“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”
“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.”
Top level managers and executives are paid top dollar and have the highest salaries in the U.S. with some earning more than $4 million in base salary and bonus per year. However, salaries vary dramatically depending upon the degree of managerial responsibility, service, type, size, and location of the organization.
Private sector incomes are significantly greater than those in the government, and large firms tend to have significantly greater overall salaries than those in small firms. While nonprofits pay less than organizations in the profit-sector, nonprofits are beginning to catch up in the top tiers as they need to compete for the best managerial talent.
Average salaries can range from $80,000 to $120,000. Most general managers can also receive additional income in the form of stock options, bonuses, company cars, club memberships or expense accounts.
| Job | Salary Range |
| Chief Executive Officer | $500K-$1,500K |
| Chief Operating Officer | $350K-$600K |
| Top Divisional Executive | $200K-$340K |
| Corporate Vice-President | $150,000 - $400,000 |
| Director Level Line Manager | $120K-$180K |
| Manager Level Line Manager | $75,000 - $110,000 |
| Associate/Specialist | $50,000 - $75,000 |
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