How long does it take to become a regional manager?

It takes between 7 to 12 years to become a regional manager. This time includes seven years of industry experience needed to be a regional manager and a four-year bachelor's degree. However, not all regional management positions require a bachelor's degree, but many do.

How much do regional managers get paid?

Regional managers get paid, on average, $85,000 a year ($41.23 an hour). However, there is a considerable range on how much a regional manager can make, starting from as little as 49,000 a year to as much as $149,000 a year. Factors such as location and Industry type impact how much a regional manager can make.

What is a regional manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Lawrence Brown

A regional manager is an individual who oversees the operations of multiple stores or branches within a specific geographic region. They are responsible for ensuring that each location meets company standards, goals and objectives, and meet with store managers to do so. Regional managers also develop and implement strategies to improve sales, customer service, and employee performance. Communication skills are essential as regional managers coordinate with other departments and stakeholders to ensure successful operation of their assigned region.

What general advice would you give to a Regional Manager?

Lawrence Brown

Professor & Associate Dean of Undergraduate Pharmacy Programs and Partnerships, Chapman University

Typically, in pharmacy practice, the highest salaries are in management positions. For example, in community pharmacy that means working your way from a Pharmacist in Charge position, to an Area Manager, and then Regional Manager position. If you don't feel that management is for you, then you might try to find a company that pays their pharmacists a bonus based on their performance during the year. Another option might be switching from a pharmacy practice position to an office job in a health care or managed care company, that might not only offer a higher initial salary, but also has multiple levels of non-management positions available.

ScoreRegional ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.5

Avg. Salary $97,855

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.4

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 26.65%

male 73.35%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress Level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Regional Manager?

Pros

High level of autonomy
Opportunity for career advancement
Competitive salary and benefits
Exposure to various business functions
Networking opportunities

Cons

High levels of stress and pressure
Long working hours and potential for work/life imbalance
Difficult conversations, including disciplinary action
Balancing conflicting priorities and demands
Continuous need to adapt to changing market conditions

Key steps to become a regional manager

Explore regional manager education requirements

Most common regional manager degrees

Bachelor's

68.8 %

Associate

12.5 %

Master's

10.6 %

Start to develop specific regional manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	13.88%
Patients	9.06%
Customer Satisfaction	7.22%
Financial Performance	5.36%
Oversight	4.43%

Complete relevant regional manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New regional managers 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 regional manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real regional manager resumes.

Research regional manager duties and responsibilities

Manage operational and house account sales functions of 14 HVAC distribution locations.
Manage Facebook advertising using multivariate testing to maximize reach and response.
Coordinate with team of colleagues in development of enterprise wide manage Medicaid contracting strategy.
Manage the wholesaling of variable annuities within the independent broker/dealer channel in the Central/Northern Florida territory.

Prepare your regional manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your regional manager 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 regional manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Regional Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Regional Manager 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 Regional Manager resume.

Apply for regional manager jobs

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

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

How do regional managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Regional Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

Helping my stores and employees achieve there goals

Cons

Only one day off no time for family

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019

Pros

Interacting with the public and seeing employees grow

Cons

The length of travel at times

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019

Cons

ITS A LONELY POSITION IN SOME CASES.

Pros

PLANNING AND EXECUTION, DEALING WITH PEOPLE AND SEE THEY BEING PROMOTED IN THEIR CARRIER. ACHIEVING AND OVERACHIEVING THE FINANCIAL PLAN OF THE YEAR.

What is a regional manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Regional Manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a Regional Manager?

Regional Manager career paths

Key steps to become a regional manager

Explore regional manager education requirements

Most common regional manager degrees

Start to develop specific regional manager skills

Complete relevant regional manager training and internships

Research regional manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your regional manager resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Regional Manager Resume templates

Apply for regional manager jobs

How Did You Land Your First Regional Manager Job

Average regional manager salary

How do regional managers rate their job?

Regional Manager reviews

Regional Manager FAQs

How long does it take to become a regional manager?

How much do regional managers get paid?

Search for regional manager jobs

Regional Manager jobs by state