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Career overview · SOC 11-1021

General and Operations Managers

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.

Also called: Business Manager · Center Manager · Department Manager · District Manager · General Manager (GM) · Operations Director

Median pay (national)
$102,950
$47,420–$239,200+ (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
3,584,420
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.4%
~308,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree

What the numbers say

Refit analysis ·Pay for general and operations managers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $239,200+ versus $47,420 at the bottom 10% — 5.0x. The median of $102,950 leaves roughly 132% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 308,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $167,270, +62% vs the national median), while Arkansas sits lowest at $64,260 — a 160% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.

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Top skills employers ask for

Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Writing
  • Learning Strategies
  • Mathematics
  • Science

What they actually do

Core O*NET tasks for this role.

  • 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.
  • Monitor suppliers to ensure that they efficiently and effectively provide needed goods or services within budgetary limits.
  • Manage the movement of goods into and out of production facilities to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, or sustainability of operations.

Tools & technology

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Apache Hadoop
  • Apple macOS
  • Atlassian Confluence
  • Atlassian JIRA
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Facebook
  • Google Analytics
  • HubSpot software
  • IBM SPSS Statistics

Knowledge areas

  • Administration and Management
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Production and Processing
  • Mathematics
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Administrative
  • Economics and Accounting