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Category Management Salary in the United States

How much does a Category Management make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Category Management in the United States is $97,177 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $114,343
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $89,733 to $106,162
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $82,956
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Category Management Salaries

A Category Management'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Category Management Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Category Management'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): $97,693
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $109,847
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $132,257
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $156,077
  • Expert (over 8 years): $148,619
Levels Salary
Category ... Level Category Management$97,693
Human Fac... Level Category Management$109,847
Human Fac... Level Category Management$132,257
Human Fac... Level Category Management$156,077
Human Fac... Level Category Management$148,619
View as Graph

How Do Category Management 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 Category Managements. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $107,594.
  • California: $107,186.
  • Massachusetts: $105,757.

Top Paying Cities for Category Managements

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: $122,569
  • San Francisco: $121,227
  • Oakland: $118,672

What Skills Can Increase a Category Management's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 19.26% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Software Engineering (Mentioned in 2.96% Job Postings): Software engineering is the application of engineering to the development of software in a systematic method. Notable definitions of software engineering include: "the systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, methods, and experience to the design, implementation, testing, and documentation of software"—The Bureau of Labor Statistics—IEEE Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary "The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software"—IEEE Standard Glossary of Software Engineering Terminology "an engineering discipline that is concerned with all aspects of software production"—Ian Sommerville "the establishment and use of sound engineering principles in order to economically obtain software that is reliable and works efficiently on real machines"—Fritz Bauer
  • Product Strategy (Mentioned in 2.22% Job Postings): Product strategy is defined as the road map of a product. This road map outlines the end-to-end vision of the product, particulars on achieving the product strategy and the big picture context in terms of what the product will become. Companies utilise the product strategy in strategic planning and marketing to identify the direction of the company's activities. The product strategy is composed of a variety of sequential process in order for the vision to be effectively achieved. The company must be clear in terms of the target market of the product in order for them to plan the activities needed in order to reach the destination and to achieve its goals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 19.26%
Software Engineering 2.96%
Product Strategy 2.22%
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 Category Management's salary.

  • Collaborating with Others: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Statistical Design: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Product Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaborating with Others $109,809
13%
Statistical Design $106,894
10%
Product Strategy $106,894
10%
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Category Management Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Category Management roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Category Management positions in Insurance or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Category Management as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Category Management

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$136,047$65.040%
Biotechnology$126,329$61.030%
Internet$126,329$61.030%
Business Services$121,471$58.025%
MFG Nondurable$116,612$56.020%

Category Management Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Category Management'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 September 01, 2026
$89,733
Average $97,177/year
$106,162
$7,478
Average $8,098/month
$8,847
$1,726
Average $1,869/week
$2,042
$43
Average $47/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,162 $8,847 $2,042 $51
Average $97,177 $8,098 $1,869 $47
25th Percentile $89,733 $7,478 $1,726 $43

Most common benefits for Category Management

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

Common company salaries for Category Management

Here are companies hiring for Category Management and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Category Management

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Category Management?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Category Management roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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