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Job outlook for unit managers in the United States
Unit manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected unit manager job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 189,200 new jobs for unit managers are projected over the next decade.
Unit manager salaries have increased 4% for unit managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 24,320 unit managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 366,932 active unit manager job openings in the US.
The average unit manager salary is $60,561.
Are unit manager jobs in demand?
Unit manager job and salary trends over time
Unit manager jobs over time
Unit manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,320 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 21,294 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 21,735 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 21,146 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 20,644 | 0.01% |
Average unit manager salary over time
Unit manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,561 | $29.12 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $58,884 | $28.31 | --0.1% |
| 2023 | $58,972 | $28.35 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $58,668 | $28.21 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $58,025 | $27.90 | +1.6% |
Unit manager jobs by state
Most common states for unit managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 552 | 80% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 647 | 48% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 444 | 46% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,969 | 43% |
| 5 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,709 | 41% |
| 6 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,508 | 41% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,223 | 40% |
| 8 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 1,902 | 39% |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 404 | 38% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 3,856 | 37% |
| 11 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,116 | 37% |
| 12 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 2,461 | 37% |
| 13 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,069 | 37% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 3,656 | 36% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 2,185 | 36% |
| 16 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,804 | 36% |
| 17 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,145 | 36% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 269 | 36% |
| 19 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 4,057 | 35% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 366 | 35% |
Most common cities for unit managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | 3 | 12% | $56,967 |
| 2 | LaGrange | 3 | 10% | $51,309 |
| 3 | Peachtree City | 3 | 9% | $51,577 |
| 4 | Silver Spring | 4 | 6% | $77,483 |
| 5 | Pensacola | 3 | 6% | $51,457 |
| 6 | Springfield | 8 | 5% | $74,165 |
| 7 | Brandon | 3 | 3% | $51,258 |
| 8 | Evansville | 3 | 3% | $55,923 |
| 9 | Flint | 3 | 3% | $64,894 |
| 10 | Lynn | 3 | 3% | $72,143 |
| 11 | Raleigh | 7 | 2% | $58,003 |
| 12 | Cary | 3 | 2% | $57,879 |
| 13 | Naperville | 3 | 2% | $68,281 |
| 14 | Baltimore | 5 | 1% | $78,163 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $57,064 |
| 16 | Cincinnati | 3 | 1% | $55,414 |
| 17 | Orlando | 3 | 1% | $50,862 |
| 18 | Philadelphia | 4 | 0% | $71,616 |
| 19 | Chicago | 3 | 0% | $68,497 |
Unit Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of unit manager experts
Murray State University
University of Alaska Fairbanks
San Francisco State University
Creighton University
Pepperdine University, Seaver College
Sam Houston State University
Houston Baptist University
Farmingdale State College
The City College of New York
Belmont University
Sonoma State University
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Dr. Ben Littlepage
ProfessorMurray State University
Educational Administration And Supervision
What will help Unit Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Ben Littlepage: Salary is maximized when leaders are sought after. Leaders who pursue meaningful experiences and remain 'market ready' are viewed as an asset to any organization. Leaders must carefully consider where the field is moving and respond.
What Unit Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
Bruce Heiman Ph.D.
Professor of International BusinessSan Francisco State University
Department of International Business
What skills will help Unit Managers earn the most?
Bruce Heiman Ph.D.: -Previous internship/practicum experience in the industry
-Ability to identify and solve problems in an effective manner
-Ability to deploy design/creativity tools in the service of finding and solving problems
-Evidence of ability to manage in the relevant non-English language(s)
-Prior job experience/deep training in a related area
-Prior experience/training managing people/teams
-Ability/experience in working in a team and concretely increasing the team's performance in measurable ways
-Ability to speak with and relate well to people at all levels of an organization, including below, peers, above, and outsiders
-Skills (deep) in working in other cultures and respecting the values and conventions of that culture. Multiple cultures would be worth more
What soft skills should all Unit Managers possess?
Ravi Nath Ph.D.: Good communication skills, both written and oral, always serve well. Unless a graduate is able to effectively communicate and share their ideas and thoughts with others, their technical skills alone will not be sufficient in having a rewarding professional career.
The ability to successfully adapt to changing environments is also pivotal as the half-life of technology is quickly shrinking.
I will also add "resiliency' to this list of soft skills. Recovering from setbacks and quickly getting back on your feet has become a mantra particularly in the tech fields such as MIS and Data Science.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Unit Managers?
Steven Bauer: The coronavirus has accelerated the transformation to a digital world, and this effect will continue after the pandemic is behind us. Graduates will need to be able to navigate a hybrid business environment, with in-person and virtual meetings, interactions and platforms. There will also be increased opportunities to be entrepreneurial and innovative in the digital area. In addition, graduates will have to become more skilled at navigating a global environment since greater digitization will draw countries closer to each other.
