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General Manager Salary Salary in the United States

How much does a General Manager Salary make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Manager Salary in the United States is $264,269 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $127.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $336,352
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $230,123 to $302,000
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $199,035
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence General Manager Salary Salaries

A General Manager Salary'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 General Manager Salary Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a General Manager Salary'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): $124,283
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $159,299
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $195,192
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $223,138
  • Expert (over 8 years): $261,662
Levels Salary
Plant Sup... Level General Manager Salary$124,283
Plant Ope... Level General Manager Salary$159,299
Plant Man... Level General Manager Salary$195,192
General M... Level General Manager Salary$223,138
Multi Pla... Level General Manager Salary$261,662
View as Graph

How Do General Manager Salary 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 General Manager Salaries. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $292,599.
  • California: $291,489.
  • Massachusetts: $287,604.

Top Paying Cities for General Manager Salaries

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: $333,322
  • San Francisco: $329,673
  • Oakland: $322,725

What Skills Can Increase a General Manager Salary's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 12.7% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 2.19% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
  • Container (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Container is an object used for or capable of holding, esp for transport or storage, such as a carton, box, etc.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 12.7%
Food Safety 2.19%
Container 1.37%
See More Skills

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 General Manager Salary's salary.

  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Motivating: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment $322,408
22%
Motivating $309,195
17%
PowerPoint $306,552
16%
Get Latest Data

General Manager Salary Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For General Manager Salary roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, General Manager Salary positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view General Manager Salary as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a General Manager Salary

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$396,404$191.050%
Biotechnology$343,550$165.030%
Financial Services$317,123$152.020%

How Education impacts a General Manager Salary's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many General Manager Salaries enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 General Manager Salary with a Bachelor's Degree is between $224,940 and $244,080).

General Manager Salary Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for General Manager Salary
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 14.0%
Associates 8.2%
Bachelors 39.6%
Masters 34.4%
Doctorate 2.2%
View as Graph

General Manager Salary Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a General Manager Salary'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 October 01, 2026
$230,123
Average $264,269/year
$302,000
$19,177
Average $22,022/month
$25,167
$4,425
Average $5,082/week
$5,808
$111
Average $127/hour
$145
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $302,000 $25,167 $5,808 $145
Average $264,269 $22,022 $5,082 $127
25th Percentile $230,123 $19,177 $4,425 $111

Most common benefits for General Manager Salary

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

Common company salaries for General Manager Salary

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

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FAQ about General Manager Salary

1. What industry pays the highest salary for General Manager Salary?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for General Manager Salary roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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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