City / County Manager: Pay & Requirements

Overview

Sourced

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

O*NET definition of General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.

164,160

in government (SOC 11-1021)

of this occupation works for government

$137,300

median pay in government

Local

levels of government

Titles employers use

General Manager (GM)Operations DirectorOperations ManagerStore ManagerBusiness ManagerCenter ManagerDepartment ManagerDistrict ManagerOperations General Manager (Operations GM)Plant Superintendent

How people usually get in Editorial

MPA + council appointment. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Requirements

Sourced

Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 11-1021)

Education needed to enter: Bachelor's degree
Related work experience: 5 years or more
On-the-job training: None

Education workers say the job requires

Less than a High School Diploma

10%

High School Diploma or the equivalent

29%

Post-Secondary Certificate

Some College Courses

22%

Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree

Bachelor's Degree

27%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Master's Degree

Share of surveyed workers in General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021) naming each level as required to be hired, 28 respondents, O*NET survey August 2023. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

How to get hired

Sourced

Top executives typically need at least a bachelor's degree and considerable work experience to enter the occupation.

From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Top Executives”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Academy and training

Sourced

Training to become competent (BLS)

SOC 11-1021: None

Preparation level (O*NET)

Job zone: Considerable Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Fixed salary (elected, appointed or per diem): elected/appointed; salary set by statute or ordinance. Typical structure for a elected, appointed or per-diem position; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

Elected or appointed; salary set by statute/ordinance or board contract (no ladder — compare peers)

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

Pay

Sourced

Federal

$161,470

State

$126,590

Local

$131,410

All government

$137,300

Private sector

$104,240

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer type	Workers	10th pct.	25th	Median	75th	90th
Federal	37,160	$111,010	$141,130	$161,470	$185,220	$195,190
State	37,190	$76,520	$98,840	$126,590	$159,220	$200,400
Local	89,810	$67,960	$95,930	$131,410	$170,700	$217,420
All government	164,160	$76,860	$102,580	$137,300	$173,000	$210,590
Private sector	3,338,850	$49,710	$70,980	$104,240	$166,720	$258,950

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Schedule

Sourced

Work schedule

Regular

84%

Irregular

16%

Seasonal

Typical work week

Less than 40 hours

40 hours

30%

More than 40 hours

70%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2023). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Day-to-day work

Sourced

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.4.2
Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.4.1
Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.4.0
Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.4.0
Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.3.9
Plan or direct activities, such as sales promotions, that require coordination with other department managers.3.8
Perform personnel functions, such as selection, training, or evaluation.3.8
Establish or implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members.3.7
Monitor suppliers to ensure that they efficiently and effectively provide needed goods or services within budgetary limits.3.4

The 9 most important of 9 core tasks for General and Operations Managers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2023.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

State	Workers	10th pct.	Median	90th pct.
New Jersey	53,000	$77,350	$173,690	$372,770
District of Columbia	36,150	$88,590	$168,000	$312,070
South Dakota	4,280	$85,990	$137,400	$232,000
Connecticut	39,070	$68,010	$137,220	$312,890
Delaware	5,000	$73,430	$137,220	$310,700
Washington	50,630	$77,680	$133,750	$269,320
Colorado	41,870	$65,310	$131,840	$305,040
New York	206,740	$62,340	$130,860	$336,070
Massachusetts	95,880	$60,700	$127,220	$314,780
New Hampshire	22,110	$61,100	$124,680	$264,270
California	300,840	$60,370	$124,390	$293,810
Virginia	103,590	$56,400	$122,080	$261,060
Wisconsin	36,910	$59,540	$118,730	$247,560
Maryland	96,740	$58,190	$117,930	$235,850
Rhode Island	9,150	$64,990	$117,380	$243,520
Alaska	6,020	$63,320	$116,630	$219,350
Alabama	30,170	$55,160	$111,790	$243,600
Hawaii	13,380	$53,230	$108,180	$217,160
Indiana	47,180	$53,820	$108,170	$248,610
Tennessee	63,720	$50,820	$106,970	$230,660
Mississippi	10,630	$48,620	$106,680	$238,230
South Carolina	32,230	$56,520	$106,080	$219,350
Georgia	111,060	$47,440	$103,730	$237,460
Illinois	171,300	$53,240	$103,570	$269,320
Oregon	36,190	$54,350	$103,490	$237,090
Texas	431,310	$46,190	$103,230	$264,620
Pennsylvania	172,010	$49,990	$103,130	$220,530
North Carolina	63,740	$48,340	$101,950	$238,230
Louisiana	43,220	$50,470	$101,790	$219,240
Florida	236,290	$48,670	$101,580	$226,080
Wyoming	7,470	$50,740	$99,700	$214,810
Michigan	85,860	$49,380	$99,530	$222,810
Nevada	38,920	$47,950	$99,390	$255,060
Minnesota	72,860	$46,960	$99,340	$209,970
Maine	14,770	$52,560	$98,860	$190,050
Vermont	8,000	$59,500	$98,640	$218,550
New Mexico	16,330	$47,710	$98,630	$214,590
North Dakota	11,150	$52,000	$98,170	$184,720
Utah	42,580	$44,100	$97,850	$213,270
Ohio	153,160	$47,400	$97,700	$216,360
Arizona	110,480	$47,990	$94,800	$220,280
Kansas	24,660	$51,780	$92,840	$212,700
Montana	11,840	$48,890	$91,380	$187,260
Oklahoma	43,890	$45,840	$90,430	$202,740
Iowa	30,760	$42,850	$87,690	$191,990
Nebraska	24,030	$48,010	$85,090	$193,080
West Virginia	15,300	$45,500	$82,500	$175,070
Idaho	24,880	$41,920	$80,390	$170,990
Kentucky	52,100	$40,500	$79,370	$176,820
Missouri	109,020	$42,460	$79,300	$188,820
Arkansas	34,570	$36,200	$74,050	$173,080

51 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

05 Probation
Probation length and what ends it
Not yet collected
09 Benefits and pension
Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
Not yet collected
10 Union contracts
Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
Not yet collected
11 Transfers and lateral entry
Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
Not yet collected
14 Exam practice
Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
Not yet collected
15 Employer directory
L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
Not yet collected

City / County Manager

Overview

Titles employers use

Requirements

Education workers say the job requires

How to get hired

Academy and training

Promotion ladder

Pay

Schedule

Day-to-day work

Related jobs

By state

Not yet collected