Carliss Miller Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ManagementSam Houston State University
Department of Management & Marketing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Unit Manager job market given the pandemic?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Flexible working arrangements were considered a perk or benefit, but given the pandemic more and more jobs will be designed with flexible work arrangements in mind. We will continue to see trends in the labor market with a push towards personal services (e.g. virtual assistants, professional organizers) and professional services. There will also continue to be a demand for knowledge work. More and more, employers are looking to hire applicants that can provide concrete evidence of being "Day 1" ready.
Employers will focus more on identifying prospects with certain "soft skills" which were a nice-to-have pre-pandemic, but are now critical for organizational survival. These skills include: critical thinking, agility, ability to adapt to change, resilience, virtual team effectiveness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, data analysis and interpretation is a highly sought after skill even for jobs that historically did not require analytical ability.
What's a good job out of college for Unit Managers?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Good jobs out of college are those that offer structured training, development, and job rotation. While some college students identified their career at age 5 and never veered away, some are still figuring out what they want to do after college. A job opportunity that recognizes the potential of new talent, willing to invest in training and development, and provides opportunities for new employees to experience different job functions enables new graduates to gain a realistic job preview that pays and allows them to identify an opportunity within the company that best aligns with skills and interests. Positions that are for a specific job function but have an apprenticeship model, like a "sales trainee" position, are also great for career stepping stones right out of college.
Michael Kraten Ph.D.
Professor of Accounting, Chair, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Program Coordinator, Accounting, BBAHouston Baptist University
Accounting, Economics and Finance Department
What technical skills for a Unit Manager stand out to employers?
Michael Kraten Ph.D.: Short-term skills like data analytics establish college graduates as credible staff professionals. Long-term skills like critical thinking and persuasive communication can place graduates on long-term career paths to senior management.
Xu Zhang Ph.D.
ChairFarmingdale State College
Department of Economics
What skills stand out on Unit Manager resumes?
Xu Zhang Ph.D.: I believe the most important attributes employers seek on a resume remain the same-problem solving skills, team work skills, analytical/quantitative skills, verbal and written communication skills. However, given the pandemic or any other unexpected shock to work environment, how to quickly and efficiently adapt to new work modes can be a very valuable attribute standing out on resume.
What type of skills will young Unit Managers need?
Prabal Kumar De Ph.D.: I think the necessary skills remain the same. One modification that would stay is greater virtual engagement. Therefore, newly essential skills such as acing a virtual interview, making a mark during a Zoom meeting, or managing or being a valuable part of a remote working group would be useful long after the immediate threats from the COVID-19 crisis be gone.
Nina Woodard
Senior Career Development SpecialistBelmont University
Office of Career & Professional Development
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Unit Manager job market given the pandemic?
Nina Woodard: The pandemic hasn't impacted all areas of the entertainment industry in the same way. Anything related to live events and touring has been placed on an extended pause, which has been very difficult for graduates hoping to work in those fields. On an encouraging note, consumers will always find a way back to live experiences, so that segment of the industry will absolutely recover; the timing is just still a bit unknown. Other areas such as record or publishing companies have held steady. And, digital marketing and content creation companies are as busy, if not busier, than they've ever been as artists seek alternative ways to stay connected to their fans. Technology has intersected with entertainment in exciting, creative ways that will continue even as some of the more traditional avenues become available again. For many companies, ideas that started as pivots are now vibrant components of their long-term strategies.
The way we work may have also permanently changed. Companies have realized that remote working is a truly viable option for most businesses. While maintaining company culture, and the social nature of an entertainment-based organization, may still require some level of in-person interaction, it seems likely that many organizations may continue with remote/hybrid office models.
What Unit Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nina Woodard: For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.
Adjunct LecturerSonoma State University
School of Business & Economics
What experience really stands out on Unit Manager resumes?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: Most important on resumes to only show accomplishments you are proud of and reflect measurable success and completion of past work. These accomplishments should be a snapshot of what we have done and can do in the future. The most important two lines of a resume are in the objectives, to list what the person is seeking. These two lines give the reader a quick view of what the person wants.
Now is a great time to start the new year to build a portable work portfolio to represent an alignment of what a person is excited about and enjoys in their work.
What type of skills will young Unit Managers need?
Craig Nathanson Ph.D.: I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.
What skills stand out on Unit Manager resumes?
Dr. Timothy Edwards: Writing and research skills. Analytical and critical thinking skills. Technical skills such as web design, graphic design, audio and video production skills. Employers are interested in potential employees knowledge, intelligence and skills.