▼5%
$81,804
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
/ year
Avg. Base Salary (USD)
10%
$42k
MEDIAN
$82k
90%
$174k
The average salary for a City Manager is $81,804 in 2025
Base Salary
$42k - $174k
Bonus
$5k - $7k
Total Pay
$50k - $174k
Is Average City Manager with Windows Operating System General Use Skills Salary your job title? Find out what you should be paid
Use our tool to get a personalized report on your market worth.What's this?
EXPLORE BY:
Featured Content
‹
Remote Work
New research shows how to set pay for remote employees
Gender Pay Gap
New research shows that each woman experiences the disparity of gender pay gap in different ways, depending on her position, age, race and education.
Compensation Best Practices Report
From compensation planning to variable pay to pay equity analysis, we surveyed 4,900+ organizations on how they manage compensation.
Salary Budget Survey Report
See how organizations are shifting their salary budgets this year.
Retention Report
Get strategies you can use to retain top talent and learn how impactful employee retention really is.
Variable Pay Playbook
Before you decide whether variable pay is right for your org, get a deeper understanding of the variable pay options and the cultural impact of pay choices.
›
What is the Pay by Experience Level for City Managers?
What Do City Managers Do?
City Manager Tasks
- Implement legislation enacted by elected officials and advise elected officials during the development of policies and ordinances.
- Supervise city department heads and administrative personnel.
- Oversee the preparation and administration of the annual city budget.
- Manage and coordinate the daily operation of city departments and services.
Find your market worth – how it works:
Common Health Benefits for a City Manager
Medical
93%
Dental
64%
Vision
43%
None
7%
Gender Breakdown for City Managers
Male
77.8%
Female
22.2%
This data is based on 9 survey responses. Learn more about the gender pay gap.
FAQs About City Managers
What is the highest pay for City Managers?
Our data indicates that the highest pay for a City Manager is $174k / year
What is the lowest pay for City Managers?
Our data indicates that the lowest pay for a City Manager is $42k / year
How can City Managers increase their salary?
Increasing your pay as a City Manager is possible in different ways. Change of employer: Consider a career move to a new employer that is willing to pay higher for your skills. Level of Education: Gaining advanced degrees may allow this role to increase their income potential and qualify for promotions. Managing Experience: If you are a City Manager that oversees more junior City Managers, this experience can increase the likelihood to earn more.