As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Grade Manager in the United States is $82,195 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.
However, a Grade Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Grade Manager Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $89,758 | $7,480 | $1,726 | $43 |
| Average | $82,195 | $6,850 | $1,581 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,169 | $6,097 | $1,407 | $35 |
A Grade 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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Grade 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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Communica... Level Grade Manager | $62,846 |
| Grade Man... Level Grade Manager | $82,822 |
| Communica... Level Grade Manager | $96,593 |
| Communica... Level Grade Manager | $121,037 |
| Communica... Level Grade Manager | $157,831 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Initiative | 6.32% |
| Strategic Communication | 3.21% |
| Photography | 1.43% |
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 Grade Manager's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Communications | $88,771 | |
| Insight | $87,949 | |
| Consulting | $87,127 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Grade 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 Grade Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $74,722 and $79,027).
| Typical Education for Grade Manager | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 3.2% |
| High School | 3.2% |
| Associates | 1.1% |
| Bachelors | 64.9% |
| Masters | 29.8% |
| Doctorate | 1.1% |
Understanding how a Grade 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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $89,758 | $7,480 | $1,726 | $43 |
| Average | $82,195 | $6,850 | $1,581 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,169 | $6,097 | $1,407 | $35 |
Salaries for a Grade Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,040 in 2023 to around $74,380 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Grade Manager salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $75,040 |
| 2024 | $75,440 |
| 2025 | $74,380 |
| 2026 |
View More
|
| 2027 |
View More
|
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The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Grade Manager roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.
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