A general manager runs the day-to-day operations of a business, location or department, including staff, budgets, customers and results.
It is a leadership job found in retail, restaurants, hotels, construction, services and many other industries, and most people reach it by moving up from supervisory roles.
This guide explains what general managers do each day, the skills and requirements employers expect, what the work is like, what they earn and how to become one in the United States.
All numbers come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and ONET unless noted. The BLS covers this job as general and operations managers, and ONET lists General Manager as a job title for the same occupation (11-1021.00).
Specialized roles such as hotel, restaurant or bar general manager follow the same core duties.
Quick jump: Daily dutiesSkillsRequirementsQualificationsWork environmentSalaryOutlookCareer pathHow to becomeJob facts
General Manager Daily Duties and Responsibilities
Duties change by industry and company size, but most days follow the same flow: review, direct, staff, budget and solve problems.
| Part of the day | Typical duties |
|---|---|
| Start of day | Review reports, sales or activity numbers and today’s schedule |
| Team check-in | Assign duties, prepare staff schedules and brief managers or team leads |
| Operations | Direct and coordinate production, pricing, sales, service or distribution activities |
| Financials | Review financial statements and budgets and look for ways to cut costs or improve results |
| People and vendors | Hire, train and evaluate staff and monitor suppliers and vendors |
| Customers and problems | Handle escalations, step in on the floor and solve problems as they come up |
| End of day | Review results, update plans and prepare for tomorrow |
Here is the full list of general manager duties and responsibilities, based on O*NET and the BLS:
| Duty | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| Review performance | Review financial statements, sales or activity reports and other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement and find areas needing cost reduction or improvement |
| Direct operations | Direct and coordinate activities of the business or department, including production, pricing, sales or distribution |
| Oversee administration | Direct administrative activities related to making products or providing services |
| Schedule and assign work | Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties |
| Manage budgets | Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments or increase efficiency |
| Handle personnel | Perform personnel functions such as selection, training and evaluation |
| Set policies and goals | Establish or implement policies, goals, objectives and procedures with officials or staff |
| Plan promotions | Plan or direct activities such as sales promotions in coordination with other department managers |
| Monitor suppliers | Monitor suppliers to make sure they provide goods or services efficiently and within budget |
| Manage goods and flow | Manage the movement of goods into and out of facilities to keep operations efficient |
| Set prices and terms | Set prices or credit terms for goods or services based on demand forecasts |
| Support the floor | Perform sales floor work, such as helping customers, stocking shelves or taking inventory, when needed |
| Improve facilities | Plan store layouts or displays and recommend or oversee new or remodeled facilities |
| Run programs | Implement or oversee programs such as sustainability, recycling and waste management |
General Manager Skills
Employers look for leadership you can show in results and business skills that keep operations on budget.
Hard skills
| Skill | How you use it |
|---|---|
| Budgeting and financial analysis | Reviewing financial statements, setting budgets and cutting costs |
| Scheduling and staffing | Preparing staff schedules and assigning duties |
| Operations management | Directing day-to-day activities, suppliers and the flow of goods |
| Business software | Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, which O*NET lists as in demand, plus QuickBooks and Tableau |
| Sales and pricing | Setting prices, planning promotions and tracking sales results |
| Policy and procedure | Setting and enforcing company policies and procedures |
Soft skills
| Quality | What the BLS and O*NET say |
|---|---|
| Leadership | Guide and motivate teams (BLS); O*NET lists leadership orientation as a work style |
| Communication skills | Explain goals and expectations clearly (BLS) |
| Decision-making skills | Make good choices quickly; 93% make decisions every day (BLS, O*NET) |
| Problem-solving skills | Fix problems across operations, people and customers (BLS) |
| Time-management skills | Juggle many priorities at once (BLS) |
| Initiative, integrity and dependability | O*NET lists these among the work styles for this job |
O*NET also lists active listening, critical thinking, coordination, management of personnel resources, negotiation and systems analysis as skills.
