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Job outlook for commercial managers in the United States
Commercial manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected commercial manager job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 23,800 new jobs for commercial managers are projected over the next decade.
Commercial manager salaries have increased 12% for commercial managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,145 commercial managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 104,252 active commercial manager job openings in the US.
The average commercial manager salary is $100,167.
Are commercial manager jobs in demand?
Commercial manager job and salary trends over time
Commercial manager jobs over time
Commercial manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,145 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,613 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,704 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,475 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,378 | 0.00% |
Average commercial manager salary over time
Commercial manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $100,167 | $48.16 | +4.5% |
| 2025 | $95,889 | $46.10 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $94,056 | $45.22 | +2.6% |
| 2023 | $91,664 | $44.07 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $89,317 | $42.94 | +3.6% |
Commercial manager jobs by state
Most common states for commercial managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 452 | 65% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,877 | 27% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 254 | 26% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 746 | 24% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 965 | 23% |
| 6 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,767 | 22% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,208 | 22% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 777 | 22% |
| 9 | Vermont | 623,657 | 135 | 22% |
| 10 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,740 | 21% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 277 | 21% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 224 | 21% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 157 | 21% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,719 | 19% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,157 | 19% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,059 | 19% |
| 17 | California | 39,536,653 | 6,970 | 18% |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,300 | 18% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,879 | 18% |
| 20 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,172 | 18% |
Most common cities for commercial managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 3 | 11% | $82,528 |
| 2 | Springfield | 3 | 3% | $94,012 |
| 3 | Atlanta | 8 | 2% | $97,747 |
| 4 | Hartford | 3 | 2% | $103,388 |
| 5 | Tallahassee | 3 | 2% | $87,290 |
| 6 | Costa Mesa | 2 | 2% | $122,164 |
| 7 | Everett | 2 | 2% | $100,675 |
| 8 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $106,850 |
| 9 | Boston | 5 | 1% | $114,604 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $113,746 |
| 11 | Chicago | 7 | 0% | $97,519 |
| 12 | New York | 4 | 0% | $112,461 |
| 13 | Houston | 3 | 0% | $104,226 |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 3 | 0% | $111,261 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $124,316 |
| 16 | San Jose | 3 | 0% | $133,080 |
| 17 | Denver | 2 | 0% | $79,908 |
| 18 | Detroit | 2 | 0% | $108,376 |
| 19 | Minneapolis | 2 | 0% | $86,262 |
Commercial Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of commercial manager experts
Murray State University
Texas Christian University
University of Maryland
Pepperdine University, Seaver College
Sam Houston State University
Farmingdale State College
The City College of New York
Belmont University
Sonoma State University
Longwood University
Montana State University
Fordham University
Dr. Ben Littlepage
ProfessorMurray State University
Educational Administration And Supervision
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Manager?
Dr. Ben Littlepage: I believe skills associated with organizational systems (e.g. procedures, processes) and hybridized management are essential for the field. Organizations (e.g. schools, institutions) will continue to be lean for a variety of reasons. The ability to achieve results by refining systems and maximizing resources cannot be understated. Hybrid work schedules and communication are not leaving education. Leaders that embrace hybridized technologies for assessment, employee satisfaction and development, and content delivery will remain competitive in the face of a private market looking to capitalize on laggard leaders.
What will help Commercial Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Ben Littlepage: Salary is maximized when leaders are sought after. Leaders who pursue meaningful experiences and remain 'market ready' are viewed as an asset to any organization. Leaders must carefully consider where the field is moving and respond.
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in MarketingTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Commercial Manager?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
Roland Rust Ph.D.
Distinguished University Professor, David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Service, Ph.D., Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MarketingUniversity of Maryland
Robert H. Smith School of Business
What skills stand out on Commercial Manager resumes?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: One might think that a stellar sales record would be most important, but that would be most relevant only if the individual has prior sales manager experience. If promoting a salesperson to sales manager, the thing that may be missing is administrative and managerial skills. In addition, we are in a technological revolution, driven by AI, which means that prior knowledge and experience with AI-related analysis would also definitely stand out (although probably hard to find).
What skills will help Commercial Managers earn the most?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: My co-author, Ming-Hui Huang, and I conducted a research study about the "Feeling Economy" published in the California Management Review in 2019. In that study, which tested our predictions about the impact of AI, we investigated US government data to determine which skills are paying more over time. Interestingly, and across various industries, we found that soft skills were increasing in pay the fastest. This makes sense because as AI takes over more thinking tasks, humans will need to focus more on feeling tasks. With sales and sales management being among the most people-oriented jobs that exist, those choosing this career direction are doing the right thing!
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Commercial Managers?
