Post job

How to hire a station manager

Station manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring station managers in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a station manager is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per station manager on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 4,754 station managers in the US and 347,820 job openings.
  • Memphis, TN, has the highest demand for station managers, with 4 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of station managers.

How to hire a station manager, step by step

To hire a station manager, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a station manager:

Here's a step-by-step station manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a station manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new station manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a station manager do?

A station manager is primarily responsible for spearheading and overseeing station operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They are in charge of managing the workforce and budgets, setting objectives and timelines, liaising with managers, establishing guidelines, delegating tasks, and monitoring the progress of projects, addressing and solving issues should there be any. Furthermore, as a station manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a station manager does
jobs
Post a station manager job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the station manager you need to hire. Certain station manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect station manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list shows salaries for various types of station managers.

    Type of Station ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Station ManagerTop executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.$16-47
    General Manager Of OperationsGeneral managers of operations are employed to oversee the overall operations of businesses. Their responsibilities include the improvement of the efficiency of the operations and overall management... Show more$23-79
    Service Center ManagerA service center manager is responsible for managing staff performance and monitoring the efficiency of service operations to provide the highest customer satisfaction according to business functions and requirements. Service center managers strategize techniques to maximize operational productivity and identifying cost-reduction procedures with high-quality deliverables... Show more$14-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Safety Standards
    • Oversight
    • Corrective Action
    • Payroll
    • Station Operations
    • Direct Reports
    • Financial Performance
    • ISO
    • FAA
    • Customer Complaints
    • Quality Service
    • Human Resources
    • Disciplinary Actions
    • TSA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage all brewery operations including special project management, raw material ordering and handling, production scheduling, and client interfacing.
    • Cover all operations within USPS and FedEx.
    • Work externally to integrate FedEx products and services into customer supply chain logistics.
    • Collect money daily, make deposits daily, run collection reports for each station.
    • Train employees and schedule shifts for DJs, plan events, create radio commercials, communicate with recording studios.
    • Establish airport and local community relations as liaison with airport, city officials, FAA, police and fire departments.
    More station manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the station manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A station manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a station manager in Oregon may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level station manager. Additionally, a station manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average station manager salary

    $58,357yearly

    $28.06 hourly rate

    Entry-level station manager salary
    $34,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 14, 2025

    Average station manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New Jersey$82,681$40
    2Massachusetts$73,204$35
    3Maryland$65,111$31
    4California$63,015$30
    5Texas$62,882$30
    6Florida$56,538$27
    7Louisiana$54,943$26
    8Nevada$53,528$26
    9Colorado$47,371$23
    10Illinois$45,532$22
    11Indiana$45,363$22
    12Tennessee$45,118$22
    13Missouri$42,799$21
    14Hawaii$41,197$20
    15Arizona$40,852$20
    16Washington$29,714$14
    17Oregon$26,341$13
    18North Dakota$23,868$11
    19Alaska$19,238$9

    Average station manager salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Astronics$119,985$57.69
    2Syngenta$74,105$35.6313
    3Textron$72,881$35.049
    4Waste Management$56,561$27.1923
    5Airlines for America$51,019$24.531
    6Connecticut Children's Medical Center$48,729$23.431
    7Sun Country Airlines$48,183$23.16
    8U.S. Central$47,769$22.97
    9University of Alaska$46,817$22.512
    10Matheson Trucking Inc.$45,822$22.03
    11LATAM Airlines Group$45,652$21.95
    12Matheson Tri gas$45,636$21.9412
    13CEVA Logistics$44,868$21.572
    14EZ$44,718$21.5019
    15Unifi Manufacturing$44,659$21.47
    16FedEx$43,719$21.0223
    17Vanguard Car Rental USA LLC$43,487$20.91
    18Bradley-Morris$42,943$20.65
    19Estes Forwarding Worldwide$42,814$20.582
    20Contour Aviation$42,510$20.444
  4. Writing a station manager job description

    A good station manager job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a station manager job description:

    Station manager job description example

    Ability to pass up to a 10-year background check.

    Must have authorization to work in the United States as defined by the Immigration Reform Act of 1986.

    Must complete ramp and SIDA training to obtain airport authority identification security.

    Education:

    High School diploma or GED.

    Experience:

    Two+ years of relevant experience.

    Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

    Strong problem solving skills.

    Excellent customer service skills.

    Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

    Must have strong organizational skills.

    Preferred Qualifications

    Education:

    Four-year college education or equivalent experience.

    Experience:

    Four+ years of relevant experience.

    Relevant supervisory experience.

    Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

    Ability to apply creative solutions that have positive impact on results.

    Able to effectively resolve employee conflicts.

    Strong leadership qualities and ability to create a passionate and efficient workforce.

    Working Conditions

    Work Schedule:

    You will need to have flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays and overtime. We operate in a shift bid environment.

    Work Environment:

    Must be able to be alert to moving vehicles or aircraft and use radio equipment.

    Enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis (sun, rain, sleet or snow!) May be exposed to a wide variety of weather conditions, jet and machinery noises, fumes, dirt and dust for extended periods.

    Physical Demands/Requirements:

    Must be able to lift / carry / push / pull and move items of 70 pounds and/or more on a regular basis and repetitively lift weights of 40 to 50 pounds on raised surfaces.

    Must be able to walk, climb, bend, kneel, crawl, and stoop on a frequent basis and for extended periods.

    Must be able to work in cramped or high places.

    Must be able to carry heavy items up and down jet way stairs.

    Ability to stand, sit, talk, hear, see, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, keyboard, printer, and phone.

    Supervisory Responsibilities

    Supervisory experience required.

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right station manager for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your station manager job on Zippia to find and recruit station manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with station manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new station manager

    Once you have selected a candidate for the station manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new station manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a station manager?

There are different types of costs for hiring station managers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new station manager employee.

You can expect to pay around $58,357 per year for a station manager, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for station managers in the US typically range between $16 and $47 an hour.

Find better station managers in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring station managers FAQs

Search for station manager jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse executive management jobs