How to Become an Operations Manager
Run the day-to-day of an organization across departments, one of the most common and versatile leadership roles in business. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $105,770 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$105,770/yr
Middle half
$72,320 to $167,280
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
308,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Operations Leadership
- Budgeting
- Process Improvement
- People Management
- Decision Making
Helpful certifications
- PMP (Project Management Professional)
- Lean Six Sigma
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
64/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
58/100
Related careers
- Entrepreneur / Business Founder$213,990 median
- Human Resources Manager$149,280 median
- Sales Manager$148,270 median
- Purchasing Manager$148,080 median
- Fundraising Manager$125,470 median
- Administrative Services Manager$114,130 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Operations Manager make?
The median pay for an Operations Manager is $105,770 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $72,320 and $167,280 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Operations Manager?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Business Administration, Management, Finance, Industrial Engineering, Healthcare Administration, International Business, and Entrepreneurship.
Is Operations Manager a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 308,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Operations Manager use most?
Common skills for this role are Operations Leadership, Budgeting, Process Improvement, People Management, and Decision Making.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).