What is a managing director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

A managing director is a top-level executive responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a company or organization. They are typically responsible for setting strategic goals and objectives, developing business plans, and managing financial performance. They also work to build and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, and investors. Their role requires strong leadership skills and strong decision making abilities. Overall, the managing director is responsible for ensuring the success and growth of their organization.

ScoreManaging DirectorUS Average
Salary
8.4

Avg. Salary $129,690

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.6

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.31%

Black or African American 6.12%

Hispanic or Latino 14.99%

Unknown 4.33%

White 67.77%

Gender

female 26.53%

male 73.47%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress Level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.2

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Managing Director?

Pros

  • High salary and career advancement opportunities

  • Prestigious position with a lot of job security

  • Opportunity to lead and inspire a team

  • Exposure to cutting-edge technology and industry trends

  • Opportunity to develop strong networking connections

Cons

  • High levels of stress and pressure due to the responsibilities of the role

  • Long working hours, including weekends and evenings

  • Need to handle difficult clients, employees, or stakeholders

  • Risk of burnout due to the demanding workload

  • Difficulty balancing work and personal life

Managing Director career paths

Key steps to become a managing director

  1. Explore managing director education requirements

    Most common managing director degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.5 %

    Master's

    21.2 %

    Associate

    5.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific managing director skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Healthcare7.39%
    Portfolio7.23%
    Business Development6.23%
    Oversight5.57%
    Project Management5.48%
  3. Complete relevant managing director training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New managing directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a managing director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real managing director resumes.
  4. Gain additional managing director certifications

    Managing director certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific managing director certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for managing directors include Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Green Belt.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research managing director duties and responsibilities

    • Create and manage the social media presence via a festival page on Facebook.
    • Manage all consulting resources and have overall P/L responsibilities for the Atlanta office.
    • Manage the lessee and lessor relationships regarding exchange seat leases with major markets, such as NYSE, AMEX, CBOE.
    • Manage denials and expedite managed care appeals (reimbursement reconsideration).
  6. Get managing director experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a managing director. The most common roles before becoming a managing director include vice president, director team lead and senior vice president.
  7. Prepare your managing director resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your managing director resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a managing director resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Managing Director Resume templates

    Build a professional Managing Director resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Managing Director resume.
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  8. Apply for managing director jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a managing director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Managing Director Job

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Average managing director salary

The average Managing Director salary in the United States is $129,690 per year or $62 per hour. Managing director salaries range between $72,000 and $233,000 per year.

Average Managing Director Salary
$129,690 Yearly
$62.35 hourly

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How do managing directors rate their job?

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Managing Director reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2022
Pros

Independence in decision making

Cons

I am responsible for everything be it any side of the business


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

I love to lead, in my everyday duties I have to deal with different type of situation which requires my deep knowledge to think before I decide.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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