General Manager Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 29,416 US job postings by 3,665 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for general managers: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 29,416 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for general managers in US job postings is $70,000 a year (4,426 postings from 884 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $55,000 to $95,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $54,000 a year (622 postings).
- The skills that most set general manager postings apart are leadership, management experience.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 3 years of experience.
General Manager job postings in the US, October 2026
- $70,000
- Median advertised pay (4,426 postings)
- $55,000–$95,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $54,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 29,416
- US job postings from 3,665 employers
How much does a general manager make?
The median advertised pay is $70,000 a year, from 4,426 US job postings by 884 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $123,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 4,426 US general manager job postings: median $70,000 a year, middle half $55,000 to $95,000.
- Median: $70,000
- 25th percentile: $55,000
- 75th percentile: $95,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $20K–$30K | 0.5% |
| $30K–$40K | 6.9% |
| $40K–$50K | 11.7% |
| $50K–$60K | 11.6% |
| $60K–$70K | 18.4% |
| $70K–$80K | 11.0% |
| $80K–$90K | 10.7% |
| $90K–$100K | 8.1% |
| $100K–$110K | 6.2% |
| $110K–$120K | 3.7% |
| $120K–$130K | 2.0% |
| $130K–$140K | 2.0% |
| $140K–$150K | 1.3% |
| $150K–$160K | 1.0% |
| $160K–$170K | 0.7% |
| $170K–$180K | 1.3% |
| $180K–$190K | 0.6% |
| $190K–$200K | 0.3% |
| $200K–$210K | 0.3% |
| $210K–$220K | 0.3% |
| $220K–$230K | 0.2% |
| $230K–$240K | 0.2% |
| $240K–$250K | 0.2% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $20.75 | $18.62–$27.00 | 576 | Assistant General Manager, General Manager, Assistant Branch Manager |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $78,000 | $62K–$100K | 2,432 | General Manager, Branch Manager, Assistant General Manager |
| All pay postings, annualised | $70,000 | $55K–$95K | 4,426 | – |
For comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median annual wage of General and Operations Managers (11-1021) at $106,000 (May 2025). Postings advertise pay; the BLS measures what people earn, across all employers and levels.
What is the starting salary for a general manager?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $54,000 a year (622 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $54,000 | 622 |
| 2-4 years | $78,000 | 1,723 |
| 5+ years | $100,000 | 587 |
Highest-paying general manager jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branch Manager | $83,000 | 652 | 196 |
| District Manager | $82,000 | 505 | 114 |
| General Manager (general) | $65,000 | 2,559 | 413 |
General manager pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $75,000 | $49,000–$99,000 | 598 | 8.6% |
| New York | $68,000 | $62,000–$90,000 | 212 | 3.6% |
| Pennsylvania | $68,000 | $59,000–$83,000 | 127 | 3.9% |
| Illinois | $63,000 | $58,000–$79,000 | 215 | 3.9% |
| Texas | $62,000 | $41,000–$82,000 | 262 | 9.5% |
| Florida | $62,000 | $41,000–$74,000 | 119 | 4.8% |
| Missouri | $62,000 | $45,000–$63,000 | 128 | 2.8% |
| Michigan | $61,000 | $55,000–$67,000 | 144 | 3.0% |
| Wisconsin | $60,000 | $58,000–$70,000 | 143 | 2.8% |
| Colorado | $56,000 | $50,000–$72,000 | 124 | 2.2% |
Skills employers ask for in general manager job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 42% |
| Leadership | 25% |
| Customer service | 19% |
| Problem-solving | 17% |
| Organizational skills | 16% |
| Interpersonal skills | 15% |
| Microsoft Office | 12% |
| Excel | 10% |
| Attention to detail | 8% |
| Time management | 7% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set general managers apart
- Leadership4.8× as often as in all postings · 25%
- Leadership experience10× as often as in all postings · 5%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a general manager job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a general manager do?
Employers post these jobs as Assistant General Manager, Branch Manager, District Manager, Assistant Branch Manager, Chief Executive Officer and other titles. The largest specializations are Branch Manager (9%), District Manager (7%), Regional Manager (2%), Management Trainee (8%), Executive Director (1%), Center Director (under 1%).
The closest official occupation is General and Operations Managers (11-1021.00). Its most important tasks:
- Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement.
- Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
- Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
- Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.
- Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a general manager?
Among 5,679 postings that state a minimum, the median is 3 years. Under 1% say 0 years and 19% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 5,679 US general manager job postings: median 3 years, and 19% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 1% |
| 1 yr | 18% |
| 2 yrs | 26% |
| 3-4 yrs | 29% |
| 5-7 yrs | 22% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 3% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 99% of the 1,356 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a general manager: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| General Manager | 1,239 (33.8%) |
| Assistant General Manager | 709 (19.4%) |
| Branch Manager | 568 (15.5%) |
| District Manager | 381 (10.4%) |
| Assistant Branch Manager | 153 (4.2%) |
| Chief Executive Officer | 85 (2.3%) |
| Regional Manager | 83 (2.3%) |
| Manager in Training | 82 (2.2%) |
| Regional Director of Operations | 82 (2.2%) |
| Management Trainee | 60 (1.6%) |
| Hotel General Manager | 44 (1.2%) |
| Regional Director | 44 (1.2%) |
| General Manager in Training | 36 (1.0%) |
| Branch Manager I | 35 (0.9%) |
| Regional Operations Manager | 35 (0.9%) |
| Center Director | 34 (0.9%) |
| Branch Manager II | 30 (0.8%) |
| Manager Trainee | 30 (0.8%) |
| Hotel Manager | 27 (0.7%) |
| Center Manager | 26 (0.7%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
General manager job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District Manager | 1,827 | 381 | $85K | 3 years | communication, leadership, problem-solving |
| Branch Manager | 2,003 | 568 | $90K | 3 years | communication, leadership, customer service |
General Manager compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Manager | $70K | 3 years | 29,416 | – |
| Restaurant Manager | $57K | 2 years | 27,316 | 19 |
| Operations Manager | $85K | 3 years | 12,850 | 18 |
| Store Manager | $20.12/hr | 2 years | 61,047 | 18 |
| Team Leader | $18.00/hr | 1 year | 63,827 | 15 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant Manager | 19 | $57K |
| Operations Manager | 18 | $85K |
| Store Manager | 18 | $20.12/hr |
| Team Leader | 15 | $18.00/hr |
| Healthcare Administrator | 20 | $100K |
| Chef | 18 | $60K |
Applying for general manager jobs?
- General manager resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find general manager jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a general manager make?
How much does a District Manager make?
How much does a Branch Manager make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 18 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.