Fleet Managers’ Salaries Are Rising
Increased compensation for commercial fleet mangers is based in part on whether a company owns or leases its fleet, and signals a growing awareness of the position’s importance in the eyes of management.
The money you make as a fleet manager may have something to do with whether your company owns its fleet or lease it.
Although the average salaries of the two groups are comparable ($39,450 for mangers of company-owned fleets and $39,370 for managers of leased fleets), managers of company-owned fleets may have a better chance of breaking into the $40,000 salary range, according to a Runzheimer International study.
According to the study, 43 percent of fleet managers whose companies own their fleets have surpassed the $40,000 salary barrier. This compares with the 38 percent of leased-fleet managers who are over that same $40,000 salary mark.
SALARIES FOR FLEET MANAGERS OF COMPANY OWNED FLEETS:
Average Salary in 1989: $39,450
Median Salary in 1989: $37,770
1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Under $20,000 | 14% | 14% | 6% | 3% |
$20,000-24,999 | 12% | 14% | 15% | 12% |
$25,000-29,999 | 22% | 8% | 13% | 9% |
$30,000-34,999 | 18% | 14% | 16% | 20% |
$35,000-39,999 | 14% | 15% | 14% | 13% |
$40,000-44,999 | 20% | 35% | 10% | 14% |
$45,000-49,999 | N/A | N/A | 10% | 12% |
$50,000 or more | N/A | N/A | 16% | 17% |
N/A=Not Asked |
SALARIES FOR FLEET MANAGERS OF COMPANY LEASED FLEETS:
Average salary in 1989: $39,370
Median Salary in 1989: $357110
1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Under $20,000 | 10% | 11% | 11% | 5% |
$20,000-24,999 | 16% | 16% | 14% | 13% |
$25,000-29,999 | 17% | 11% | 17% | 18% |
$30,000-34,999 | 19% | 16% | 16% | 14% |
$35,000-39,999 | 10% | 21% | 12% | 12% |
$40,000-44,999 | 28%* | 25%* | 12% | 9% |
$45,000-49,999 | N/A | N/A | 2% | 9% |
$50,000-54,999 | N/A | N/A | 16%** | 7% |
55,000 or More | N/A | N/A | N/A | 13% |
N/A=Not Asked | ||||
*Salary range represented by these percentages was $40,000 or more. | ||||
**Salary range represented by this percentage was 50,000 or more. |
In comparisons to salary figures from the last seven years, however, it is clear that both groups of fleet managers are beginning to climb the salary ladder.
In 1983, only one out of five managers of totally company-owned fleets earned $40,000 or more per year. In 1985 and 1987, just over one-third received salaries above that amount. The jump to 43 percent in 1989 is a nearly 20 percent increase to the over$40,000 group from 1987's figures.
The salary history for leased-fleet managers has shown a similar movement. In 1983 and 1985, only about one-fourth of leased-fleet managers received salaries at $40,000 or above. In 1987, just under one-third received salaries at or above that amount. The 1989 figures, however, show that the percentage of leased-fleet mangers who have reached the $40,000 salary range has grown to 38 percent.
What does all this mean? It means that companies are, in fact. Beginning to recognize the need for a fleet professional to oversee vehicle operations, and also that they are becoming increasingly open to the idea of adequately compensating fleet mangers for a professional job well done.
