General Manager Average Salary in Chicago 2024
How much money does a person working as General Manager make in Chicago?
LOW
87,500
USD AVERAGE
190,000
USD HIGH
303,000
USD
A person working as General Manager in Chicago typically earns around 190,000 USD. Salaries range from 87,500 USD (lowest) to 303,000 USD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. General Manager salaries in Chicago vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
General Manager Pay Scale and Salaries in Chicago
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
181,000 USD or more
158,000 to 181,000 USD
109,000 USD or less
109,000 to 158,000 USD
 87,500 USD |
182,000 USD |
303,000 USD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position General Manager in Chicago range from 87,500 USD (starting salary) to 303,000 USD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 182,000 USD, half of the professionals who work as General Manager in Chicago earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as General Manager in Chicago earn less than 147,000 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 210,000 USD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title General Manager in Chicago compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 109,000 USD to 158,000 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 109,000 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 158,000 USD to 181,000 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 181,000 USD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / General Manager / Chicago
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 99,400 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 133,000 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +48% | 196,000 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +22% | 239,000 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 261,000 USD |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 282,000 USD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as General Manager and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 99,400 USD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 133,000 USD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 196,000 USD, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 239,000 USD, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 261,000 USD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 282,000 USD, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / General Manager / Chicago
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as General Manager.
| High School | 122,000 USD | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +18% | 143,000 USD |
| Bachelor's Degree | +45% | 208,000 USD |
| Master's Degree | +31% | 272,000 USD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position General Manager in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 122,000 USD.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 143,000 USD, 18% more than the previous level.
Level 3: Bachelor's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 208,000 USD, 45% more than the previous level.
Level 4: Master's Degree
At this level, the average salary becomes 272,000 USD, 31% more than the previous level.
Is a Master's degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master's degree program or any post-graduate program in United States costs anywhere from 39,600 USD to 119,000 USD and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can't really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch to a higher-paying job. The numbers seem to support the theory. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / General Manager / Chicago
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as General Manager in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 5%.
| Male | 165,000 USD | |
| Female | -5% | 157,000 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / General Manager / Chicago
How much are annual salary increments in Chicago for individuals working as General Manager? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as General Manager in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / General Manager / United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / General Manager / Chicago
92 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as General Manager in Chicago is 92 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as General Manager in Chicago is 42 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Executive and Management |  -100% | |
| Account Coordinator | 110,000 USD | -42% |
| Account Director | 122,000 USD | -36% |
| Account Executive | 133,000 USD | -30% |
| Account Manager | 122,000 USD | -36% |
| Administration Manager | 125,000 USD | -34% |
| Administration Officer | 67,300 USD | -65% |
| Administration Supervisor | 106,000 USD | -44% |
| Administrative Clerk | 52,000 USD | -73% |
| Administrative Officer | 51,500 USD | -73% |
| Area Director | 118,000 USD | -38% |
| Area Manager | 119,000 USD | -37% |
| Asset Protection Associate | 139,000 USD | -27% |
| Assistant Director | 130,000 USD | -32% |
| Assistant General Manager | 139,000 USD | -27% |
| Assistant Manager | 137,000 USD | -28% |
| Assistant Managing Director | 160,000 USD | -16% |
| Assistant Operations Manager | 150,000 USD | -21% |
| Assistant Project Manager | 129,000 USD | -32% |
| Assistant Section Head | 109,000 USD | -43% |
| Assistant to CEO | 126,000 USD | -34% |
| Assistant Vice President | 147,000 USD | -23% |
| Associate Account Director | 128,000 USD | -33% |
| Associate Director | 139,000 USD | -27% |
| Bid Manager | 153,000 USD | -20% |
| Branch Manager | 150,000 USD | -21% |
| Business Development Manager | 158,000 USD | -17% |
| Business Operations Associate | 133,000 USD | -30% |
| Business Operations Lead | 139,000 USD | -27% |
| Campaign Manager | 144,000 USD | -24% |
| Catering Coordinator | 77,500 USD | -59% |
| Catering Manager | 133,000 USD | -30% |
| CEO | 255,000 USD |  +34% |
| Chairman of The Board | 243,000 USD | +28% |
| Chairman Office Manager | 161,000 USD | -15% |
| Chief Commercial Officer | 177,000 USD | -7% |
