Salary guide, May 2025
General Manager (Manufacturing) pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for General and Operations Managers in the United States was $105,770 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $72,320 and $167,280.
Also searched as: General Manager, Site GM, Business Unit GM, Division General Manager. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-1021 General and Operations Managers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,090 | $72,320 | $105,770 | $167,280 | $253,390 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $24.08 | $34.77 | $50.85 | $80.42 | $121.82 |
BLS estimated 3,503,020 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-1021 General and Operations Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $105,640 | $71,390 to $162,400 | 74,960 | 1.18 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $103,670 | $70,790 to $167,250 | 35,700 | 1.1 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $100,440 | $65,800 to $156,260 | 27,430 | 0.86 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $114,940 | $77,590 to $176,080 | 9,520 | 0.57 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $157,000 | $100,040 to $226,350 | 177,850 | 0.83 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $157,000 | $100,040 to $226,350 | 177,850 | 0.83 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $111,010 | $71,040 to $173,250 | 125,090 | 1.37 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $109,390 | $76,900 to $175,170 | 122,930 | 1.21 |
Rank every metro for General Manager (Manufacturing)
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$180,220
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$172,620
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$172,120
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$171,090
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$170,400
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$169,780
- Electrical Equipment Manufacturing$167,710
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$167,440
- Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media$164,330
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing$162,730
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing$161,510
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$160,990
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$160,960
- Paper Manufacturing$160,810
- Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel$160,680
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 249,060 | $88,400 | $130,960 | $195,100 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 39,120 | $89,430 | $126,810 | $172,830 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 24,900 | $100,520 | $142,790 | $206,260 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 21,880 | $118,720 | $170,400 | $228,300 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 21,670 | $75,370 | $113,740 | $172,530 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 20,740 | $105,770 | $159,990 | $217,480 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 19,590 | $107,830 | $156,010 | $207,210 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 17,830 | $78,630 | $123,670 | $179,150 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 16,160 | $102,800 | $150,140 | $210,650 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 12,500 | $64,900 | $96,630 | $138,950 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 12,500 | $64,900 | $96,630 | $138,950 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 12,380 | $89,770 | $127,330 | $172,360 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 12,370 | $82,540 | $120,190 | $162,500 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 10,660 | $71,010 | $103,510 | $160,720 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 10,220 | $80,690 | $117,830 | $158,980 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 10,140 | $97,710 | $134,820 | $204,820 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 10,020 | $98,730 | $138,930 | $201,590 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 9,970 | $78,710 | $111,700 | $161,090 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 9,970 | $78,710 | $111,700 | $161,090 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 9,600 | $124,800 | $172,120 | $220,270 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 9,150 | $123,740 | $169,780 | $215,780 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 8,510 | $107,950 | $161,510 | $218,320 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 8,380 | $72,010 | $103,400 | $156,500 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 8,280 | $74,060 | $105,090 | $152,310 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 8,130 | $101,470 | $144,190 | $204,760 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 7,870 | $108,920 | $158,770 | $215,100 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 7,730 | $72,350 | $102,950 | $155,750 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 7,370 | $122,210 | $172,620 | $234,930 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 7,240 | $65,500 | $93,320 | $135,080 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 7,170 | $100,770 | $148,360 | $212,340 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 7,040 | $64,990 | $92,050 | $133,200 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 6,080 | $117,480 | $171,090 | $264,440 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 5,490 | $93,930 | $130,620 | $197,680 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 5,360 | $61,290 | $93,200 | $135,220 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 5,270 | $72,150 | $104,980 | $154,190 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 5,110 | $100,450 | $143,190 | $204,050 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 4,760 | $84,800 | $123,200 | $166,180 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 4,630 | $76,370 | $122,800 | $185,100 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 4,630 | $96,470 | $135,700 | $196,160 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 4,310 | $116,030 | $160,810 | $220,840 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 4,230 | $91,770 | $122,880 | $163,990 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,600 | $105,770 | $160,350 | $218,870 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 3,580 | $114,600 | $159,180 | $216,920 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3,330 | $121,250 | $167,710 | $221,400 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 2,670 | $65,350 | $93,610 | $136,200 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 2,660 | $82,400 | $126,070 | $185,900 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 2,650 | $102,340 | $159,250 | $218,220 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,550 | $107,200 | $162,730 | $215,480 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 2,260 | $124,730 | $180,220 | $258,950 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 2,230 | $61,930 | $96,060 | $155,100 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,230 | $118,400 | $156,820 | $216,260 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,230 | $118,400 | $156,820 | $216,260 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 2,170 | $85,340 | $129,850 | $179,200 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 2,140 | $94,730 | $129,770 | $197,420 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 2,080 | $65,350 | $90,990 | $134,440 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 2,050 | $78,120 | $135,060 | $194,500 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 1,940 | $84,650 | $121,840 | $172,980 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 1,930 | $86,400 | $126,460 | $184,880 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 1,890 | $91,230 | $127,020 | $179,150 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 1,780 | $61,130 | $93,070 | $156,670 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 1,650 | $96,260 | $132,650 | $172,510 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 