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Returns Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Returns Manager in the United States is $65,956 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): $79,562
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,922 to $73,078
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,428
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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): $63,705
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,975
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,956
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $68,295
  • Expert (over 8 years): $68,613
Levels Salary
Entry Level Returns Manager$63,705
Intermediate Level Returns Manager$63,975
Senior Level Returns Manager$65,956
Specialist Level Returns Manager$68,295
Expert Level Returns Manager$68,613
View as Graph

How Do Returns Managers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Returns Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,026.
  • California: $72,749.
  • Massachusetts: $71,780.

Top Paying Cities for Returns Manager

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: $83,190
  • San Francisco: $82,279
  • Oakland: $80,545

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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 10.53%
Change Management 2.63%
Inventory Control 2.63%
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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 $80,466
22%
Service Delivery $79,147
20%
Returns Processing $79,147
20%
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Returns Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Returns Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $72,727. While startup companies pay approximate $61,329.

Returns Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $61,329
Growth Stage 51~500 $64,921
Established 501~5000 $70,184
Enterprise 5000+ $72,727

Returns Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Returns Manager roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Retail & Wholesale, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Returns Manager positions in Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Returns Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Returns Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale$79,147$38.020%

How Education impacts an Returns Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Returns Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Returns Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $58,180 and $62,772.

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%
View as Graph

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 August 01, 2026
$59,922
Average $65,956/year
$73,078
$4,994
Average $5,496/month
$6,090
$1,152
Average $1,268/week
$1,405
$29
Average $32/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,078 $6,090 $1,405 $35
Average $65,956 $5,496 $1,268 $32
25th Percentile $59,922 $4,994 $1,152 $29

Most common benefits for Returns Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

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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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 $83,190.

2. What is the highest pay for Returns Manager?

The highest pay for Returns Manager is $79,562.

3. What is the lowest pay for Returns Manager?

The lowest pay for Returns Manager is $54,428.

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.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Returns Manager?

The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Returns Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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