Mid-Level

Station Manager

A Station Manager runs a single operational location — transit, gas, retail, broadcast, or service station — owning team performance, customer experience, and the daily rhythm of a self-contained operation.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
S
R
I
A
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Station Managers
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Station Manager

Days tend to revolve around the location's operational tempo. You're managing staff coverage, handling escalated customer situations, partnering with corporate or central operations on issues, and stepping in wherever the operation needs another pair of hands. Inventory, equipment, and safety all sit on your plate.

The collaboration tends to be wider than expected. You're working with corporate or regional leadership, vendors, customers, and adjacent locations. Friction usually lives in the gap between corporate expectations and on-the-ground realities, and patient communication in both directions matters.

People who tend to thrive enjoy running a small operation end-to-end and being accountable for outcomes and don't mind being the person things flow through. If you need strategic stretch, distance from customer-facing work, or fewer hours, the role can wear thin.

IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
AchievementModerate
RecognitionModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Station Managers (SOC 11-3071.00, 27-2012.03, 41-1011.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Also appears in: Arts & Media, Sales
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$31K–$199K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
1.5M
U.S. Employment
+2%
10yr Growth
156K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordinationTime ManagementActive LearningActive ListeningActive ListeningReading Comprehension
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-3071.0027-2012.0341-1011.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.