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Retail
Walmart, Target, Costco
General and Operations Managers
General and operations managers keep a business or department moving by handling budgets, staffing, supplier relationships, and day-to-day priorities. The job is broad and high-stakes: you are expected to improve efficiency without breaking service, burning out employees, or missing financial targets.
Also known as Operations ManagerBusiness Operations ManagerGeneral ManagerOperations DirectorDirector of Operations
Median Salary
$102,950
Mean $133,120
U.S. Workforce
~3.6M
308.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+4.4%
3712.9K to 3876.8K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ 5 years or more experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
General and Operations Managers sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~3.6M workers, with a median annual pay of $102,950 and roughly 308.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 3712.9 K in 2024 to 3876.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in business, management, or a related field, and employers typically expect 5 years or more of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Team Lead and can progress toward Vice President of Operations. High-value skills usually include Microsoft Excel, PivotTables & Financial Modeling, ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle NetSuite), and Budgeting & Forecasting Software, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking.
Core Responsibilities
- Keep daily work on track by assigning priorities, checking progress, and clearing bottlenecks between teams.
- Review spending and performance numbers to spot waste, protect margins, and improve results.
- Hire, train, coach, and evaluate employees, then build schedules and assign duties.
- Set goals, rules, and procedures with other leaders so the department works consistently.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Keep daily work on track by assigning priorities, checking progress, and clearing bottlenecks between teams.
02 Review spending and performance numbers to spot waste, protect margins, and improve results.
03 Hire, train, coach, and evaluate employees, then build schedules and assign duties.
04 Set goals, rules, and procedures with other leaders so the department works consistently.
05 Work with vendors and suppliers to make sure needed goods or services arrive on time and within budget.
06 Plan sales, production, or service changes and adjust staffing when demand changes.
Industries That Hire
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Manufacturing
Ford, 3M, General Mills
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Logistics & Transportation
UPS, FedEx, Amazon
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Healthcare Systems
Kaiser Permanente, HCA Healthcare, Mayo Clinic
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Professional Services
Accenture, Deloitte, CBRE
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is strong, with a mean annual wage of $133,120 and a median of $102,950.
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There is a very large job market, with 3.58 million workers now and 308.7 thousand projected annual openings.
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The skills transfer across many industries, from retail and healthcare to manufacturing and logistics.
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You get real control over budgets, staffing, supplier choices, and operating rules.
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Many people reach this role by building experience over time, so a long career in one field can pay off.
Challenges
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Job growth is only 4.4% from 2024 to 2034, so the field is steady but not fast-growing.
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You are responsible for people, costs, and service at the same time, which makes the work stressful and politically tricky.
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Most employers expect 5 years or more of experience, and many still prefer a bachelor's degree, so entry can take time.
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There are only so many senior operations seats, which can create a hard ceiling once you reach mid-management.
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Routine scheduling, tracking, and reporting can be standardized or software-driven, so some parts of the job are easier to automate or outsource.
Career Progression
Team Lead
0-4 years
$42K-$60K
You start by supervising a small group, handling schedules, and keeping day-to-day tasks on track.
Assistant Manager
4-8 years
$60K-$88K
You take on hiring, training, reporting, and helping solve problems before they reach senior leaders.
General and Operations Manager THIS ROLE
8-14 years
$90K-$130K
You oversee budgets, staffing, policies, and cross-department work for a whole unit or location.
Senior Operations Director
14-20 years
$135K-$185K
You manage multiple teams or sites, standardize processes, and push bigger efficiency and growth goals.
Vice President of Operations
20+ years
$190K-$280K
You set operating strategy for a large business, often across regions, divisions, or the entire company.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in business, management, or a related field
The most common formal route, held by 27.3% of workers in the O*NET distribution.
High school diploma plus years of supervisory experience
A large share of workers, 28.76%, report this level, usually after moving up from frontline or team-lead roles.
Some college courses or an associate degree
Another common stepping-stone, with 21.59% of workers in the O*NET distribution, often paired with steady promotion inside one company.
Professional certificate or industry credential
A smaller alternative route, with 5.72% of workers holding a post-secondary certificate, especially useful for people already working in operations.
Key Skills
Technical
Microsoft Excel, PivotTables & Financial Modeling 84%
ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle NetSuite) 83%
Budgeting & Forecasting Software 82%
Project Management Software (Asana, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project) 81%
Tableau, Power BI & KPI Dashboards 80%
HRIS & Workforce Scheduling Systems (Workday, UKG) 79%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingCoordinationMonitoringSocial Perceptiveness Job Outlook and Trends
+4.4%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
308.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 3712.9K to 3876.8 K over the next decade, representing 4.4% growth. Around 308.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.