What is a senior manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Angela Grotto Ph.D.,
Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.
introduction image

A senior manager is a high-level executive responsible for overseeing the operations of a company or organization. They lead teams, develop strategies to achieve business objectives, and ensure that all activities align with the company's goals. Senior managers often have broad decision-making authority and work closely with other executives to drive growth and profitability. They must possess strong leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

What general advice would you give to a Senior Manager?

A

Angela Grotto Ph.D.Angela Grotto Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor of Management, Manhattan College


  1. When job searching, be active and persistent - Network by setting up Zoom informational calls with professionals (alumni, people with whom your family work) to learn about jobs that you are interested in or to learn about organizations where you would like to work and then follow up with them; have someone you trust who is a professional review your resume and social media profile pages; carve out time every day to apply to jobs; use Handshake and LinkedIn as a resource; keep sending out applications; while job searching, volunteer or start your business project that showcases your skillset and then discuss it during your interviews.
  2. When interviewing, be creative - Use experiences from your academic career to demonstrate your capabilities. There are many skills you learn in class that are transferrable to the professional world. For example, as a student, you likely had to pivot to full remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, discuss how the new learning format has prepared you to work remotely as an employee, how small group projects have primed you to collaborate on a virtual team, and how small classes have equipped you to use technology such as Zoom.
  3. When deciding on a job offer, be open-minded - Your first job may not be the one you had imagined or hoped for upon graduation. Still, it may be a stepping stone to your ideal career or a way to build your network of professional connections. You create meaningful and valuable relationships with others who may one day help you get the job you want.
  4. When you land the job, be flexible - Show your employer or your boss that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and do tasks that you were not necessarily trained for or are unrelated to your degree. Also, when circumstances at work change, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, show that you are willing to step up and do a different job, do someone else's job, or work on another project or team. This flexibility will demonstrate your versatility and how you can adapt to new and unpredictable situations. Lastly, embrace the "gig" economy - be willing to start as a temporary or contract worker with a company to get your foot in the door and build more professional connections.
ScoreSenior ManagerUS Average
Salary
8.1

Avg. Salary $118,906

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 6.29%

Black or African American 6.09%

Hispanic or Latino 14.89%

Unknown 4.32%

White 67.94%

Gender

female 32.52%

male 67.48%

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 Senior Manager?

Pros

  • High salary and benefits

  • Access to professional development resources

  • Opportunity to make a significant impact on the organization

  • Exposure to a wide range of business functions and areas

  • Job security

Cons

  • High levels of stress and responsibility

  • Long hours and heavy workload

  • Pressure to meet financial targets and performance metrics

  • Potential for conflicts with colleagues or superiors

  • Exposure to legal or ethical risks

Senior Manager career paths

Key steps to become a senior manager

  1. Explore senior manager education requirements

    Most common senior manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    67.9 %

    Master's

    20.1 %

    Associate

    6.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior manager skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Analytics9.48%
    Project Management6.07%
    Portfolio5.31%
    Business Development4.28%
    Professional Development3.78%
  3. Complete relevant senior manager training and internships

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

    Senior manager 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 senior manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for senior managers include Project Management Professional (PMP) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research senior manager duties and responsibilities

    • Lead ISO project to achieve ISO compliance for the organization.
    • Implement a PeopleSoft Financials system and lead the integration team.
    • Manage the VMS, UNIX and NT operating systems and hardware.
    • Manage multiple trading application development and integration projects for TT's API customers.
  6. Get senior manager experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior manager include manager, project manager team lead and consultant.
  7. Prepare your senior manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior 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 senior 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 Senior Manager Resume templates

    Build a professional Senior 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 Senior Manager resume.
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
    Senior Manager Resume
  8. Apply for senior manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior manager 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 Senior Manager Job

Zippi

Are you a Senior Manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average senior manager salary

The average Senior Manager salary in the United States is $118,906 per year or $57 per hour. Senior manager salaries range between $86,000 and $163,000 per year.

Average Senior Manager Salary
$118,906 Yearly
$57.17 hourly

What Am I Worth?

Loading...
Loading...
salary-calculator

How do senior managers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Senior Manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.


Working as a Senior Manager? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Senior Manager FAQs

Search for senior manager jobs

Loading...
Loading...

Senior Manager jobs by state

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.

Browse executive management jobs