How to hire a studio manager

How to hire a studio manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step studio 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 studio manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new studio manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a studio manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your studio manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a studio manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect studio 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 studio managers.

   Type of Studio Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Studio Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$19-59
   Office And Operations Manager	Office and Operations managers are tenured or experienced employees with a strong office administration and business operations background. They oversee office operations and ensure that the administrative team is working well... Show more	$18-38
   Co-Manager/Store Manager	A co-manager/store manager oversees the daily operations of a store, ensuring smooth workflow and customer satisfaction. They are in charge of setting goals and sales targets, establishing guidelines and timelines, delegating responsibilities among staff, and developing strategies to optimize store operations... Show more	$14-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cleanliness
   • Yoga
   • Marketing Campaigns
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Lead Generation
   • Photography Studio
   • Sales Process
   • Studio Operations
   • Payroll
   • Front Desk
   • Business Development
   • Design Studio
   • Art Directors
   • Photo Shoots

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Organize and manage coordination of volunteers, instructors and DJs.
   • Manage studio marketing outlets through various social medias such as, Facebook and Instagram.
   • Manage yoga studio, including preparing for classes, checking in customers, selling merchandise, and communicating changes in policies.
   • Manage day-to-day operations of a medium size yoga studio.
   • Book recording and rehearsal studios, manage office accounting including payroll and supervise technical and administrative staff.
   • Provide leadership and direction to facility management and program owners while motivating and interacting with employees to achieve continuous improvement.

   More studio manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the studio manager job description is a good way to get more applicants. A studio 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 studio manager in Nebraska may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level studio manager. Additionally, a studio manager with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average studio manager salary

   $70,813yearly

   $34.04 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level studio manager salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average studio manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$107,560	$52
   2	Massachusetts	$96,816	$47
   3	District of Columbia	$92,484	$44
   4	Nevada	$91,527	$44
   5	New York	$91,338	$44
   6	Virginia	$86,135	$41
   7	Connecticut	$84,889	$41
   8	North Carolina	$80,055	$38
   9	Washington	$78,728	$38
   10	Colorado	$76,562	$37
   11	Minnesota	$74,076	$36
   12	Arizona	$73,320	$35
   13	Pennsylvania	$72,458	$35
   14	Oregon	$72,227	$35
   15	Illinois	$71,854	$35
   16	Maine	$70,779	$34
   17	Ohio	$64,351	$31
   18	Florida	$62,656	$30
   19	Texas	$61,936	$30
   20	Georgia	$56,684	$27

   Average studio manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	School of Visual Concepts	$146,015	$70.20
   2	Apple	$131,938	$63.43	35
   3	38 Studios	$130,136	$62.57
   4	AEA Investors	$128,740	$61.89	50
   5	Netflix	$118,559	$57.00	16
   6	Lucid Motors	$115,016	$55.30	22
   7	Suffolk University	$113,079	$54.36
   8	Nike	$108,860	$52.34	17
   9	PVH	$105,792	$50.86	98
   10	Wpp Us Holdings Inc	$96,629	$46.46	10
   11	The New York Times Company	$92,671	$44.55
   12	Match Group	$90,889	$43.70	5
   13	Columbia University in the City of New York	$86,708	$41.69	5
   14	Gap Inc.	$86,117	$41.40
   15	WGBH	$85,138	$40.93	1
   16	Deloitte	$78,195	$37.59	1,978
   17	SoulCycle Holdings, LLC	$77,347	$37.19	26
   18	Princeton University	$75,524	$36.31	5
   19	Amazon	$75,175	$36.14	1,265
   20	LA State University Continuing	$73,703	$35.43	13

4. Writing a studio manager job description

   A studio manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a studio manager job description:

   Studio manager job description example

   Are you ready to join a growing, employee-focused team that loves helping others achieve their fitness goals?
   
   9Round Holly Springs is growing and looking for a strong leader to guide our team so they can help our members achieve their goals.
   What makes us different?
   Flexibility - We understand everyone on our team has a life outside of work. We do our best to make sure you never miss the most important events. We also know that the happier our team is, the better experience our members will have.
   Keep Your Passion Burning - Once promoted, many managers miss doing the actual "work" that they used to do. By being our manager, you'll have a good balance of leading the team, serving the customers and still working on the floor.
   Free Gym Membership - While others might offer a discount, we provide all of our employees a free membership (and equipment) to the gym.
   Performance Pay and Bonuses - When we win, everyone one our team wins. We pay out monthly bonuses to all of our staff based on certain targets and goals.
   Competitive Pay - We value your time and your ability to help our members achieve their goals. We also know that by paying more, we're able to build a better team and ensure that our members have an even better experience.
   Team Building Activities - Our team gets together once a month for team workouts and lunches.
   Community Support - We love supporting the community that supports us. Our team gets involved through volunteering at local events throughout the year. Our main focus is making sure that our members have the best experience possible when they walk through the doors. We know that's only possible if we have the best team in the area.
   
   Want to learn more? Keep reading!
   
   Company Overview:
   
   9Round Holly Springs provides a full-body workout in 30 minutes. Our members love that there are no class times so they are never late! With the workout changing every day, they never get bored. And with a trainer always there to help them, they are able to reach their full potential.
   
   We are seeking a fitness enthusiast with an outgoing and energetic personality to carry out our mission statement:
   We, at 9Round, are on a mission. For everyone on our team, we’re all about making members stronger in 30 minutes, physically and mentally.
   If you think you have what it takes to be a gym manager and give our members a ridiculously awesome experience (and workout) then, this position is for you.
   
   No kickboxing experience needed. Full training provided.
   
   Our members are our #1 priority and we know the only way they get the best experience is by having the best trainers.
   The duties of our manager are to ensure our members get a killer workout while also enjoying a customer experience that is second-to-none. Daily Responsibilities of a Manager Training new employees on how to deliver a killer workout. Working with new members to ensure they feel welcome and comfortable. Creating the weekly schedule for the team of trainers. Communicating with members on a daily basis in order to hold them accountable & help them achieve their goals. Introducing potential members to 9Round by helping them through their trial workout. Celebrating our members when they hit milestones, anniversaries and birthdays. Ensuring the trainers are following through on their job responsibilities. These include: Welcoming all of our members to the gym with enthusiasm and excitement. Explaining and demonstrating exercises in a manner that provides the best workout each and every time, while motivating the members to reach their goals. Keeping the gym and equipment clean and organized. Helping members who need modifications due to physical limitations and/or injury. Answering phone inquiries and in-person inquiries from people interested in joining the gym. Helping members get checked in and ready for their workout.
   KEY SUCCESS FACTORS Excellent communication skills. Ability to motivate others. Professionalism. Enthusiastic, out-going, warm manner. Physically fit and committed to living a healthy lifestyle. Customer service experience Ability to lead by example QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS Valid Driver's License in the State of North Carolina Pass a background check. Ability to learn the 9Round system and implement on the floor with members. Ability to use technology in order to sign up members, ring up purchase orders and use 9Round technology. Ability to meet the physical demands of the position including, but not limited to, bending, hunching, kneeling, standing, balancing, climbing, stooping, crawling, walking, pushing, pulling and lifting 50+ lbs. Enthusiasm and dedication to health and fitness. Experience working in the fitness industry (bonus if you have management experience)
   Benefits and Perks 9Round in Holly Springs is always closed on Sundays. Total annual compensation between $38,000 and $48,000 based on salary and incentives Free gym membership Powered by JazzHR 5gVhdD7wiC

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find studio managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your studio manager job on Zippia to find and recruit studio manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit studio managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 studio manager

   Once you've selected the best studio manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new studio manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a studio manager?