1,590 | $68,710 | $100,480 | $147,700 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 1,440 | $109,580 | $160,960 | $217,550 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,420 | $83,310 | $113,060 | $151,640 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,350 | $56,970 | $93,100 | $160,810 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 1,340 | $85,130 | $129,980 | $195,850 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,240 | $100,130 | $134,220 | $189,240 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 1,200 | $101,580 | $138,830 | $200,130 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 1,170 | $100,100 | $150,510 | $210,900 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 1,100 | $113,930 | $160,680 | $204,050 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,040 | $97,070 | $140,420 | $207,400 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 970 | $74,590 | $110,500 | $155,630 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 960 | $103,780 | $156,720 | $213,030 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 860 | $130,950 | $160,990 | $209,670 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 820 | $65,500 | $98,640 | $157,410 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 810 | $93,830 | $131,850 | $187,620 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 720 | $124,810 | $167,440 | $241,290 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 690 | $135,230 | $164,330 | $230,940 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 660 | $88,040 | $126,100 | $202,940 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 650 | $67,640 | $108,910 | $163,080 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 600 | $76,780 | $132,620 | $200,240 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 590 | $86,470 | $137,410 | $190,140 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 590 | $66,090 | $96,470 | $140,640 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 560 | $68,360 | $101,430 | $155,790 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 500 | $85,930 | $135,040 | $200,490 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 400 | $94,970 | $137,060 | $212,890 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 380 | $72,660 | $99,950 | $151,740 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 320 | $73,720 | $103,160 | $170,900 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 300 | $123,100 | $154,840 | $208,960 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 200 | $108,800 | $157,810 | $191,100 |
| 316200 | Footwear Manufacturing | 160 | $60,220 | $105,630 | $135,510 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 100 | $61,700 | $113,690 | $166,570 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 70 | $66,900 | $76,720 | $117,040 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 60 | $77,180 | $115,460 | $149,040 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For General Manager (Manufacturing), separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $67,160 | $102,950 | $164,130 |
| May 2025 | $72,320 | $105,770 | $167,280 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about hiring mistakes and transferability?
The common mistake is hiring a brilliant plant operator into a GM seat when sales is the weak function. A GM who has never sold will rely on whoever already does. Transferability is strongest within a customer type, such as OEM supply or distributor-driven products. Moving from build-to-order to a stock-and-ship business changes the whole rhythm, and sponsors underestimate that.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a General Manager (Manufacturing)?
The median annual wage for General and Operations Managers in the United States was $105,770 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $72,320 and $167,280. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $50,090. 90% earned less than $253,390.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a General Manager (Manufacturing) at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 3,503,020 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
CEO / President (Manufacturing) pay Chief Operating Officer (COO) pay VP of Operations pay VP of Manufacturing pay Regional VP of Operations pay General Manager (Manufacturing) pay ranked across all metros Open jobs General Manager (Manufacturing) recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
General Manager roles within manufacturing often require oversight of plant P&L, sales, and complex operational strategy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics captures this under SOC 11-1021, General and Operations Managers, a broad grouping that reflects many industries. Because the BLS aggregates such a wide variety of management, Manufacturing Headhunters advises using these figures as a starting point for market alignment.
The national median for this occupation is $105,770, which is an increase of $2,820 over the May 2024 median of $102,950. While this national median provides a baseline, hiring managers should expect wide variance due to specific operational, geographical, and scale-related requirements that the BLS data does not isolate.
The middle-band width for this occupation is $94,960, representing the range from the P25 of $72,320 to the P75 of $167,280. This substantial spread indicates that the market compensates for different levels of senior-level responsibility, facility size, and specialized industry knowledge. The P10 of $50,090 and P90 of $253,390 further demonstrate the depth of the total compensation spectrum. These figures reflect base salary only; they do not include performance bonuses, equity, or other forms of variable compensation that are standard for high-level manufacturing leadership.
Regional hubs show varied market conditions for this occupation. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro reports a median of $157,000, while the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX area lists a median of $111,010. The prior median for New York was $149,260, and for Dallas, it was $108,690. These metros represent regions with high occupational employment concentrations. It is important to note that the location quotient for Dallas is 1.37, compared to 0.83 for New York, reflecting different levels of industrial density for the occupation overall.
National sectoral data indicates that management pay varies significantly by industry. For instance, Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing reports a national median of $180,220, Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing at $172,620, and Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing at $172,120. These figures are higher than the general occupational median and serve as industry-specific guideposts for manufacturing leadership roles. Managers should interpret these sectoral rows as indicators of how market complexity influences expected compensation levels.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How should I interpret the wide middle-band width of $94,960?
This range reflects the broad diversity of management roles within the SOC 11-1021 category, spanning from small facility oversight to multi-plant operations. You must narrow your target salary based on your specific plant scale and the required P&L scope.
Why does the BLS report different figures for specific manufacturing sectors?
Industry-specific data reflects broader wage trends within those NAICS codes, which include various management roles beyond just the plant-level General Manager. Use these sector-specific medians as directional benchmarks for the relative competitiveness of your sub-industry.
Are these salary figures inclusive of the executive bonus structures I need for a GM hire?
No, the BLS figures strictly represent base salaries and do not capture the variable incentive packages typical for GM roles. Always adjust your total offer calculations to account for industry-standard performance bonuses and equity incentives.
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