General Manager Position Requirements
| Requirement | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Education | The BLS says top executives typically need at least a bachelor’s degree; O*NET new-hire survey: 29% say a high school diploma, 27% a bachelor’s degree and 22% some college |
| Experience | Most general and operations managers hired from outside an organization need lower-level supervisory or management experience in a related field |
| Advancement from within | Many top executives move up from lower-level management or supervisory roles in their own organizations |
| Licenses | Some top executive positions require a relevant license or certification |
| Hours | Most work full time, and many work more than 40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends |
| Travel | Travel to meetings, conferences and other locations is common, particularly for chief executives |
Requirements vary by employer, so read each posting closely before you apply.
General Manager Qualifications
Requirements are the minimum to apply. Qualifications are what make a candidate stand out.
| Qualification | What employers look for |
|---|---|
| Minimum qualifications | Supervisory or management experience in a related field and strong communication and decision-making skills |
| Preferred education | A bachelor’s degree in business, management or a field related to the industry |
| Preferred experience | Proven results managing staff, budgets and operations, such as running a department, shift or location |
| Industry knowledge | Experience in the industry, such as retail, hospitality, construction or services |
| Software skills | Excel, scheduling or workforce software and business reporting tools |
| Core abilities | Leadership, problem solving, time management and integrity |
General Manager Work Environment
| Work condition | What general managers report |
|---|---|
| Hours | 70% say a typical week is more than 40 hours (O*NET) |
| Decisions | 93% make decisions every day (O*NET) |
| Email and phone | 88% use email every day and 88% talk on the telephone every day (O*NET) |
| Responsibility for others | 61% have very high responsibility for the health and safety of other workers, and 62% for the results of other workers (O*NET) |
| Time pressure and competition | 41% face time pressure every day and 32% say the work is highly competitive (O*NET) |
| Stress | The BLS says the work can be stressful because executives are often held responsible for their organization’s success |
| Travel | Frequent travel to meetings, conferences and offices, particularly for chief executives (BLS) |
Most top executives work full time, and many work more than 40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends.
Where general managers work
| Industry (general and operations managers) | Share of jobs | Median salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 12% | $75,860 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 12% | $151,040 |
| Construction | 7% | $112,230 |
| Wholesale trade | 7% | $115,620 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 7% | $100,350 |
General Manager Salary
The BLS reports a May 2025 median salary of $105,770 a year for general and operations managers, compared with $108,780 for all top executives and $50,980 for all occupations. Salary varies widely by industry, from $75,860 in retail trade to $151,040 in professional, scientific and technical services.
| BLS measure (May 2025) | Amount |
|---|---|
| General and operations managers, median | $105,770 a year ($50.85 an hour, O*NET) |
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $50,090 |
| Highest 10% earned more than | $253,390 |
| All top executives, median | $108,780 a year ($52.30 an hour) |
| All occupations, median | $50,980 |
Your salary depends on your industry, employer size, location, scope of responsibility and experience. Many employers add bonuses based on performance.
General Manager Job Outlook
The BLS projects employment of top executives to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3% average for all occupations, with about 304,100 openings a year, mostly from workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. For general and operations managers, the BLS projects 5% growth (about 181,300 jobs), and O*NET projects about 285,000 openings over the period.
General Manager Career Path
The BLS says many top executives move up from lower-level management or supervisory roles within their organizations, and some general managers move into higher-level executive positions; executive training and development programs can help. O*NET lists related titles such as district manager, operations director, store manager, department manager and plant superintendent.
General management experience also connects to other careers:
| Related job | Typical entry education | Median salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative services and facilities managers | Bachelor’s degree | $110,500 |
| Construction managers | Bachelor’s degree | $114,990 |
| Industrial production managers | Bachelor’s degree | $126,060 |
| Medical and health services managers | Bachelor’s degree | $123,860 |
| Sales managers | Bachelor’s degree | $148,270 |
How to Become a General Manager
- Start in a supervisory role. Most people reach general manager by leading a shift, team or department first.
