Who is a General Manager?
A General Manager (GM) is the head of the management team at the topmost level who essentially controls the overall institutional work of the company, department, or business unit.
- A GM manages the staff, enables the smooth flow of different functions such as marketing, finance, and operations, and guarantees that business goals and targets are solved effectively.
- Besides this, a GM also engages in strategic decision-making, keeps track of performance, and carries out policy changes with the aim of increasing efficiency and profits.
General Manager Salary Per Month in India
Before diving into salary details, one must note that general manager salary varies substantially by company size, location, experience and many other factors. We will cover those factors in detail later into the article. Now, get an overview of General Manager Salary Per Month in India in the table below:
Level of Experience(Years) | Type of Company | Per Month Salary (INR) | Perks & Allowances | In-Hand Approx. (INR) |
0–3 means that this is entry level. | Small Enterprises or Companies | ₹60,000 – ₹90,000 | Travel, Medical | ₹55,000 – ₹80,000 |
3–7 means that this is senior level. | Mid-Sized Companies | ₹1,00,000 – ₹2,00,000 | Bonus, Medical, PF | ₹90,000 – ₹1,80,000 |
7–12 means that this is higher level and usually commands competitive salary. | MNCs | ₹2,50,000 – ₹5,00,000 | Bonus, Stock Options, Car, Housing | ₹2,20,000 – ₹4,50,000 |
If you have 12+ years of experience, you will get multiple benefits besides salary. | Large Corporations | ₹5,00,000 – ₹12,00,000 | Executive Perks, Car, Housing, Bonus, Stock Options | ₹4,50,000 – ₹10,00,000 |
Useful Insights from the table are as follows:
- General managers in larger corporations with extensive years of experience earn a great salary.
- MNCs also pay well to general managers who are skilled and talented and can manage their jobs and responsibilities effectively.
- Mid-Sized Companies pay good salary but less than MNCs and large corporations.
- Small enterprises pay average salary but offer good learning and skill building opportunities.
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General Manager Salary by Industry
Industry influences salary of general managers to a large extent. Tabulated below is the overview:
Position | Average Annual Salary (INR) | Salary Range (INR) |
Coal India GM | ₹26.2 lakh | ₹22–45 lakh |
Tata Motors GM | ₹30.5 lakh | ₹26–50 lakh |
Hotel General Manager | ₹33.6 lakh | ₹22–41 lakh |
State Bank of India GM | ₹28.0 lakh | ₹20.8–50 lakh |
Indian Railways GM | ₹23.7 lakh | ₹18.5–42.5 lakh |
Regional Sales Manager (India) | ₹18.0 lakh | ₹11.5–45.4 lakh |
Insights and Key Takeaways
The following are the key takeaways from the above table:
- Public Sector Giants: The general managers in the public sector companies such as Coal India, Indian Railways, etc. are reported to have an annual income in the range of ₹22–45 lakh. Additionally, the general executives at Coal India are given other benefits too like Coalfields Allowance which is 7% of basic pay for the executives posted in the coalfield areas.
- Private Sector Leaders: TATA Motors GMs take home a salary between ₹26–50 lakh per year, which is a direct reflection of the company's scale and presence in the global market.
- Hospitality Sector: Hotel general managers get paid a salary ranging between ₹22–41 lakh annually in India and those working in such metros as New Delhi are getting the topmost salaries among them all.
- Banking Sector: In the State Bank of India, GMs have an income that ranges from ₹20.8 to 50 lakh per year, and the factors influencing the variations are experience and location.
- Railways: Indian Railways GMs salary is in the bracket of ₹18.5–42.5 lakh annually. Their responsibilities cover going from one zone to another and dealing with different departments.
- Sales Management: The geographical division of the company sales managers get an annual salary ranging from ₹11.5 lakh to ₹45.4 lakh in India with the physicians, pharmaceutical, and hygiene product industries are the highest payers at the upper end of the spectrum.
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General Manager Salary by City
City also influences salary of general managers to a large extent. The average annual salary of General Managers (GMs) in New Delhi, Gurgaon, and Mumbai differ. Tabulated below is the overview:
City | Average Annual Salary (INR) | Salary Range (INR) |
New Delhi | ₹34,00,000 | ₹22,00,000 – ₹53,66,250 |
Gurgaon | ₹34,00,000 | ₹20,40,000 – ₹47,60,000 |
Mumbai | ₹41,00,000 | ₹28,00,000 – ₹57,85,000 |
Insights
- Three cities' comparison of the average GM salaries showed that Mumbai is the top scorer with its high average GM salaries. This is not surprising if we consider that Mumbai is the financial and commercial hub of the country.
- The city of Gurgaon is not far behind and the reason for that is the agglomeration of multinationals where many MNCs have their offices and the competitive salaries environment making it the perfect city for top executives.
- New Delhi is still one of the important centers for government and public sector enterprises although it has a little lower average salary for GMs as compared to other two cities.
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General manager Job Description and Role
Below is a list of 10 key points defining the General Manager's (GM) job and showing the areas of responsibility:
- Overall Operations Management: Takes charge of the daily activities of the various departments to ensure efficient operations.
- Strategic Planning: Creates a plan of strategies that will last long in the future and help the company, achieve its goals while increasing turnover.
- Team Leadership: By the power of his/her exemplary leadership, talks, and energizes the organizational managers and staff so as to keep up the good work.
- Financial Oversight: Participates actively in the building of budgets, takes control of the costs, and works to the achievement of profits.
- Policy Implementation: Changes, updating, or upgrading the organization's policies, procedures, and standards for management.
- Performance Monitoring: Measures KPIs, audits performance, and makes the necessary changes in the facilitation of operations.
- Stakeholder Communication: Keeps the connections with top management, clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
- Resource Management: Divides human, financial, and physical resources among different departments in the most efficient way.
- Problem-Solving: Is responsible for the smooth running of operations, dispute settlement, and making critical business decisions.
- Compliance & Reporting: Practices compliance with all applicable local, state, and industry codes and prepares management reports.
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How to Become a General Manager in India?
You must note that there is a different set of requirements to become a General Manager in India. Qualifications also vary based on domain and industry.
1. Educational Qualification
The path for General Manager starts from education with a very strong educational base.
- The majority of GMs have a Bachelor of Science degree in fields like Business Administration, Commerce, Management, or Engineering.
- Moreover, the completion of an MBA or a specialized masters in management will not only make your career path brighter in general but also make it easier for you to penetrate the ranks of big corporations and multinational companies.
2. Gain Relevant Work Experience
Being a GM is all about hard work and accumulating the necessary managerial or leadership experience.
- Generally, the candidates start working from the bottom, taking managerial positions at the junior level, team leader positions, or jobs specific to departments such as marketing, operations, or finance.
- Eventually, with planning, coordinating, and supervising the teams you are leading, you will be able to gain the skills needed to be a General Manager on a senior level.
3. Develop Key Skills
- The General Manager with a high degree of success must possess leadership, strategic planning, decision-making, and communication skills as well.
- Skills that will accompany the list are financial management, problem-solving, plus the ability to be in charge of different departments.
- Getting certified in project management, finance, or operations can be a stepping stone to one’s career and will help you to reach higher zones of hierarchy with ease.
4. Career Growth and Networking
Networking and building social capital are main factors that can help you reach the General Manager.
- It is possible to associate with well-established people in the concerned industries by becoming members of professional bodies, visiting the venue of a seminar, or establishing relationships with senior leaders.
- The upshot of all this is that, with hard work, one moves from the stage of General Manager to higher echelons of power in the company like Director or CEO.
