Best degree programs for General and Operations Managers, ranked by enrollment
15 college programs and 2,586 schools train General and Operations Managers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $105,770 median wage, 3,503,020 U.S. jobs. Federal data.
15 college programs at 2,586 schools train general and operations managers, graduating 531,501 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Business Administration and Management, General. The job pays a median of $105,770 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About 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.
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
15 degree programs that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 52.0201 | 348,906 | 65.6% | 2,305 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 2 | Business/Commerce, Generalmain feeder CIP 52.0101 | 60,975 | 11.5% | 806 | $44,700 | $24,000 |
| 3 | CIP 52.0801 | 49,441 | 9.3% | 753 | $53,572 | $23,672 |
| 4 | Management Sciencemain feeder CIP 52.1301 | 35,090 | 6.6% | 360 | $62,069 | $23,500 |
| 5 | Public Administrationmain feeder CIP 44.0401 | 13,652 | 2.6% | 431 | $45,374 | $26,000 |
| 6 | Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studiesmain feeder CIP 52.0701 | 10,569 | 2.0% | 537 | $43,803 | $23,374 |
| 7 | International Business/Trade/Commercemain feeder CIP 52.1101 | 6,484 | 1.2% | 385 | $51,261 | $23,361 |
| 8 | Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Managementmain feeder CIP 52.0206 | 2,409 | 0.5% | 175 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 9 | CIP 31.0301 | 2,164 | 0.4% | 125 | $33,076 | $25,000 |
| 10 | Retail Managementmain feeder CIP 52.0212 | 1,362 | 0.3% | 62 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 11 | Risk Managementmain feeder CIP 52.0215 | 236 | 0.0% | 17 | $43,506 | $25,000 |
| 12 | CIP 01.8202 | 107 | 0.0% | 2 | — | — |
| 13 | Social Entrepreneurshipmain feeder CIP 52.0704 | 99 | 0.0% | 14 | $43,803 | $23,374 |
| 14 | CIP 52.0810 | 6 | 0.0% | 2 | $53,572 | $23,672 |
| 15 | CIP 31.0399 | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $33,076 | $25,000 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
What general and operations managers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,390 | 300,840 | 0.73× | 228 | 68,665 |
| Texas | $103,230 | 431,310 | 1.36× | 144 | 37,475 |
| Arizona | $94,800 | 110,480 | 1.51× | 40 | 30,016 |
| Florida | $101,580 | 236,290 | 1.06× | 99 | 29,142 |
| New York | $130,860 | 206,740 | 0.95× | 150 | 24,141 |
| Indiana | $108,170 | 47,180 | 0.65× | 48 | 20,174 |
| North Carolina | $101,950 | 63,740 | 0.57× | 112 | 18,403 |
| Massachusetts | $127,220 | 95,880 | 1.17× | 67 | 17,502 |
| Illinois | $103,570 | 171,300 | 1.25× | 94 | 16,888 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,130 | 172,010 | 1.26× | 132 | 16,265 |
| Virginia | $122,080 | 103,590 | 1.12× | 65 | 15,086 |
| Georgia | $103,730 | 111,060 | 1.01× | 83 | 13,634 |
| New Hampshire | $124,680 | 22,110 | 1.44× | 19 | 13,406 |
| Ohio | $97,700 | 153,160 | 1.22× | 101 | 13,270 |
| Colorado | $131,840 | 41,870 | 0.65× | 33 | 13,095 |
| Utah | $97,850 | 42,580 | 1.09× | 12 | 12,765 |
| New Jersey | $173,690 | 53,000 | 0.55× | 52 | 10,433 |
| Michigan | $99,530 | 85,860 | 0.87× | 73 | 10,124 |
| Maryland | $117,930 | 96,740 | 1.55× | 42 | 9,905 |
| Kentucky | $79,370 | 52,100 | 1.16× | 47 | 9,512 |
| Alabama | $111,790 | 30,170 | 0.63× | 45 | 9,260 |
| Missouri | $79,300 | 109,020 | 1.65× | 59 | 8,131 |
| Louisiana | $101,790 | 43,220 | 0.99× | 35 | 8,087 |
| Minnesota | $99,340 | 72,860 | 1.10× | 62 | 7,791 |
| South Carolina | $106,080 | 32,230 | 0.62× | 52 | 7,722 |
| Idaho | $80,390 | 24,880 | 1.29× | 11 | 7,106 |
| Wisconsin | $118,730 | 36,910 | 0.56× | 52 | 6,849 |
| Tennessee | $106,970 | 63,720 | 0.86× | 54 | 6,794 |
| Washington | $133,750 | 50,630 | 0.63× | 55 | 6,668 |
| West Virginia | $82,500 | 15,300 | 0.97× | 32 | 6,274 |
| Connecticut | $137,220 | 39,070 | 1.02× | 20 | 5,592 |
| Oklahoma | $90,430 | 43,890 | 1.14× | 48 | 5,029 |
| District of Columbia | $168,000 | 36,150 | 2.29× | 12 | 4,730 |
| Arkansas | $74,050 | 34,570 | 1.18× | 45 | 4,490 |
| Iowa | $87,690 | 30,760 | 0.88× | 43 | 4,353 |