SALARY RANGES OF MANAGERS IN CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT AND UTILITY FLEET OPERATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
Government | Utility | |
Average 1989 Salary | $39,300 | $46,400 |
Median 1989 Salary | $38,600 | $46,600 |
1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS | ||||
Under $20,000 | 7% | 5% | 8% | 3% |
$20,000-24,999 | 14% | 14% | 10% | 4% |
$25,000-29,999 | 17% | 20% | 11% | 9% |
$30,000-34,999 | 34% | 23% | 22% | 23% |
$35,000-39,999 | 19% | 20% | 21% | 16% |
$40,000-44,999 | 9%* | 18% | 14% | 18% |
$45,000-49,999 | * | * | 14% | 14% |
$50,000-59,999 | * | * | ** | 7% |
55,000 or More | * | * | ** | 6% |
UTILITY FLEETS | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 |
Under $20,000 | N/A | N/A | 2% | 1% |
$20,000-24,999 | N/A | N/A | 3% | 1% |
$25,000-29,999 | N/A | N/A | 7% | 6% |
$30,000-34,999 | N/A | N/A | 13% | 9% |
$35,000-39,999 | N/A | N/A | 18% | 12% |
$40,000-44,999 | N/A | N/A | 14% | 16% |
$45,000-49,999 | N/A | N/A | 43%** | 14% |
$50,000-54,999 | N/A | N/A | ** | 15% |
55,000 or More | N/A | N/A | ** | 26% |
*This category was $40,000 or more in the 1983 and 1985 surveys. **This category was $45,000 or more in the 1987 survey. | ||||
N/A=Not Asked |
Selected California Cities and Counties-June 1990: | ||
|---|---|---|
Base /Top Salary Step | Fleet Size | |
County of San Diego | $6,000 | 1,900 |
City of Oakland | $5,701 | 1,801 |
City of San Jose | $5,327 | 1,560 |
City of Sunnyvale | $5,266 | 600 |
County of San Bernardion | $4,850 | 1,350 |
City of San Mateo | $4,787 | 250 |
City of Milpitas | $4,699 | 180 |
City of Santa Clara | $4,686 | 890 |
County of Alameda Transportation | $4,673 | 475 |
County of Riverside | $4,625 | 1,600 |
City of Fremont | $4,539 | 325 |
City of Redwood City | $4,495 | 402 |
City of Palo Alto | $4,482 | 470 |
County of Sonoma | $4,337 | 1,100 |
County of San Diego Transportation | $4,331 | 525 |
County of Santa Clara | $4,298 | 1,320 |
County of Contra Costa | $4,140 | 1,150 |
County of San Mateo Transportation | $3,910 | 400 |
County of San Mateo | $3,753 | 480 |
Note: Most all cities and countries have paid retirement or no social security andlor both which is not included in the survey. This informal survey was conducted by R. Simon. County of Santa Clara, and is published courtesy of California Fleet News. |
More Operations
Managing Fleet Costs in an Era of Permanent Volatility
Fleet operating costs have risen more than 20% since 2020, raising a key question: When does extending a vehicle's service life stop making financial sense?
Read More →
The Next Evolution of Fleet Management: Autonomous Operations
This opening keynote session at the Fleet Forward Conference highlights the future of autonomous driving for fleets.
Read More →
How to Reduce the Total Cost of Risk From Catalytic Converter Theft
A stolen catalytic converter can cost fleets far more in downtime and lost productivity than in repairs. A total-cost-of-risk approach can help fleet managers quantify their exposure and prioritize theft prevention.
Read More →
Personal-Use Charges Rise as Vehicle Values Fall | AF News Recap
Personal-use charges are climbing, wholesale used-vehicle values are declining, and commercial fleet sales growth is slowing. This week, we're breaking down the latest fleet data, plus how Element Fleet Management is helping Waymo prepare for its first Canadian robotaxi market.
Read More →
Here's When You Should Make an Exception to Fleet Policy
Fleet policies are designed to create consistency, but not every driver or situation fits neatly within standard rules.
Read More →
AI-Native or AI-Acquired: What Should Fleet Managers Look for in an AI Platform?
Six questions can help fleet managers look beyond AI marketing claims to evaluate integration, data access, and real-world operational performance.
Read More →
A buyer's guide to fleet management software in 2027
Buying fleet management software in 2027 means looking beyond features and price. As fleet operations, technology and expectations evolve, this guide explores what today’s fleet professionals should consider when choosing a system that can deliver value now and adapt to what comes next.
Read More →
What Will Shape the Next Era of Fleet Management?
EVs, AI, and autonomous vehicles are reshaping fleet management. Discover what’s ahead—and how fleet leaders can prepare for the next era.
Read More →
How Fleets Can Recruit and Train Veterans for Technician Roles
Here's how the technician shortage has affected uptime for fleets, and what to do about it.
Read More →
Avis Budget Group Deploys Neology Toll Management Technology Across Major Brands
Neology’s neoFleet platform will manage toll transactions and toll-authority operations for vehicles across Avis, Budget, Payless, Budget Truck and Zipcar.
Read More →