Occupations · Management
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 11-1021.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 41% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $149,260 | 187,400 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $108,690 | 132,030 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $105,310 | 121,110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $151,420 | 108,510 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $108,090 | 105,830 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,610 | 102,370 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $129,850 | 76,980 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $104,060 | 74,070 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $94,130 | 73,000 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $105,760 | 68,560 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $111,490 | 68,020 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $101,970 | 47,000 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Bachelor's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Manage the movement of goods into and out of production facilities to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, or sustainability of operations.
- Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
- Set prices or credit terms for goods or services, based on forecasts of customer demand.
- Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.
- Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- Perform sales floor work, such as greeting or assisting customers, stocking shelves, or taking inventory.
- 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.
- Develop or implement product-marketing strategies, including advertising campaigns or sales promotions.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2023-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2023-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 13 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 76
No longer listed 14
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| chief operating officer | 1120.4 | exact |
| public administration manager | 1112.6 | close |
| operations manager | 1321.1.3 | broader |
| business manager | 1120.2 | broader |
| library manager | 1349.16 | broader |
| airport director | 1324.1 | broader |
| strategic planning manager | 1213.2.2 | broader |
| textile operations manager | 3122.4.17 | broader |
| tourism product manager | 1221.5 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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