Hiring guide · Business & Office
How to Hire a General and Operations Manager
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring general and operations managers, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $105,770), recruit through community college business programs and career centers, verify Lean Six Sigma where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for general and operations managers
There are about 3,599,000 general and operations managers employed in the U.S., with roughly 285,000 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +5.0% from 2025–35 (faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $50,090–$72,320 | $24.08–$34.77 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $105,770 | $50.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $167,280 | $80.42 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $253,390 | $121.82 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours except median. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Operations management
- Leadership
Nice-to-haves
- Lean Six Sigma
- PMP
- APICS CPIM
- Experience with ERP systems
Where to find general and operations managers
- Community college business programs and career centers
- Professional associations (such as SHRM, PMI and state CPA societies)
- LinkedIn and niche job boards
- Internal promotion from front-line roles
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Operations Manager, General Manager, Plant Manager, Store Manager
Screening checklist
- A skills assessment (Excel, writing or role software)
- Credential verification (CPA, PMP, SHRM-CP, paralegal certificate)
- Reference checks focused on reliability and accuracy
- A structured interview with a short work sample
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe operations you’ve run.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “How do you improve processes?”
What a strong answer includes: Give examples.
3. “How do you manage budgets?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
4. “How do you lead managers?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “Describe a crisis you handled.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Find and Fix a Bottleneck (see the steps)
- Run a Daily Operations Huddle (see the steps)
- Explain a Budget Variance (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as KPI, Operating budget, Throughput
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our General and Operations Manager 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with General and Operations Manager training. Show them the path forward: Supervisor → Department Manager → General Manager → Regional or VP Operations.
Hiring general and operations managers: FAQ
How much should I pay a general and operations manager?
The U.S. median wage for general and operations managers is $105,770 per year ($50.85/hour), according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($72,320), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($167,280). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a general and operations manager have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Lean Six Sigma and PMP where relevant, plus skills such as operations management, budgeting, and process improvement.
How long does it take to train a new general and operations manager?
Becoming qualified typically takes 5+ years of experience. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”