 32 | Iowa | $88,136 | $42.37 |
| 33 | Alaska | $92,584 | $44.51 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $86,373 | $41.53 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $83,948 | $40.36 |
| 36 | Georgia | $96,630 | $46.46 |
| 37 | Oregon | $97,128 | $46.70 |
| 38 | Missouri | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $92,022 | $44.24 |
| 40 | Arizona | $91,782 | $44.13 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $86,788 | $41.73 |
| 42 | Maine | $94,071 | $45.23 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $82,358 | $39.60 |
| 44 | Montana | $77,093 | $37.06 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $73,809 | $35.49 |
| 46 | Vermont | $90,062 | $43.30 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $75,889 | $36.49 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $75,553 | $36.32 |
| 49 | Utah | $63,317 | $30.44 |
| 50 | Idaho | $75,446 | $36.27 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $55,326 | $26.60 |
The highest-paying cities for business unit managers are East Providence, RI, Boston, MA, and Everett, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Providence, RI | $156,442 | $75.21 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $146,382 | $70.38 |
| 3 | Everett, WA | $145,007 | $69.71 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $141,133 | $67.85 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $136,002 | $65.39 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $119,935 | $57.66 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $119,321 | $57.37 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $118,355 | $56.90 |
| 9 | Branford, CT | $118,303 | $56.88 |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $115,256 | $55.41 |
| 11 | Columbus, IN | $114,038 | $54.83 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $112,099 | $53.89 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $106,081 | $51.00 |
| 14 | Troy, MI | $106,017 | $50.97 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, FL | $104,160 | $50.08 |
| 16 | Glenview, IL | $97,273 | $46.77 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $97,122 | $46.69 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $96,096 | $46.20 |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $92,086 | $44.27 |
| 20 | Burlington, IA | $89,247 | $42.91 |
A business unit manager's salary ranges from $81,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $184,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $184,000 | $15,333 | $88 |
| 75th Percentile | $152,000 | $12,667 | $73 |
| Average | $122,782 | $10,232 | $59 |
| 25th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 10th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
The highest paying types of business unit managers are senior business manager, senior business development manager, and senior operations manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager Of Business Services | $98,244 | $8,187 | $47.23 | 313,139 |
| Day Manager | $44,969 | $3,747 | $21.62 | 280,978 |
| Group Manager | $118,324 | $9,860 | $56.89 | 263,616 |
| Plant Manager | $113,843 | $9,487 | $54.73 | 275,962 |
| Division Manager | $81,755 | $6,813 | $39.31 | 349,279 |
| Zone Manager | $50,974 | $4,248 | $24.51 | 298,152 |
Top companies hiring business unit managers now:
Business unit manager salaries at Citi and TBWA Worldwide are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average business unit manager salary at companies like Goldman Sachs and Navistar are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi | $160,253 | $77.04 |
| 2 | TBWA Worldwide | $151,102 | $72.65 |
| 3 | Goldman Sachs | $149,303 | $71.78 |
| 4 | Navistar | $144,922 | $69.67 |
| 5 | Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC | $142,701 | $68.61 |
| 6 | Accenture | $142,208 | $68.37 |
| 7 | NTN Bower Corporation | $140,837 | $67.71 |
| 8 | Amgen | $139,840 | $67.23 |
| 9 | Hitachi Vantara | $136,646 | $65.70 |
| 10 | ON Semiconductor | $136,279 | $65.52 |
| 11 | Weatherford International | $134,993 | $64.90 |
| 12 | MUFG EMEA | $134,897 | $64.85 |
| 13 | Hayward Pool Products | $133,182 | $64.03 |
| 14 | BD | $132,709 | $63.80 |
| 15 | International Trucks | $131,921 | $63.42 |
| 16 | Gilbane Building Company | $130,592 | $62.78 |
| 17 | Hubbell | $130,341 | $62.66 |
| 18 | YKK AP America | $129,884 | $62.44 |
| 19 | Ball | $129,096 | $62.07 |
| 20 | Johnson & Johnson | $128,151 | $61.61 |
The average business unit manager salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $122,916 | $59.09 |
| 2 | Manufacturing | $119,532 | $57.47 |
| 3 | Professional | $117,864 | $56.67 |
| 4 | Automotive | $114,627 | $55.11 |
| 5 | Finance | $110,036 | $52.90 |
The average business unit manager salary has risen by $10,069 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average business unit manager earned $112,713 annually, but today, they earn $122,782 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for business unit managers over the last decade.
Compare business unit manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare business unit manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $123,000 | $59.03 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $119,000 | $57.40 | -0.1% |
| 2023 | $120,000 | $57.48 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $119,000 | $57.18 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $118,000 | $56.56 | +1.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jabil Inc. | Technical Business Unit Manager | San Jose, CA | 06/26/2025 | $144,400 |
| Conagra Foods | Business Unit Manager | Troy, OH | 06/21/2025 | $81,000 |
| Conagra Brands, Inc. | Business Unit Manager | Troy, OH | 06/20/2025 | $81,000 |
| Zimmer Biomet | Business Unit Controller Manager | Englewood, CO | 06/18/2025 | $125,000 |
| Parker-Hannifin, Corporation | Business Unit Manager | Carson, CA | 06/17/2025 | $153,052 |
| Wunderlich-Malec Careers | Business Unit Manager | Oakdale, MN | 06/15/2025 | $170,000 |
| Republic Services, Inc. | Business Unit Finance Manager | Rock Falls, IL | 06/11/2025 | $109,520 |
| Anton Paar Usa Inc. | Business Unit Sales Manager | Ashland, VA | 06/10/2025 | $141,800 |
| Regions Bank | Business Unit Compliance Manager | Birmingham, AL | 06/07/2025 | $118,539 |
| International Paper | Business Unit Manager-Maintenance | Nunez, GA | 06/01/2025 | $146,560 |
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