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The average salary for a Department Manager stands at $50,222 per year. This figure varies significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific industry demands.
Entry-level Department Managers typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can command higher salaries. For instance, managers with over five years in the role can expect salaries nearing $60,000.
It's crucial to note that salaries differ widely across states. For example, Department Managers in states like California and New York often earn above the national average, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
Department Managers can enhance their earning potential by pursuing additional certifications or specialized training. Understanding market trends and networking can also provide valuable insights into securing higher-paying positions.
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The average dept manager salary in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average dept manager salary states are Tennessee, Kansas, and New Mexico.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $81,353 | $39.11 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $72,878 | $35.04 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $84,324 | $40.54 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $62,566 | $30.08 |
| 5 | Texas | $66,091 | $31.77 |
| 6 | Delaware | $68,069 | $32.73 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $75,343 | $36.22 |
| 8 | California | $70,754 | $34.02 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $93,525 | $44.96 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $60,076 | $28.88 |
| 11 | Maryland | $69,234 | $33.29 |
| 12 | Ohio | $56,546 | $27.19 |
| 13 | Massachusetts | $69,089 | $33.22 |
| 14 | Nevada | $59,501 | $28.61 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $53,016 | $25.49 |
| 16 | Maine | $54,121 | $26.02 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| 18 | Virginia | $58,862 | $28.30 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $71,421 | $34.34 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| 21 | Alabama | $57,125 | $27.46 |
| 22 | Colorado | $57,857 | $27.82 |
| 23 | Arizona | $55,906 | $26.88 |
| 24 | Florida | $52,182 | $25.09 |
| 25 | Michigan | $54,564 | $26.23 |
| 26 | Illinois | $52,866 | $25.42 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $50,760 | $24.40 |
| 28 | Vermont | $56,592 | $27.21 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $50,167 | $24.12 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $53,725 | $25.83 |
| 31 | Missouri | $48,932 | $23.52 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $51,300 | $24.66 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $51,308 | $24.67 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $50,444 | $24.25 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $49,555 | $23.82 |
| 36 | Indiana | $48,160 | $23.15 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $48,502 | $23.32 |
| 38 | Utah | $48,565 | $23.35 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $46,423 | $22.32 |
| 40 | Idaho | $50,705 | $24.38 |
| 41 | Georgia | $48,350 | $23.25 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $47,456 | $22.82 |
| 43 | Iowa | $47,322 | $22.75 |
| 44 | Montana | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $46,977 | $22.59 |
| 46 | Oregon | $49,044 | $23.58 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $45,442 | $21.85 |
| 48 | Washington | $46,961 | $22.58 |
| 49 | Kansas | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| 50 | Alaska | $41,506 | $19.95 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $45,511 | $21.88 |
The highest-paying cities for dept managers are Bay Shore, NY, Redwood City, CA, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay Shore, NY | $82,897 | $39.85 |
| 2 | Redwood City, CA | $75,985 | $36.53 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $66,684 | $32.06 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,339 | $28.05 |
| 5 | Mansfield, OH | $57,496 | $27.64 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $57,301 | $27.55 |
| 7 | Birmingham, AL | $56,550 | $27.19 |
| 8 | Tucson, AZ | $55,302 | $26.59 |
| 9 | Bloomfield, MI | $54,776 | $26.33 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $53,138 | $25.55 |
| 11 | Addison, IL | $52,953 | $25.46 |
| 12 | Apex, NC | $51,509 | $24.76 |
| 13 | Liberty, MO | $48,085 | $23.12 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $47,724 | $22.94 |
| 15 | Knoxville, TN | $47,562 | $22.87 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $47,485 | $22.83 |
| 17 | Kirkland, WA | $46,985 | $22.59 |
| 18 | Bismarck, ND | $46,855 | $22.53 |
| 19 | Bozeman, MT | $41,652 | $20.02 |
A dept manager's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $50,222 | $4,185 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
The highest paying types of dept managers are stock manager, associate manager, and part-time key manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part-Time Key Manager | $72,750 | $6,063 | $34.98 | 386,614 |
| Co-Manager | $64,962 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 258,234 |
| Floor Manager | $43,813 | $3,651 | $21.06 | 442,213 |
| Produce Manager | $37,310 | $3,109 | $17.94 | 157,993 |
| Stock Manager | $120,096 | $10,008 | $57.74 | 183,274 |
| Parts Manager | $60,136 | $5,011 | $28.91 | 53,880 |
Top companies hiring dept managers now:
Dept manager salaries at UPMC and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average dept manager salary at companies like DreamWorks Animation and Greenbox Loans are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UPMC | $95,814 | $46.06 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $92,773 | $44.60 |
| 3 | DreamWorks Animation | $57,439 | $27.61 |
| 4 | Greenbox Loans | $55,648 | $26.75 |
| 5 | LiDestri Food and Drink | $55,068 | $26.48 |
| 6 | The Clorox Company | $54,293 | $26.10 |
| 7 | Save Mart Supermarkets | $47,971 | $23.06 |
| 8 | PLUM | $47,819 | $22.99 |
| 9 | Coborn's | $46,929 | $22.56 |
| 10 | SiteOne Landscape Supply | $44,993 | $21.63 |
| 11 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $44,262 | $21.28 |
| 12 | Family Tree Nursery | $44,016 | $21.16 |
| 13 | Blanchard Machinery | $43,993 | $21.15 |
| 14 | Town & Country Foods | $43,752 | $21.03 |
| 15 | AHMC Healthcare | $42,665 | $20.51 |
| 16 | C&S Wholesale Grocers | $42,296 | $20.33 |
| 17 | City of Dallas Employees | $40,829 | $19.63 |
| 18 | Albertsons | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| 19 | Petco Holdings, Inc. | $37,338 | $17.95 |
| 20 | Dollar General | $37,233 | $17.90 |
The average dept manager salary has risen by $6,160 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average dept manager earned $44,062 annually, but today, they earn $50,222 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for dept managers over the last decade.
Compare dept manager salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare dept manager salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,200 | $24.15 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $48,700 | $23.43 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $47,900 | $23.01 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $46,600 | $22.39 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | $47,200 | $22.67 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hy-Vee | Seafood Dept MGR | Robbinsdale, MN | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of Rochester | MGR, Staff Admin, Dept | Rochester, NY | 06/24/2025 | $77,216 |
| Aecom | Environmental Permitting Dept Manager-Transportation | Bloomfield, NJ | 06/20/2025 | $175,000 |
| Natural Grocers | Grocery/Bulk Dept Manager | Corpus Christi, TX | 06/20/2025 | $37,566 |
| McDonald's | Dept MGR I W/Crew Punches | Sacramento, CA | 06/14/2025 | $51,653 |
| Natural Grocers | Grocery/Bulk Dept Manager | Casper, WY | 06/12/2025 | $37,566 |
| Natural Grocers | Grocery/Bulk Dept Manager | Lakewood, CO | 06/06/2025 | $43,827 |
| Malibu Country Market | Assistant Dept. Manager-Meat | Malibu, CA | 06/06/2025 | $45,914 |
| Foster Farms | Embrex Transfer-Dept 309-Cedar Hatchery (Varies) | Fresno, CA | 05/29/2025 | $37,983 |
| Natural Grocers | Grocery/Bulk Dept Manager | Davenport, IA | 05/28/2025 | $37,566 |
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