General Merchandise Manager Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a General Merchandise Manager in the United States is $118,151 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $135,269
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $103,551 to $127,111
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $90,258
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View as table View as graph 25% $103,551 10% $90,258 90% $135,269 75% $127,111 $118,151 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

General Merchandise Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $127,111 $10,593 $2,444 $61
Average $118,151 $9,846 $2,272 $57
25th Percentile $103,551 $8,629 $1,991 $50
Check out General Merchandise Manager Job Openings in the United States
General Manager

Sodexo - Norwalk, OH

General Manager

The Parking Spot - Bexley, OH

Assistant General Manager

Taco Bell - Linworth, OH

General Manager

Kimmel and Associates - Cincinnati, OH

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Key Factors That Influence General Merchandise Manager Salaries

A General Merchandise 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 General Merchandise Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a General Merchandise 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): $84,990
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $86,886
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $119,165
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $156,848
  • Expert (over 8 years): $189,294
Levels Salary
Merchandi... Level General Merchandise Manager$84,990
Merchandi... Level General Merchandise Manager$86,886
General M... Level General Merchandise Manager$119,165
Merchandi... Level General Merchandise Manager$156,848
Merchandi... Level General Merchandise Manager$189,294
$84,990 0 yr
$86,886 < 2 yrs
$119,165 2-4 yrs
$156,848 5-8 yrs
$189,294 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do General Merchandise Manager 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 Merchandise Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $130,817.
  • California: $130,321.
  • Massachusetts: $128,584.

Top Paying Cities for General Merchandise 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: $149,024
  • San Francisco: $147,392
  • Oakland: $144,286

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 5.3% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • SAS (Mentioned in 1.53% Job Postings): SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is a statistical software suite developed by SAS Institute for data management, advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence, criminal investigation, and predictive analytics.
  • Customer Satisfaction (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Customer satisfaction (often abbreviated as CSAT, more correctly CSat) is a term frequently used in marketing. It is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as "the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals." The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) endorses the definitions, purposes, and constructs of classes of measures that appear in Marketing Metrics as part of its ongoing Common Language in Marketing Project. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 71 percent responded that they found a customer satisfaction metric very useful in managing and monitoring their businesses. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is often part of a Balanced Scorecard. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 5.3%
SAS 1.53%
Customer Satisfaction 1.1%
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 Merchandise Manager's salary.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Onboarding: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement
$142,963
21%
Facilitation
$140,600
19%
Onboarding
$139,418
18%
Guest Service
$139,418
18%
Effective Communication
$138,237
17%
Interviewing
$135,874
15%
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General Merchandise Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For General Merchandise Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, General Merchandise Manager positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view General Merchandise Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a General Merchandise Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$141,781$68.020%
Energy & Utilities$141,781$68.020%
Financial Services$141,781$68.020%
Pharmaceuticals$141,781$68.020%
Software & Networking$141,781$68.020%

How Education impacts a General Merchandise Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many General Merchandise Managers 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 Merchandise Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $114,249 and $123,626).

General Merchandise Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for General Merchandise Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 13.2%
Associates 12.4%
Bachelors 59.3%
Masters 14.0%
Doctorate 0.4%
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General Merchandise Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a General Merchandise 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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for General Merchandise Manager

Salaries for a General Merchandise Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $101,705 in 2023 to around $98,785 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of General Merchandise Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of General Merchandise Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$101,705
2024
$99,710
2025
$98,785
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $101,705
2024 $99,710
2025 $98,785
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for General Merchandise Manager

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

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

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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.)

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