Business Manager Salary:

If you’re thinking about becoming a Business Manager, one of the things that you’ll want to understand is how much you might earn in this role. There are many different business management jobs out there, and they are all associated with different salaries, but this field generally tends to pay significantly higher than average. Many Business Managers earn over $100,000 per year. This is an average, however. Your individual salary will depend on numerous factors like the specific industry that you work in, your education and experience, and the geographical location that you work in.

What is a Business Manager?

A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.

A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.

What Affects Your Pay as a Business Manager

If you look online, you’ll find a number of different websites that provide salary estimates for business management positions. You can use these websites to get an idea of what you might earn as a Business Manager, however, you should keep in mind that your salary will be influenced by many different factors such as your level of education, your experience, the industry that you work in, where you work, and your area of specialization.

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Education

Your education can have an impact on your pay as a Business Manager. One way to get into this field is to earn a college degree. In most cases, a higher-level degree such as a master’s degree will lead to a higher-paying job. However, a college degree is not the only way to get the skills you need for a high-paying business management job. In recent years, professional training programs like certificate programs and bootcamps have become increasingly popular because they take less time and money to complete, and there is evidence that they can lead to higher salaries. For example, Course Report conducted a survey of more than 3,000 coding bootcamp graduates in order to investigate how the bootcamp affected their careers. In a November 2, 2023 report, it reports that many bootcamp graduates had higher salaries than college graduates. Course Report says that it found that bootcamp graduates earn about 51 percent more compared to their previous jobs. In addition, it concludes that this higher salary quickly pays off the cost of the bootcamp. It finds that the average bootcamp costs $20,000 to $30,000 and, “The average bootcamp grad sees an average salary increase of 50.5% or $23,724(!) which almost immediately pays off your investment.”

Experience

Your level of experience will also have an effect on how much you earn as a Business Manager. In most cases, more experience equals a higher salary. In an article titled, “Business Careers with High Pay,” BLS explains, “As with most fields, business occupations may not pay a lot when you’re first starting out. Rather, wages typically increase as you gain experience.” If you’re trying to boost your experience, there are ways to start doing so before you even enter the job market. In an article titled “You Want To Get Experience in Business Management Before Starting your Career. How Can You Do It?” LinkedIn explains, “One of the most effective ways to get experience in business management is to find an internship or a part-time job that relates to your field of interest. You can search for opportunities on job boards, career fairs, social media, or your network.” Other suggestions include joining a student organization, volunteering, and starting a side project.

Industry

The industry that you work in, and the specific business that you work for will also play a role in how much you earn as a Business Manager. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a federal agency that gathers and analyzes job statistics, higher-paying management fields include marketing, sales, tech, and finance. It also reports that architectural and engineering-related jobs pay well. Large companies may also pay more than small companies. If you’re a freelancer, you will set your own rates, however, the rate that you can earn will be impacted by the type of company that you freelance for.

Location

Location also affects how much you’ll earn as a Business Manager. In most cases, major metropolitan areas pay more. However, you also need to consider that these areas may have a higher cost of living. BLS lists the top-paying cities for many different management jobs. For instance, Human Resources Managers earn the most in San Jose, San Francisco, and New York. For Training and Development Managers, the highest-paying cities are also San Jose, San Francisco, and New York.

Specialization

Certain business management specializations can also lead to a higher salary. For example, Business Managers who get specialized certifications are likely to earn more than those without these certifications. In an article titled, “How Much Does A Business Manager Make?” Indeed explains, “Business managers who wish to improve their salary prospects can pursue certification.” It explains, “Certified business managers are qualified to negotiate for a higher rate of competitive pay than business managers who are not certified. They are also more likely to be hired for high-paying positions by profitable companies.”

Pay Range for Business Managers

The pay range for Business Managers varies significantly and is influenced by a wide range of factors such as those listed above. In general, though, most business management jobs pay well. According to Indeed, the average base salary for a U.S. Business Manager is about $76,000, while Glassdoor estimates that it is about $78,000. However, both websites find that the actual salary is likely to be higher when profit-sharing and bonuses are included. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a number of different management jobs on its website, and the average salary for many of them is well over $100,000. 

Highest-Earning Job Titles for Business Managers

Business management jobs tend to pay well overall, however, certain jobs are more likely to pay better than others. In general, business management jobs that are focused on marketing, sales, tech, and finance tend to pay the most. For instance, according to BLS statistics, Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers earn about $156,000, Computer and Information Systems Managers earn $169,000, Finance Managers earn $156,000, and Sales Managers earn $135,000. In contrast, the median wage for all management jobs, as calculated by BLS, is $116,000.

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Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department.

• One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions. 
• Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
• Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
• Another bootcamp option is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
• Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.