Salary guide

General and Operations Manager Salary & Pay Scale (2026)

What general and operations managers earn per year, per hour and per month, with the full percentile range, the factors that move pay and how to earn more.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How much does a general and operations manager make?

The median general and operations manager salary in the U.S. is $105,770 per year, or $50.85 per hour, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $50,090, while the top 10% earned more than $253,390.

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

General and Operations Manager pay scale

General and Operations Manager pay by percentile, May 2025
PercentileAnnualHourly*What it usually reflects
10th percentile$50,090$24.08Typical for new workers, part-time markets and lower-paying settings
25th percentile$72,320$34.77Early career, a year or two of experience
Median (50th)$105,770$50.85Mid-career: half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$167,280$80.42Experienced workers, specialists and higher-paying employers
90th percentile$253,390$121.82Top earners: senior, specialized, supervisory or high-cost areas

*Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. Percentile descriptions are general patterns, not guarantees.

Monthly and biweekly pay

Pay periodAt 25th percentileAt medianAt 75th percentile
Per year$72,320$105,770$167,280
Per month$6,027$8,814$13,940
Every two weeks$2,782$4,068$6,434
Per week$1,391$2,034$3,217

Gross pay before taxes and deductions.

What affects general and operations manager pay

  • Industry and company size
  • Professional credentials (CPA, PMP, SHRM-CP, paralegal certificates)
  • Software skills such as Excel, QuickBooks, CRM and HR systems
  • Remote or hybrid roles tied to higher-cost labor markets
  • Geography and cost of living: metropolitan areas and some states pay well above the national median

How to earn more as a general and operations manager

  1. Get credentialed: Lean Six Sigma, PMP, APICS CPIM.
  2. Build specialty experience: Lead a function.
  3. Move up: roles such as general manager and regional or vp operations typically pay more.
  4. Negotiate: research local pay and use our salary negotiation guide.

General and Operations Manager pay vs. related careers

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of general and operations managers to change by +5.0% from 2025–35, faster than average compared with the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 285,000 openings are projected each year, on average, including openings to replace workers who retire or change occupations.

About this data

Figures come from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), which covers wage and salary workers nationwide under SOC code 11-1021 (“General and operations managers”). Wages exclude self-employment income, overtime and most bonuses unless they are part of regular pay. We refresh these numbers when BLS releases new estimates each spring.

General and Operations Manager salary FAQ

How much does a general and operations manager make per hour?

The median hourly wage for general and operations managers was $50.85 in May 2025 (BLS). Hourly pay for the lowest 10% was about $24.08 and the top 10% earned about $121.82 or more.

How much does a general and operations manager make a month?

At the median annual wage of $105,770, that works out to about $8,814 per month before taxes, or about $4,068 every two weeks.

What is the starting salary for a general and operations manager?

New general and operations managers often start near the lower end of the range. The 10th percentile was $50,090 and the 25th percentile was $72,320 per year in May 2025. Starting pay depends on location, employer and credentials.

How can general and operations managers earn more?

Common ways include earning Lean Six Sigma and PMP, gaining specialty experience, taking shifts or roles with premium pay, and moving up the career ladder to roles such as general manager.

Sources

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

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