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The differences between shift managers and general managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a shift manager, becoming a general manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a general manager has an average salary of $71,581, which is higher than the $32,110 average annual salary of a shift manager.
The top three skills for a shift manager include cleanliness, inventory management and management. The most important skills for a general manager are customer service, cleanliness, and food safety.
| Shift Manager | General Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $32,110 | $71,581 |
| Hourly rate | $15.44 | $34.41 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 335,517 | 442,690 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.25 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
Shift managers are employees assigned to oversee the operations of the business during a specific time or work shift. They manage the employees assigned in a particular shift and ensure that the employees are working on their specific tasks. They also ensure that the needed manpower is met. Shift managers are also in charge of checking the sales, ensuring that the finances are properly balanced, and maintaining records during the work shift. They also respond to any challenges that may occur during the time period. Shift managers should have good organization skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.
A general manager is responsible for handling the overall operations in the business. General managers manage the staff tasks efficiently, monitor the productivity and efficiency of the work environment, implement new strategies to improve the business performance, recognize the team's best efforts, and effective allocation of budget resources. A general manager must have excellent communication, decision-making, and critical-thinking skills to identify areas of improvement in handling customer complaints, connecting with vendors and other lines of businesses that will direct the company towards its successful objectives.
Shift managers and general managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Shift Manager | General Manager | |
| Average salary | $32,110 | $71,581 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $43,000 | Between $40,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | ABB | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a shift manager and a general manager in terms of educational background:
| Shift Manager | General Manager | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 56% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Cornell University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between shift managers' and general managers' demographics:
| Shift Manager | General Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 8.2% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |