create jobs 51 // Shutterstock
1 / 35#35. Legislators
- Median annual wage: $33,790
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying management jobs for people in Austin
Managers are the glue holding companies and organizations together. At the executive level, managers are responsible for overall strategy and improving the bottom line. At lower levels, managers make decisions, build relationships, help customers, and lead teams to complete projects.
Effective managers need a wide array of skills. They must be versatile enough to adapt to new initiatives, market changes, and technology. Good communication is also essential to work with customers and team members, and leadership and project management skills drive better results for the organization.
People drawn to this role often enjoy setting goals and working with others to achieve them. Many get satisfaction from mentoring others and helping them grow to the best of their abilities.
As companies grow, more layers of management are often added to streamline productivity and oversee different teams. Depending on a manager's capabilities, teams can range from a few people to 15 or more. However, some companies believe that too much bureaucracy can slow output, leading to managerial cuts. In 2023, managers and executives accounted for half of all layoffs, according to Live Data Technologies. Amazon and United Parcel Service contributed to the trend, eliminating thousands of management jobs in 2024.
Organizational flattening may make headlines, but having a good manager can go a long way toward keeping workers motivated and projects on track. A 2021 Gallup report found that managerial quality is responsible for 70% of a team's engagement level, meaning that the right leader can make a profound impact on an organization.
As vital as managers are, compensation for these jobs varies by industry. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying management jobs in Austin. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Austin area by visitors
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
2 / 35#34. Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
- Median annual wage: $58,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.32
- Total employment: 580 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
3 / 35#33. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 150 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 35#32. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $63,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 310 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
5 / 35#31. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $64,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 2,120 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Michelin-starred restaurants in Austin
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
6 / 35#30. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $64,250
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 3,930 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
7 / 35#29. Funeral home managers
- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
8 / 35#28. Education administrators, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,740
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 550 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
9 / 35#27. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling
- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 330 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock
10 / 35#26. Social and community service managers
- Median annual wage: $78,690
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Austin
Krakenimages.com // Shutterstock
11 / 35#25. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
- Median annual wage: $85,820
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 2,610 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
possohh // Shutterstock
12 / 35#24. Emergency management directors
- Median annual wage: $96,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 35#23. Fundraising managers
- Median annual wage: $97,640
- Median hourly wage: $46.94
- Total employment: 390 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
14 / 35#22. Construction managers
- Median annual wage: $102,540
- Median hourly wage: $49.30
- Total employment: 5,740 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
15 / 35#21. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $103,830
- Median hourly wage: $49.92
- Total employment: 1,940 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Austin
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
16 / 35#20. Medical and health services managers
- Median annual wage: $106,270
- Median hourly wage: $51.09
- Total employment: 4,800 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
17 / 35#19. Facilities managers
- Median annual wage: $106,880
- Median hourly wage: $51.39
- Total employment: 980 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
18 / 35#18. General and operations managers
- Median annual wage: $108,940
- Median hourly wage: $52.38
- Total employment: 44,460 people (35.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PanuShot // Shutterstock
19 / 35#17. Advertising and promotions managers
- Median annual wage: $111,460
- Median hourly wage: $53.59
- Total employment: 380 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
creativemarc // Shutterstock
20 / 35#16. Administrative services managers
- Median annual wage: $117,990
- Median hourly wage: $56.73
- Total employment: 4,730 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Austin by diners
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
21 / 35#15. Training and development managers
- Median annual wage: $124,220
- Median hourly wage: $59.72
- Total employment: 770 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
22 / 35#14. Public relations managers
- Median annual wage: $127,990
- Median hourly wage: $61.54
- Total employment: 1,150 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 35#13. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Median annual wage: $128,170
- Median hourly wage: $61.62
- Total employment: 3,080 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Sunshine Seeds // Shutterstock
24 / 35#12. Industrial production managers
- Median annual wage: $129,360
- Median hourly wage: $62.19
- Total employment: 1,760 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 35#11. Human resources managers
- Median annual wage: $132,310
- Median hourly wage: $63.61
- Total employment: 2,750 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Austin area by diners
VE.Studio // Shutterstock
26 / 35#10. Natural sciences managers
- Median annual wage: $136,130
- Median hourly wage: $65.45
- Total employment: 690 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 35#9. Managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $136,610
- Median hourly wage: $65.68
- Total employment: 5,440 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
28 / 35#8. Purchasing managers
- Median annual wage: $136,740
- Median hourly wage: $65.74
- Total employment: 770 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
dokurose // Shutterstock
29 / 35#7. Sales managers
- Median annual wage: $141,430
- Median hourly wage: $68.00
- Total employment: 8,730 people (6.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
30 / 35#6. Compensation and benefits managers
- Median annual wage: $151,050
- Median hourly wage: $72.62
- Total employment: 260 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Austin buyers
fizkes // Shutterstock
31 / 35#5. Marketing managers
- Median annual wage: $162,150
- Median hourly wage: $77.96
- Total employment: 6,310 people (5.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kanghophoto // Shutterstock
32 / 35#4. Financial managers
- Median annual wage: $168,100
- Median hourly wage: $80.82
- Total employment: 6,910 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Frame Stock Footage // Shutterstock
33 / 35#3. Computer and information systems managers
- Median annual wage: $173,300
- Median hourly wage: $83.32
- Total employment: 10,650 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BOY ANTHONY // Shutterstock
34 / 35#2. Architectural and engineering managers
- Median annual wage: $175,940
- Median hourly wage: $84.59
- Total employment: 2,150 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 35#1. Chief executives
- Median annual wage: At least $239,200
- Median hourly wage: At least $115.00
- Total employment: 1,040 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Austin that require a graduate degree
