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.

$105,350

Median Annual Pay

Jobs growth:

+4% projected 2024–2034

Bachelor's degree

Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

General and operations managers oversee the big picture of how organizations run, making sure all the moving parts work together smoothly. They spend their days coordinating between different departments, solving problems that arise, and making decisions about resources, budgets, and priorities. A typical day might involve reviewing financial reports, meeting with department heads to discuss progress on projects, addressing employee concerns, and adjusting plans when unexpected challenges emerge. They often analyze data to spot inefficiencies and develop strategies to improve productivity or reduce costs.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Northwestern University, IL

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA

Finance and Financial Management Services(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Pennsylvania, PA

Business Administration, Management and Operations(professional)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Dartmouth College, NH

Business Administration, Management and Operations(professional)Harvard University, MA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(professional)University of California-Berkeley, CA

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Chicago, IL

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Stanford University, CA

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Yale University, CT

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)University of Chicago, IL

International Business(masters)Duke University, NC

Business/Commerce(masters)Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of Virginia-Main Campus, VA

Business/Commerce(masters)Northwestern University, IL

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Dartmouth College, NH

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)New York University, NY

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Columbia University in the City of New York, NY

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)Cornell University, NY

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)New York University, NY

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods(masters)Georgetown University, DC

Business Administration, Management and Operations(masters)University of California-Los Angeles, CA

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