An operations manager runs the daily work of a business or department by planning schedules and staff, managing budgets, tracking performance and making sure goals are met.
It is a leadership role found in almost every industry, and most employers look for a bachelor’s degree and supervisory experience.
This guide explains what operations managers do each day, the skills and requirements employers expect, what the work is like, what operations managers earn and how to get hired in the United States.
The BLS reports operations managers within the category general and operations managers, so the numbers below are for that group.
All numbers come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET unless noted.
Quick jump: Daily dutiesSkillsRequirementsQualificationsWork environmentPayOutlookCareer pathHow to get hiredJob facts
Operations Manager Daily Duties and Responsibilities
Duties change by industry and company size, but most days follow the same pattern: review, direct, schedule, manage and report.
| Part of the day | Typical duties |
|---|---|
| Start of day | Review performance data, reports and overnight issues, and check staffing for the day |
| Daily operations | Direct and coordinate activities for production, pricing, sales, distribution or services, and keep work moving |
| Scheduling and staffing | Prepare staff work schedules, assign duties and plan the use of materials and staff |
| Budget and finance | Direct or coordinate financial and budget activities to fund operations and increase efficiency |
| Meetings and communication | Meet with department heads, staff and customers, and answer email and calls |
| Problem solving | Fix process, staffing or supply problems and make sure projects finish on time |
| End of day | Review results against goals, plan next steps and report to senior leaders |
Here is the full list of operations manager duties and responsibilities, based on the BLS and O*NET:
| Duty | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| Direct daily operations | Direct and coordinate the activities of a business or department concerned with production, pricing, sales or distribution |
| Set policies | Formulate policies and administrative procedures for the area you run |
| Plan staff and materials | Plan the use of materials and staff, make schedules and assign specific duties |
| Manage administrative work | Direct administrative activities related to making products or providing services |
| Manage budgets | Direct or coordinate financial and budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments or increase efficiency |
| Review performance | Review financial statements, sales and activity reports and other data to measure productivity and goal achievement |
| Lead the team | Hire, train, coach and supervise staff and make sure they have what they need |
| Meet goals | Make sure projects and goals are completed on time and within budget |
| Improve processes | Find ways to raise efficiency and cut costs |
| Work with other leaders | Coordinate with department heads, executives and outside partners |
Operations Manager Skills
Employers look for a mix of hard skills you can show in results and soft skills that help you lead people.
Hard skills
| Skill | How you use it |
|---|---|
| Operations and process management | Running day-to-day work, improving workflows and keeping output steady |
| Budgeting and financial analysis | Reading financial statements and managing budgets; O*NET lists Excel and QuickBooks among common tools |
| Scheduling and staffing | Building schedules and assigning work to meet demand |
| Data and reporting | Using Excel, PowerPoint, Tableau and similar tools to track results and report them |
| Project management | Planning projects and tracking them to completion; O*NET lists Microsoft Project and JIRA among hot technologies |
| Business software | Microsoft Office, Salesforce, SAP and similar systems for sales, finance and operations |
Soft skills
| Quality | What the BLS and O*NET say |
|---|---|
| Communication | Explain goals, give direction and listen to staff and customers |
| Decision-making | 93% make decisions every day (O*NET) |
| Leadership | Guide and motivate teams; O*NET lists leadership orientation as a work style |
| Problem-solving | Find practical fixes under pressure |
| Time management | Balance many priorities and deadlines |
| Integrity and dependability | O*NET lists integrity and dependability as work styles |
O*NET also lists initiative, self-confidence, perseverance, adaptability and achievement orientation as work styles.
Operations Manager Position Requirements
| Requirement | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Education | Typically a bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field. In O*NET survey data, 29% of employers required a high school diploma, 27% a bachelor’s degree and 22% some college |
| Experience | Managers hired from outside usually need lower-level supervisory or management experience in a related field |
| Training | No formal on-the-job training; executive training programs can help |
| License | Not required for most operations manager jobs; some roles in regulated fields may need a credential |
| Computer skills | Comfort with spreadsheets, presentations and business software |
| Availability | O*NET reports 70% work more than 40 hours in a typical week, and schedules can be irregular |
Requirements vary by employer and industry, so read each posting closely before you apply.
