In the National Basketball Association, franchises hire general managers to oversee business decisions ranging from player contracts to stadium issues. Because the position occurs at the highest level of the game, salaries are high -- usually in seven figures. However, a 2013 article on the SB Nation website notes that GM salaries are seldom publicized, so it's difficult to pinpoint a league-wide average.

Salary Ranges

The typical NBA GM earns between $1 million and $3 million a year, according to SB Nation. One of the general managers on the high end of that range is Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri, who in 2013 signed a five-year deal reportedly worth nearly $15 million, according to an article in the Toronto Star.

Becoming an NBA GM

Not surprisingly, it takes a lot of basketball expertise to become an NBA GM. A study by the Villanova University School of Law found that virtually all NBA GMs played collegiate or professional basketball before moving into the front office. Many GMs also have substantial coaching experience at the professional level.