| Nebraska | $85,090 | 24,030 | 1.04× | 25 | 4,098 |
| Mississippi | $106,680 | 10,630 | 0.41× | 29 | 4,050 |
| Kansas | $92,840 | 24,660 | 0.76× | 39 | 3,835 |
| Oregon | $103,490 | 36,190 | 0.82× | 31 | 3,199 |
| New Mexico | $98,630 | 16,330 | 0.83× | 26 | 2,089 |
| Rhode Island | $117,380 | 9,150 | 0.81× | 11 | 2,047 |
| Maine | $98,860 | 14,770 | 1.02× | 17 | 1,877 |
| Nevada | $99,390 | 38,920 | 1.11× | 9 | 1,838 |
| Delaware | $137,220 | 5,000 | 0.46× | 6 | 1,613 |
| South Dakota | $137,400 | 4,280 | 0.42× | 16 | 1,175 |
| Hawaii | $108,180 | 13,380 | 0.95× | 8 | 1,135 |
| North Dakota | $98,170 | 11,150 | 1.15× | 16 | 1,087 |
| Montana | $91,380 | 11,840 | 1.03× | 19 | 1,085 |
| Vermont | $98,640 | 8,000 | 1.17× | 7 | 752 |
| Wyoming | $99,700 | 7,470 | 1.18× | 9 | 654 |
| Alaska | $116,630 | 6,020 | 0.82× | 6 | 400 |
Skills and tools
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Perform personnel functions, such as selection, training, or evaluation.
- Establish or implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, or procedures in conjunction with board members, organization officials, or staff members.
Skills
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Writing3.5
- Learning Strategies3.0
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.3
- Customer and Personal Service4.2
- English Language3.7
- Production and Processing3.6
- Mathematics3.5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.4
Abilities
- Written Expression4.0
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Speech Clarity3.9
- Deductive Reasoning3.9
Core activities
- Working with Computers4.5
- Getting Information4.4
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.3
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.3
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.3
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.2
Tools and technology
hotmarks an O*NET hot technologyHow to get in
How to become a General
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience needed
- 5 years or more
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 15 majors mapped to General and Operations Managers15 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 01.8202Veterinary Office Management/Administration
- 31.0301Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General
- 31.0399Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Other
- 44.0401Public Administration
- 52.0101Business/Commerce, General
- 52.0201Business Administration and Management, General
- 52.0206Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- 52.0212Retail Management
- 52.0215Risk Management
- 52.0701Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
- 52.0704Social Entrepreneurship
- 52.0801Finance, General
- 52.0810Financial Risk Management
- 52.1101International Business/Trade/Commerce
- 52.1301Management Science
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a General?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Business Administration and Management, General, which awarded 348,906 degrees in 2024-25, 65.6% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a General?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 15 programs to this occupation. The largest are Business Administration, Business/Commerce, Finance and Financial Management Services, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 531,501 people a year.
How much do general and operations managers earn?+
The median is $105,770 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $50,090 at the 10th percentile to $253,390 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for general and operations managers growing?+
BLS projects a +4.4% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 308,700 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
2,586 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 15 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do general and operations managers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Store Manager, Operations Manager, Operations Director, General Manager (GM) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-1021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card