Q: Is a GM higher than a director?

No, a general manager is not higher than a director. General managers typically report to directors of operation and are ranked just below them in a company's hierarchy. The distinction between the two professions is defined by their education and experience. The superior ranking of a director of operations sometimes comes down to advanced degrees or certifications.

Question 1

Managing Director vs. General Manager

Accepted Answer

A managing director works with the chief executive officer to develop new operations and processes, especially with regards to accounting and spending, while a general manager manages the operations of their team and keeps projects within deadlines.

Question 2

How long does it take to become a General Manager?

Accepted Answer

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become a general manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific 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 9 to 11 years years to become a general manager.

Question 3

How to become a general manager in sports?

Accepted Answer

To become a general manager in sports, you typically need to start by earning a bachelor's degree in sports management or a related field, gain experience in the industry, and then work to progressively move up in positions.

Question 4

Is a GM higher than a director?

Accepted Answer

No, a general manager is not higher than a director. General managers typically report to directors of operation and are ranked just below them in a company's hierarchy.

The distinction between the two professions is defined by their education and experience. The superior ranking of a director of operations sometimes comes down to advanced degrees or certifications.

Question 5

What are careers in strategy?

Accepted Answer

Product managers, technical project managers, and investment are careers in strategy. Here are some details about these careers and others in strategy:

Product manager

Question 6

What is a good salary for a general manager?

Accepted Answer

A good salary for a general manager is $100,000 per year, or close to it. There are many factors that influence the salary of a general manager, including their work experience and field of expertise.

Question 7

What is the career path for a general manager?

Accepted Answer

The career path for a general manager requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and some management experience. General managers typically earn bachelor's degrees in business management, administration, or finance.

Question 8

What is the difference between COO and general manager?

Accepted Answer

The biggest difference between a COO and a general manager involves the scope of their responsibilities. A COO is the second-highest member of management and typically oversees multiple general managers.

Question 9

What should I study to become a general manager?

Accepted Answer

You should study business or management to become a general manager. There are multiple majors and degrees open to someone pursuing a career as a general manager.

The majority of aspiring general managers obtain a degree in business. Nearly 40% of general managers hold a degree in this field with management, accounting, and marketing only registering single digit percentages. The most common degree held by general managers is a bachelor's degree. Approximately 60% of GMs have a bachelor's degree with 19% holding an associates degree.

It is important for those pursuing a position as a general manager to have vast knowledge and experience. Working in or studying areas such as product management, human resources, and finance will benefit candidates who aspire to become general managers.

Question 10

General Manager vs. CEO

Accepted Answer

A general manager is a professional who may manage one or several different departments of a company, while a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is a company's highest-ranking employee.

General managers manage large groups of employees in an individual store, office, or portion of a larger organization. The role is most common in large corporations. A general manager's responsibilities are oversight of employees, strategy, coordination, engagement with consumers, and being a liaison between their department and the highest-ranking officials at a company.

Question 11

General Manager vs. Manager

Accepted Answer

A general manager supervises low-level managers, while a manager supervises low-level employees.

A general manager is in charge of several different departments at a company. The managers of these departments report directly to a general manager. A general manager gives directions to managers beneath them. They are also in charge of overseeing the hiring, training, and coaching of lower-level managers.

Question 12

General Manager vs. Operations Manager

Accepted Answer

A general manager supervises employees and leads them towards the company's day-to-day goals, while an operations manager oversees all activities related to producing goods and/or services for a business.

Question 13

What is a good starting salary for a General Manager?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a general manager is $36,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a general manager in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for general managers is $65,517, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a general manager can vary by state.

Question 14

How much does a general manager of a hotel make?

Accepted Answer

A general manager of a hotel makes an average salary of $71,162 per year in the United States. This also depends on the size of the hotel, whether or not it is a franchise or boutique hotel, and many other factors.

General managers of hotels in places like California or New York often make more than those living in less populated states in the country. The average salary of a general manager at a hotel in California is $84,953 per year, while in New York the average salary of a general manager at a hotel is $81,524 per year.

Hotel general managers on the low end of the spectrum make around $41,000 per year, while those in the middle of the spectrum make between $60,000 to $70,000 per year, and the top general managers of hotels make $100,000 and above per year.

Question 15

How much money does a McDonald's general manager make?

Accepted Answer

A Mcdonald's general manager makes $48,000 annually, on average. This annual salary is somewhat lower than general manager salaries at other companies. There are several factors that influence a general manager's actual salary at Mcdonald's.

Question 16

Can a general manager make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a general manager. The chances of earning over $100k for a general manager are actually pretty good because the highest-paid general manager positions typically pay at least $116,000 per year. The average annual salary is $65,517 for general manager jobs. For example, general managers in Hawaii whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $193,000.

Question 17

Is a general manager higher than a VP?

Accepted Answer

No, a general manager is not higher than a VP. Although companies can structure their management hierarchy in a variety of ways, general managers have a focus on the day-to-day operations of a division of a company or stand-alone branch.

Question 18

What percentage of General Managers are female?

Accepted Answer

30.5% of general managers are female in the United States. This is 1.8 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female general managers has increased by 3.7 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 297,337 female general managers in the U.S. and 677,541 male general managers in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 974,878 people with the specific job title of general manager and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 19

How do I write a CV for a general manager position?

Accepted Answer

You write a CV for a general manager position by highlighting your managerial and interpersonal skills using real-world examples and accomplishments.

Before jumping into writing your CV, we recommended that you first check the job ad to see what general manager skills they need. Then make a list of your managerial and industry skills and look for talents that show up on both lists.

Question 20

What should a general manager put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A general manager should put information that highlights their managerial experience, leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, customer service skills, and commercial awareness on their resume.

Question 21

What makes a company a great place to work?

Accepted Answer

What makes a company a great place to work are competitive compensation, company culture, and a sense of community. Here are some details on these and other items that make a company a great place to work:

Frequently asked questions about general managers

Questions about becoming a general manager