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General and Operations Managers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $105,770 Median per year · $50.85/hr Most earn $50,090–$253,390

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Establish or implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members.
  • Direct non-merchandising departments of businesses, such as advertising or purchasing.
  • Perform sales floor work, such as greeting or assisting customers, stocking shelves, or taking inventory.
  • Implement or oversee environmental management or sustainability programs addressing issues such as recycling, conservation, or waste management.
  • 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 administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 285,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting services3.9%
  • Management of companies and enterprises3.2%
  • Computer systems design and related services2.6%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals2.3%
  • Full-service restaurants2.1%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This isn't usually an entry-level job. Most people work their way up over several years, typically starting in a coordinator or team lead role and taking on more responsibility before managing a whole operation. A certificate or apprenticeship and about 2 to 4 years of related work experience are typical.

  1. High school diploma plus a business or trade certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    Building skills in business, management, or a specific industry gives you the basics you need before you move into paid operations work.

  2. Operations Coordinator

    1-2 years

    You help keep daily work running smoothly, like scheduling, tracking supplies, and organizing staff, which teaches you how a whole organization fits together.

  3. Operations Supervisor

    2-4 years

    You lead a small team and start handling problems, budgets, and schedules, which proves you can manage people and results.

  4. General and Operations Manager

    Career goal

    You oversee several departments or locations, set policies, and manage through supervisors, using the experience from earlier steps.

Where it can lead

  1. Director of Operations

    5-10 years in a general or operations manager role (rough estimate) of experience first

    You take responsibility for a larger part of the organization and report to top leaders, often needing a stronger record of results and more leadership experience.

  2. Chief Executive

    Over 10 years of experience, usually with a master's degree of experience first

    You set the overall direction for an entire organization or company, which typically requires a long track record of leadership and often advanced education.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, economics, or business classesThese build the budgeting, planning, and reasoning skills that managers use every day.
  • Join a student club or leadership groupBeing an officer, such as treasurer or event planner, gives you real practice running a group and working with others.
  • Get a part-time job in a busy workplaceWorking in retail, food service, or a warehouse shows you how operations run and gives you your first work experience.
  • Volunteer to organize an eventPlanning a fundraiser or community event teaches you to set goals, assign tasks, and keep a schedule.
  • Practice public speakingManagers explain plans and lead meetings, so speaking clearly in class or in a club builds confidence.

In college

  • Major in business administration or operations managementThese majors teach how organizations plan, budget, and run daily work, which is the core of this career.
  • Take a certificate in project management or supply chainA certificate adds practical skills in planning and tracking work that employers often look for in operations roles.
  • Seek an internship in operations or logisticsAn internship lets you see how a manager's decisions affect teams, schedules, and costs at a real company.
  • Take a campus job with responsibilityRoles like shift lead at a dining hall or supervising a campus office give you experience managing people and tasks.
  • Lead a student organizationRunning a club, budget, or event teaches you to coordinate people and report results, which builds the record managers need.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with the flow of work: volunteer for roles where you handle schedules, budgets, or organizing a team, since that is the day-to-day of this career.
  • Keep track of your results, such as projects you finished, problems you solved, or people you trained, so you can show them when you apply for supervisor or manager roles.
  • Look for part-time or summer jobs in busy businesses like restaurants, retail, or warehouses, where you can see how operations run and start taking on lead duties.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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