General and Operations Managers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Management · SOC 11-1021 · O*NET 11-1021.00
General and Operations Managers fall under the Management category in the U.S. occupational classification. General and Operations Managers earn a median salary of $102,950 per year, ranking in the top 11% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.4% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do general and operations managers earn?
The median annual wage for general and operations managers is $102,950. That puts general and operations managers at #90 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is general and operations managers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for general and operations managers is +4.4%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 3.7M positions in 2024 to 3.9M in 2034, a net change of 164K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What education does my child need to become general and operations manager?
The standard path into general and operations managers begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about general and operations managers
What is the median salary for general and operations managers?
The median annual salary for general and operations managers is $102,950 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is general and operations managers a growing career?
BLS projects +4.4% growth for general and operations managers from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become general and operations manager?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to general and operations managers?
Related occupations within the Management category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.