| Chief Corporate Officer | 201,000 USD | +6% |
| Chief Digital Officer | 178,000 USD | -6% |
| Chief Digital Strategy Officer | 184,000 USD | -3% |
| Chief Digital Transformation Officer | 173,000 USD | -9% |
| Chief Ethics Officer | 161,000 USD | -15% |
| Chief Executive Officer | 265,000 USD | +39% |
| Chief Financial Officer | 237,000 USD | +25% |
| Chief Investment Officer | 190,000 USD | -0% |
| Chief of Staff | 124,000 USD | -35% |
| Chief Operating Officer | 182,000 USD | -4% |
| Chief Privacy Officer | 155,000 USD | -19% |
| Chief Resilience Officer | 185,000 USD | -3% |
| Chief Risk Officer | 169,000 USD | -11% |
| Chief Strategy Officer | 213,000 USD | +12% |
| Chief Trust and Safety Officer | 166,000 USD | -13% |
| Client Account Manager | 154,000 USD | -19% |
| Client Accounts Officer | 131,000 USD | -31% |
| Client Services Manager | 161,000 USD | -15% |
| Commercial Director | 180,000 USD | -5% |
| Commercial Manager | 149,000 USD | -22% |
| Commercial Project Manager | 140,000 USD | -26% |
| Commodity Broker | 105,000 USD | -45% |
| COO | 193,000 USD | +1% |
| Corporate Affairs Executive | 158,000 USD | -17% |
| Corporate Compliance Director | 159,000 USD | -16% |
| Corporate Director | 169,000 USD | -11% |
| Corporate Officer | 115,000 USD | -40% |
| Corporate Partnerships Officer | 117,000 USD | -39% |
| Country Manager | 194,000 USD | +2% |
| Department Head | 157,000 USD | -18% |
| Department Manager | 159,000 USD | -16% |
| Department Supervisor | 139,000 USD | -27% |
| Deputy Director | 176,000 USD | -8% |
| Deputy Manager | 181,000 USD | -5% |
| Director | 198,000 USD | +4% |
| Director of Accreditation | 167,000 USD | -12% |
| Director of Catering Services | 152,000 USD | -20% |
| Director of Client Services | 158,000 USD | -17% |
| Director of Facilities Management | 140,000 USD | -26% |
| Director of Operations | 167,000 USD | -12% |
| Director of Process Simplification | 128,000 USD | -33% |
| Director of Product Management | 170,000 USD | -11% |
| Director of Project Management | 179,000 USD | -6% |
| Director of Revenue Management | 154,000 USD | -19% |
| Director of Training and Development | 168,000 USD | -12% |
| Distribution Manager | 181,000 USD | -5% |
| Division Manager | 147,000 USD | -23% |
| Duty Manager | 150,000 USD | -21% |
| Engagement Manager | 171,000 USD | -10% |
| Executive Director | 238,000 USD | +25% |
| Executive Manager | 211,000 USD | +11% |
| Franchise Manager | 224,000 USD | +18% |
| General Manager | 190,000 USD | -0% |
| Generational Consultant | 136,000 USD | -29% |
| Global Master Data Manager | 182,000 USD | -4% |
| Global Technical Lead | 113,000 USD | -41% |
| Head of Investment | 168,000 USD | -12% |
| Head of Middle Office | 152,000 USD | -20% |
| Head of Projects | 172,000 USD | -10% |
| Head of Strategy | 197,000 USD | +4% |
| Head of Supply Chain | 162,000 USD | -15% |
| Head of Sustainability | 136,000 USD | -29% |
| Housing Manager | 137,000 USD | -28% |
| HSE Manager | 139,000 USD | -27% |
| Innovation Manager | 143,000 USD | -25% |
| Key Account Manager | 137,000 USD | -28% |
| Knowledge Manager | 163,000 USD | -14% |
| Location Manager | 152,000 USD | -20% |
| Logistics Executive | 132,000 USD | -31% |
| Logistics Manager | 137,000 USD | -28% |
| Management Consultant | 130,000 USD | -32% |
| Management Executive | 175,000 USD | -8% |
| Manager | 177,000 USD | -7% |
| Managing Director | 200,000 USD | +5% |
| MIS Executive | 173,000 USD | -9% |
| Ocean Services Manager | 175,000 USD | -8% |
| Online Business Manager | 233,000 USD | +22% |
| Operational Manager | 170,000 USD | -11% |
| Operations Analyst | 144,000 USD | -24% |
| Operations Assistant | 122,000 USD | -36% |
| Operations Director | 195,000 USD | +2% |
| Operations Executive | 184,000 USD | -3% |
| Operations Manager | 180,000 USD | -5% |
| Operations Supervisor | 162,000 USD | -15% |
| Planning Director | 178,000 USD | -6% |
| PMO Manager | 155,000 USD | -19% |
| Policy Administration Executive | 144,000 USD | -24% |
| Private Sector Executive | 152,000 USD | -20% |
| Product Development Manager | 170,000 USD | -11% |
| Product Executive | 143,000 USD | -25% |
| Production Executive | 171,000 USD | -10% |
| Production Manager | 175,000 USD | -8% |
| Production Supervisor | 142,000 USD | -25% |
| Program Director | 168,000 USD | -12% |
| Program Manager | 184,000 USD | -3% |
| Programme Coordinator | 123,000 USD | -35% |
| Project Control Manager | 177,000 USD | -7% |
| Project Coordinator | 101,000 USD | -47% |
| Project Management Officer | 117,000 USD | -39% |
| Project Manager | 129,000 USD | -32% |
| Project Portfolio Manager | 133,000 USD | -30% |
| Quality Manager | 140,000 USD | -26% |
| R/D Director | 148,000 USD | -22% |
| Regional Director | 241,000 USD | +27% |
| Regional Manager | 170,000 USD | -11% |
| Relationship Manager | 175,000 USD | -8% |
| Retail District Manager | 125,000 USD | -34% |
| Revenue Manager | 137,000 USD | -28% |
| Risk and Capital Manager | 187,000 USD | -2% |
| Risk Officer | 126,000 USD | -34% |
| Safety Manager | 133,000 USD | -30% |
| Section Head | 133,000 USD | -30% |
| Service Manager | 137,000 USD | -28% |
| Shift Supervisor | 102,000 USD | -46% |
| Solutions Manager | 120,000 USD | -37% |
| Supervisor | 99,600 USD | -48% |
| Supply Chain Manager | 185,000 USD | -3% |
| Surveyor | 115,000 USD | -40% |
| Technical Director | 161,000 USD | -15% |
| Technical Manager | 166,000 USD | -13% |
| Territory Manager | 169,000 USD | -11% |
| Validation Manager | 146,000 USD | -23% |
| Vice President | 197,000 USD | +4% |
| Zone Manager | 172,000 USD | -10% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Chicago | 190,000 USD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 92,800 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,500 USD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title General Manager in Chicago?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 182,000 USD and 210,000 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like General Manager in Chicago ranges from 87,500 USD to 147,000 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
