Returns Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Returns Manager make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Returns Manager in the United States is $65,952 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a Returns Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,507
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,917 to $73,047
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,422
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View as table View as graph 25% $59,917 10% $54,422 90% $79,507 75% $73,047 $65,952 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Returns Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $73,047 $6,087 $1,405 $35
Average $65,952 $5,496 $1,268 $32
25th Percentile $59,917 $4,993 $1,152 $29
Check out Returns Manager Job Openings in the United States
FC Returns Clerk

Cart - Groveport, OH

Returns Processing Clerk

BJ's Wholesale Club - Lewis Center, OH

Seasonal warehouse Returns Clerk

Aero Fulfillment - West Chester, OH

Search More Returns Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Returns Manager Salaries

A Returns Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Returns Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Returns Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $63,700
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,970
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,952
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,282
  • Expert (over 8 years): $68,599
Levels Salary
Entry Level Returns Manager$63,700
Intermediate Level Returns Manager$63,970
Senior Level Returns Manager$65,952
Specialist Level Returns Manager$68,282
Expert Level Returns Manager$68,599
$63,700 0 yr
$63,970 < 2 yrs
$65,952 2-4 yrs
$68,282 5-8 yrs
$68,599 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Returns Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $83,185
  • San Francisco: $82,274
  • Oakland: $80,541

What Skills Can Increase a Returns Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 10.53% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Change Management (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Change management (sometimes abbreviated as CM) is a collective term for all approaches to prepare , support and help individuals, teams, and organizations in making organizational change. The most common change drivers include: technological evolution, process reviews, crisis, and consumer habit changes; pressure from new business entrants, acquisitions, mergers, and organizational restructuring. It includes methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly change a company or organization. Organizational change management (OCM) considers the full organization and what needs to change, while change management may be used solely to refer to how people and teams are affected by such organizational transition. It deals with many different disciplines, from behavioral and social sciences to information technology and business solutions.
  • Inventory Control (Mentioned in 2.63% Job Postings): Inventory control or stock control can be broadly defined as "the activity of checking a shop’s stock." However, a more focused definition takes into account the more science-based, methodical practice of not only verifying a business' inventory but also focusing on the many related facets of inventory management (such as forecasting future demand) "within an organisation to meet the demand placed upon that business economically." Other facets of inventory control include supply chain management, production control, financial flexibility, and customer satisfaction. At the root of inventory control, however, is the inventory control problem, which involves determining when to order, how much to order, and the logistics (where) of those decisions. An extension of inventory control is the inventory control system. This may come in the form of a technological system and its programmed software used for managing various aspects of inventory problems , or it may refer to a methodology (which may include the use of technological barriers) for handling loss prevention in a business.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.53%
Change Management 2.63%
Inventory Control 2.63%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Returns Manager's salary.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Service Delivery: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Returns Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Presentation
$80,461
22%
Service Delivery
$79,142
20%
Returns Processing
$79,142
20%
Continuous Improvement
$78,483
19%
Customer Contact
$74,526
13%
SQL
$71,888
9%
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How Education impacts a Returns Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Returns Managers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Returns Manager with a No Diploma is between $56,405 and $60,047).

Returns Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Returns Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 4.3%
High School 26.1%
Associates 39.1%
Bachelors 30.4%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Returns Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Returns Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Returns Manager

Salaries for a Returns Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,940 in 2023 to around $77,887 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Returns Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Returns Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,940
2024
$78,415
2025
$77,887
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,940
2024 $78,415
2025 $77,887
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Returns Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Returns Manager

Here are companies hiring for Returns Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Returns Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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FAQ about Returns Manager

1. Where can a Returns Manager earn the most?

A Returns Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Returns Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Returns Manager is $83,185.

2. What is the highest pay for Returns Manager?

The highest pay for Returns Manager is $79,507.

3. What is the lowest pay for Returns Manager?

The lowest pay for Returns Manager is $54,422.

4. What are the responsibilities of Returns Manager?

Responsible for the entire returns process. Communicates the returns process with vendors, customers, and employees and manages employees involved in the returns process. May require an associate degree in area of specialty. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. Supervises a group of primarily para-professional level staffs. May also be a level above a supervisor within high volume administrative/ production environments. Makes day-to-day decisions within or for a group/small department. Has some authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 3-5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. Thorough knowledge of functional area and department processes.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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