Steven Bauer: The coronavirus has accelerated the transformation to a digital world, and this effect will continue after the pandemic is behind us. Graduates will need to be able to navigate a hybrid business environment, with in-person and virtual meetings, interactions and platforms. There will also be increased opportunities to be entrepreneurial and innovative in the digital area. In addition, graduates will have to become more skilled at navigating a global environment since greater digitization will draw countries closer to each other.
Carliss Miller Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ManagementSam Houston State University
Department of Management & Marketing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Commercial Manager job market given the pandemic?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Flexible working arrangements were considered a perk or benefit, but given the pandemic more and more jobs will be designed with flexible work arrangements in mind. We will continue to see trends in the labor market with a push towards personal services (e.g. virtual assistants, professional organizers) and professional services. There will also continue to be a demand for knowledge work. More and more, employers are looking to hire applicants that can provide concrete evidence of being "Day 1" ready.
Employers will focus more on identifying prospects with certain "soft skills" which were a nice-to-have pre-pandemic, but are now critical for organizational survival. These skills include: critical thinking, agility, ability to adapt to change, resilience, virtual team effectiveness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, data analysis and interpretation is a highly sought after skill even for jobs that historically did not require analytical ability.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Commercial Managers?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Any certifications/licenses/courses that specifically relate to the job function, industry, desired skills of a job, or the individuals' desired career trajectory will have a major impact on attracting job prospects. For example, for someone seeking a sales position, courses that target professional selling, CRM, data management and analysis, sales forecasting, strategic management, business communications, social media marketing, leadership and project management would be beneficial.
Xu Zhang Ph.D.
ChairFarmingdale State College
Department of Economics
What skills stand out on Commercial Manager resumes?
Xu Zhang Ph.D.: I believe the most important attributes employers seek on a resume remain the same-problem solving skills, team work skills, analytical/quantitative skills, verbal and written communication skills. However, given the pandemic or any other unexpected shock to work environment, how to quickly and efficiently adapt to new work modes can be a very valuable attribute standing out on resume.
What type of skills will young Commercial Managers need?
Prabal Kumar De Ph.D.: I think the necessary skills remain the same. One modification that would stay is greater virtual engagement. Therefore, newly essential skills such as acing a virtual interview, making a mark during a Zoom meeting, or managing or being a valuable part of a remote working group would be useful long after the immediate threats from the COVID-19 crisis be gone.
Nina Woodard
Senior Career Development SpecialistBelmont University
Office of Career & Professional Development
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Commercial Manager job market given the pandemic?
Nina Woodard: The pandemic hasn't impacted all areas of the entertainment industry in the same way. Anything related to live events and touring has been placed on an extended pause, which has been very difficult for graduates hoping to work in those fields. On an encouraging note, consumers will always find a way back to live experiences, so that segment of the industry will absolutely recover; the timing is just still a bit unknown. Other areas such as record or publishing companies have held steady. And, digital marketing and content creation companies are as busy, if not busier, than they've ever been as artists seek alternative ways to stay connected to their fans. Technology has intersected with entertainment in exciting, creative ways that will continue even as some of the more traditional avenues become available again. For many companies, ideas that started as pivots are now vibrant components of their long-term strategies.
The way we work may have also permanently changed. Companies have realized that remote working is a truly viable option for most businesses. While maintaining company culture, and the social nature of an entertainment-based organization, may still require some level of in-person interaction, it seems likely that many organizations may continue with remote/hybrid office models.
What Commercial Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nina Woodard: For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.
Adjunct LecturerSonoma State University
School of Business & Economics
What type of skills will young Commercial Managers need?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.
What experience really stands out on Commercial Manager resumes?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: Most important on resumes to only show accomplishments you are proud of and reflect measurable success and completion of past work. These accomplishments should be a snapshot of what we have done and can do in the future. The most important two lines of a resume are in the objectives, to list what the person is seeking. These two lines give the reader a quick view of what the person wants.
Now is a great time to start the new year to build a portable work portfolio to represent an alignment of what a person is excited about and enjoys in their work.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Commercial Managers to find work opportunities?
Dr. David Lehr: Most job growth will continue to be in urban centers and the surrounding suburbs. Rural areas will continue to struggle (remote work notwithstanding).
What skills stand out on Commercial Manager resumes?
Dr. Angela Woodland Ph.D.: Skills that are immediately useful stand out on resumes. Right now, data analytics skills are in hot demand. A desirable job candidate should be able to import large data sets in various formats, clean data, manipulate data, interrogate data, and draw conclusions from the data. Additionally, the job candidate should be able to prepare informative and easy-to-follow data visualizations of the results. This skill set allows a job candidate to be immediately useful in an organization. It is the new way of analyzing and communicating.
What type of skills will young Commercial Managers need?
Peter Johnson DPS: There are three things that employers are looking for:
1. Demonstrated ability to solve problems
2. Ability to analyze and make decisions based on data
3. Communication skills with management, teams, and clients