General and Operations Managers

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025

$105,770

Half earn more, half earn less

Middle half earn

$72,320 – $167,280

25th to 75th percentile

People employed, May 2025

3,503,020

Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

Projected change, 2025–35

+5%

At or above the all-jobs rate (3.5% to under 7%)

Openings a year (projected)

285,000

New jobs plus replacing people who leave

Typical education to enter

Bachelor's degree

BLS

• All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
• Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
• Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

Main tasks

• Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement.
• Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
• Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
• Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.
• Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
• Plan or direct activities, such as sales promotions, that require coordination with other department managers.
• Perform personnel functions, such as selection, training, or evaluation.
• Establish or implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)

Bachelor's degree

Work experience in a related job: 5 years or more

O*NET Job Zone 4

Considerable preparation

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 15 programmes to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

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• Administrative Services Managers

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• Industrial Production Managers

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• First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers

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• Facilities Managers

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• Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

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