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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.
Other titles employers use
Business Manager · Center Manager · Department Manager · District Manager · General Manager (GM) · Operations Director · Operations General Manager (Operations GM) · Operations Manager
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading, organizing and helping work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.2 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.9 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 2.4 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a bachelor's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 39%
- A certificate or some college 28%
- A four-year degree 27%
- A two-year degree 6%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Operating system software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Project management software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Word processing software
- Sales and marketing software
- Document management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 504,280
- Job openings each year
- 44,420
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 18.5%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 504,280 | 44,420 | 18.5% |
| California | 297,700 | 24,800 | 8.3% |
| New York | 233,880 | 1,600 | 7.4% |
| Florida | 210,510 | 18,110 | 13.9% |
| Illinois | 201,600 | 16,380 | 4.6% |
| Ohio | 136,170 | 10,940 | 2.9% |
| Pennsylvania | 134,210 | 10,870 | 4.1% |
| Georgia | 115,240 | 9,880 | 13.4% |
| Arizona | 111,360 | 9,670 | 15.7% |
| Maryland | 105,980 | 8,850 | 8.8% |
| North Carolina | 105,400 | 8,980 | 12.1% |
| Missouri | 102,780 | 8,430 | 5.9% |
| Virginia | 96,880 | 7,930 | 5.6% |
| Michigan | 89,750 | 7,150 | 1.8% |
| Minnesota | 81,170 | 6,700 | 6.8% |
| Tennessee | 78,660 | 6,920 | 18.3% |
| Utah | 75,020 | 6,860 | 26.7% |
| Colorado | 64,050 | 5,480 | 12.9% |
| New Jersey | 60,650 | 4,930 | 4.6% |
| Washington | 58,430 | 5,820 | 14.9% |
| Indiana | 58,000 | 4,730 | 5.0% |
| South Carolina | 56,440 | 4,840 | 13.4% |
| Kentucky | 54,500 | 4,480 | 6.2% |
| Oregon | 50,550 | 4,330 | 13.1% |
| Nevada | 48,840 | 4,210 | 14.3% |
| Oklahoma | 47,300 | 3,910 | 6.9% |
| Connecticut | 47,230 | 3,950 | 9.1% |
| Alabama | 44,610 | 3,690 | 7.3% |
| Louisiana | 40,940 | 3,360 | 5.8% |
| Massachusetts | 40,770 | 3,360 | 6.5% |
| District of Columbia | 39,880 | 3,230 | 4.2% |
| Arkansas | 38,140 | 3,220 | 10.5% |
| Wisconsin | 35,820 | 2,990 | 8.6% |
| Mississippi | 30,560 | 2,550 | 8.4% |
| Kansas | 25,760 | 2,090 | 4.1% |
| Nebraska | 23,990 | 1,990 | 7.4% |
| New Mexico | 19,130 | 1,650 | 14.2% |
| Idaho | 18,790 | 1,640 | 16.7% |
| New Hampshire | 18,580 | 1,540 | 7.3% |
| Iowa | 17,410 | 1,430 | 5.9% |
| West Virginia | 15,740 | 1,290 | 5.9% |
| Maine | 13,470 | 1,050 | −1.0% |
| North Dakota | 11,510 | 970 | 10.4% |
| Montana | 11,170 | 960 | 14.0% |
| Vermont | 9,420 | 790 | 9.0% |
| Wyoming | 8,470 | 740 | 17.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 7,800 | 660 | 11.9% |
| Rhode Island | 7,500 | 620 | 8.2% |
| Delaware | 5,060 | 410 | 5.9% |
| Alaska | 4,730 | 390 | 6.8% |
| South Dakota | 4,600 | 390 | 9.8% |
| Guam | 1,730 | 160 | 16.1% |
| Virgin Islands | 1,150 | 100 | 6.5% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 5,901
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Western Governors University
- Degrees each year
- 2,505
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 2,217
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
San Diego State University
- Degrees each year
- 2,170
- Admit rate
- 34%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
San Jose State University
- Degrees each year
- 1,657
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Degrees each year
- 1,649
- Admit rate
- Not reported
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 1,543
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- Degrees each year
- 1,523
- Admit rate
- 74%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
Compare every college offering business administration, management and operations