General and Operations Manager Career Guide

What does a general and operations manager do?

General and operations managers plan, direct and coordinate the operations of organizations, managing daily work, staff, budgets and resources. The median pay is $105,770 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 5+ years of experience, and employment is projected to grow +5.0% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$105,770
$50.85/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+5.0%
2025–35, faster than average
Openings per year
285,000
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
5+ years of experience
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
3,599,000
Employment, 2025

What general and operations managers do

General and operations managers run the daily business. They manage staff, schedules, budgets and inventory, improve processes, track performance and solve problems across departments. They work in nearly every industry, from retail stores and restaurants to factories and hospitals.

Most have a bachelor’s degree and five or more years of experience. It is one of the largest management jobs in the country, with about 3.6 million positions.

Typical duties

Manage daily operations
Supervise staff and managers
Set and track budgets
Improve processes
Track performance metrics
Solve operational problems
Ensure policy compliance

Work environment and schedule

Managers work in offices and on the floor of stores, plants, warehouses or service sites.

Schedule: Full time, often with long days and some evenings or weekends.

A day in the life

7:00 AMWalk the floor.
8:00 AMReview yesterday’s numbers.
9:00 AMMeet department leads.
11:00 AMFix a staffing gap.

See a full day in the life of a general and operations manager →

General and Operations Manager salary

Half of general and operations managers earned more than $105,770 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $50,090 for the lowest 10% to $253,390 for the top 10%.

$50,09010th$105,770Median$253,39090th

Full general and operations manager pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a general and operations manager

Earn a bachelor’s
Start as a supervisor
Manage a department
Learn finance and operations
Become a GM

A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is typical, plus years of experience.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a general and operations manager →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Operations management
Budgeting
Process improvement
Scheduling
Data analysis

People skills

Leadership
Problem-solving
Communication
Decision-making

All general and operations manager skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Many openings in every industry
Strong pay
Leadership role
Varied work

Cons

Long hours
Pressure to hit numbers
Staffing problems
Always on call

Certifications and licenses

Lean Six Sigma: Process improvement.
PMP: Project management.
APICS CPIM: Operations planning.
MBA: Optional graduate degree.

Career path

Supervisor: Lead a team.
Department Manager: Lead a function.
General Manager: Run a site.
Regional or VP Operations: Lead many sites.

Learn the job before day one

Our General and Operations Manager training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as find and fix a bottleneck and run a daily operations huddle, safety and how to land your first job.

View General and Operations Manager training Is this career right for me?

Chief Executive

Set the direction for an entire organization and answer for its results.

$213,990
15+ years of experience

Office Manager

Run an office’s daily operations, staff and systems so everyone else can do their jobs.

$69,500
3–5 years of administrative experience

Project Manager

Plan projects, lead teams and deliver results on time, on budget and in scope.

$102,320
1–4+ years

Management Analyst

Help organizations run better by finding and fixing problems.

$101,860
Less than 5 years of experience

Compare: General and Operations Manager vs. Chief Executive · General and Operations Manager vs. Office Manager · General and Operations Manager vs. Project Manager · General and Operations Manager vs. Management Analyst

General and Operations Manager FAQ

What does a general manager do?

Runs daily operations, staff and budgets for a business or site.

Is it a common job?

Yes, BLS counts about 3.6 million positions.

Do I need a degree?

Usually a bachelor’s, though experience can count heavily.

How much does a general and operations manager make?

The median annual wage for general and operations managers was $105,770 ($50.85 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $50,090 and the highest 10% earned more than $253,390.

How long does it take to become a general and operations manager?

Most people need about 5+ years of experience of training. A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is typical, plus years of experience.

Do you need a degree to be a general and operations manager?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

More general and operations manager questions →

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 11-1021 (General and operations managers).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for General and operations managers (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

General and Operations Manager