- Build business skills. Learn budgeting, scheduling, staffing and performance reports.
- Consider more education. A bachelor’s degree helps, though O*NET new hires report a mix of education levels.
- Learn your industry. Retail, hospitality, construction and services each have their own operations.
- Apply and show your strengths. Highlight results, leadership and decisions you made.
Is this job right for you?
- Do you enjoy leading and developing a team?
- Are you comfortable making decisions every day?
- Can you work evenings, weekends and more than 40 hours a week?
- Can you stay calm when you are held responsible for results?
- Do you like both numbers and people?
General Manager Job Facts at a Glance
| Quick fact | What to know |
|---|---|
| What general managers do | Oversee daily operations, staff, budgets and performance for a business, location or department |
| Median salary (May 2025) | $105,770 a year for general and operations managers (BLS and O*NET) |
| Jobs in 2025 | About 3,599,000 |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | 5% growth, faster than average; about 285,000 openings a year (O*NET) |
| Education | New hires report a mix: 29% a high school diploma, 27% a bachelor’s degree, 22% some college (O*NET) |
| Experience | Most hired from outside need lower-level supervisory or management experience in a related field |
| Work week | 70% work more than 40 hours a week (O*NET) |
| Top employers | Retail trade (12%) and professional, scientific and technical services (12%) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a general manager do?
General managers oversee daily operations, staff, budgets and performance for a business, location or department. The BLS says general and operations managers oversee activities too diverse to fit one area of management, and O*NET lists General Manager as a job title for that occupation.
What are the main duties of a general manager?
Reviewing performance data, directing operations, preparing staff schedules, managing budgets, hiring and training staff, setting policies, monitoring suppliers, planning promotions and stepping in on the floor when needed.
What skills does a general manager need?
The BLS lists communication, decision-making, leadership, problem-solving and time-management skills. O*NET adds active listening, coordination, management of personnel resources and negotiation.
What education do you need to be a general manager?
The BLS says top executives typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. In the O*NET new-hire survey, 29% said a high school diploma, 27% a bachelor’s degree and 22% some college.
How much experience do you need to be a general manager?
Most general and operations managers hired from outside an organization need lower-level supervisory or management experience in a related field, according to the BLS. Many are promoted from within.
How much do general managers make?
The BLS reports a May 2025 median salary of $105,770 a year for general and operations managers. The lowest 10% earned less than $50,090 and the highest 10% earned more than $253,390. Salary varies widely by industry, for example $75,860 in retail trade and $151,040 in professional, scientific and technical services.
Where do general managers work?
Retail trade and professional, scientific and technical services each employ 12% of general and operations managers, followed by construction, wholesale trade and administrative and support services at 7% each, according to the BLS.
Do general managers work long hours?
Often. O*NET reports that 70% work more than 40 hours a week, and the BLS says many work evenings and weekends.
Is being a general manager stressful?
It can be. The BLS says executives are often held responsible for their organization’s success, and O*NET reports that 41% face time pressure every day and 93% make decisions every day.
What is the job outlook for general managers?
The BLS projects 5% growth for general and operations managers from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3% average for all occupations, adding about 181,300 jobs. O*NET projects about 285,000 openings over the period.
Conclusion
A general manager turns people, budgets and daily operations into steady results. With supervisory experience, strong leadership and decision-making skills and a good grasp of your industry, you can step into a well-paid role. If you are ready to apply, use the resources below to prepare.
Related Reading
- Restaurant general manager resume sample
- Hotel general manager resume objectives
- Hotel general manager job description for resume
- Hotel general manager key skills
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Top Executives. O*NET OnLine, 11-1021.00 General and Operations Managers. Requirements vary by employer; check the posting before you apply.