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What is a general manager/director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Jaunelle Celaire,
Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.
The average general manager/director salary is $127,274. The most common degree is a bachelor's degree degree with an business major. It usually takes 4-6 years of experience to become a general manager/director. General managers/director with a Certified Sales Professional (CSP) certification earn more money. Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 189,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a general manager/director?

Jaunelle Celaire

Chair, Professor of Voice, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.
ScoreGeneral Manager/DirectorUS Average
Salary
8.3

Avg. Salary $127,274

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 6.39%

Black or African American 6.21%

Hispanic or Latino 15.29%

Unknown 4.34%

White 67.30%

Gender

female 18.04%

male 81.96%

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

General manager/director career paths

Key steps to become a general manager/director

  1. Explore general manager/director education requirements

    Most common general manager/director degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.0 %

    Associate

    13.6 %

    Master's

    12.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific general manager/director skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service12.37%
    Financial Performance11.07%
    Payroll7.19%
    Beverage Operations5.08%
    Human Resources4.77%
  3. Complete relevant general manager/director training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New general managers/director 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 a general manager/director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general manager/director resumes.
  4. Gain additional general manager/director certifications

    General manager/director 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 general manager/director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for general managers/director include Certified Sales Professional (CSP) and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research general manager/director duties and responsibilities

    • Manage hotel website, online rates and RFP's.
    • Manage and all OEM port actions and recalls ensuring compliance.
    • Create a plan and schedule to achieve ISO 9000 2000 certification.
    • Developed/Monitore key performance metrics (KPI's) and manage DC's performance to these KPI's.
  6. Prepare your general manager/director resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your general manager/director 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 a general manager/director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable general manager/director resume templates

    Build a professional general manager/director 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 general manager/director resume.
    General Manager/Director Resume
    General Manager/Director Resume
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    General Manager/Director Resume
    General Manager/Director Resume
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    General Manager/Director Resume
    General Manager/Director Resume
    General Manager/Director Resume
  7. Apply for general manager/director jobs

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

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

How did you land your first general manager/director job

Zippi

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Average general manager/director salary

The average general manager/director salary in the United States is $127,274 per year or $61 per hour. General manager/director salaries range between $84,000 and $191,000 per year.

Average general manager/director salary
$127,274 Yearly
$61.19 hourly

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How do general managers/director rate their job?

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General manager/director reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Educating employees and getting everyone on the same mindset about what it takes for a company to succeed.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

I love the problem solving aspect. Helping my team work through problems and training new employees to perform to their best.

Cons

Disciplining my team for mistakes they can prevent, such as attendance.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

I love being able to mold my team and the distribution center to the culture of respect and accountability! Having senior and executive leadership support is a huge positive factor in making this happen!!


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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