Operations Manager Qualifications
Requirements are the minimum to apply. Qualifications are what make a candidate stand out.
| Qualification | What employers look for |
|---|---|
| Minimum qualifications | A bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experience, plus supervisory or management experience in a related field |
| Preferred education | A master’s degree; large corporations may prefer an MBA |
| Preferred experience | Experience running operations, budgets, schedules and teams in your industry |
| Software skills | Excel, PowerPoint, project management and reporting tools, and industry systems |
| Leadership and results | A track record of meeting goals, improving processes and leading teams |
| Core abilities | Communication, decision-making, leadership, problem-solving and time management |
Operations Manager Work Environment
| Work condition | What operations managers report |
|---|---|
| Decision making | 93% say they make decisions every day (O*NET) |
| Email and phone | 88% use email every day, and 88% talk on the telephone every day (O*NET) |
| Face-to-face contact | 86% have face-to-face discussions every day, and 76% have constant contact with others (O*NET) |
| Freedom | 86% say they have a lot of freedom to make decisions (O*NET) |
| Hours | 70% say a typical week runs more than 40 hours (O*NET); the BLS says many top executives work more than 40 hours and have irregular schedules |
| Travel | The BLS says travel is common for top executives, especially chief executives |
| Stress | The BLS says stress can be high because managers are held responsible for results |
Most operations managers work full time, and many work more than 40 hours a week.
Where operations managers work
| Industry | Median pay (May 2025) | Share of jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | $151,040 | 12% |
| Wholesale trade | $115,620 | 7% |
| Construction | $112,230 | 7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | $100,350 | 7% |
| Retail trade | $75,860 | 12% |
Operations Manager Pay
The BLS reports a May 2025 median of $105,770 a year, or $50.85 an hour, for general and operations managers, compared with $50,980 for all occupations. The lowest 10% earned less than $50,090 and the highest 10% earned more than $253,390. Pay depends on your industry, company size, state and experience, and professional, scientific and technical services pay the most of the industries shown.
The BLS adds that corporate executives often receive stock options and performance bonuses, while nonprofit and government executives usually receive fewer of these.
Operations Manager Job Outlook
The BLS projects employment of general and operations managers to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, a gain of about 181,300 jobs, as organizations increasingly rely on these workers to run smoothly. O*NET lists about 285,000 projected openings from 2025 to 2035.
Operations Manager Career Path
The BLS says many top executives advance from lower management or supervisory roles in their organization, and that some general and operations managers move into higher executive roles. Executive training programs can help. O*NET lists related job titles such as general manager, operations director, district manager, department manager, plant superintendent and store manager.
Operations experience also connects to other management careers:
| Related job | Typical entry education | Median pay (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 |
How to Get an Operations Manager Job
- Earn your education. A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is typical.
- Start in a supervisory role. Build experience leading people, schedules and daily work.
- Learn the numbers. Get comfortable with budgets, reports and Excel.
- Show measurable results. Track improvements you made in cost, time, quality or service.
- Consider advanced study. A master’s or an MBA can help with large employers.
Is this job right for you?
- Do you enjoy organizing people, schedules and processes?
- Are you comfortable making decisions every day?
- Can you stay calm when you are responsible for results?
- Do you like working with numbers and reports?
- Can you work more than 40 hours in a busy week?
Operations Manager Job Facts at a Glance
| Quick fact | What to know |
|---|---|
| What operations managers do | Direct daily operations, set schedules, assign work, manage budgets and staff and make sure projects and goals are met |
| Median pay (May 2025) | $105,770 a year, or $50.85 an hour (general and operations managers) |
| Jobs in 2025 | About 3,599,000 |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | 5% growth; about 285,000 projected openings (O*NET) |
| Education | Typically a bachelor’s degree in a related field; some employers hire with less plus experience |
| Experience | Usually lower-level supervisory or management experience in a related field |
| Training | None required; executive training programs can help |
| Key tools | Microsoft Excel, Office and PowerPoint, plus project, finance and business software |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an operations manager do?
Operations managers direct daily operations, make schedules, assign work, plan the use of materials and staff, manage budgets and make sure projects and goals are completed, according to the BLS and O*NET.
What are the main duties of an operations manager?
Directing and coordinating daily activities, setting policies and procedures, scheduling and assigning staff, managing budgets, reviewing performance reports and improving processes.
What skills does an operations manager need?
The BLS lists communication, decision-making, leadership, problem-solving and time management. O*NET adds active listening, critical thinking, coordination and managing personnel resources.
What education do you need to be an operations manager?
A bachelor’s degree is typical for top executives, including general and operations managers, according to the BLS. O*NET survey data show 29% of employers required a high school diploma and 27% a bachelor’s degree, so requirements vary.
How much experience do you need to be an operations manager?
The BLS says general and operations managers hired from outside usually need lower-level supervisory or management experience in a related field.
What is the difference between an operations manager and a general manager?
The BLS groups them together as general and operations managers, who oversee activities too varied to fit one management area. Titles vary by employer and industry.
How much do operations managers make?
The BLS reports a May 2025 median 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.
Where do operations managers work?
Retail trade and professional, scientific and technical services each employ 12% of general and operations managers. Construction, wholesale trade and administrative and support services each employ 7%, according to the BLS.
Is operations management stressful?
It can be. The BLS says stress can be high because executives are often held responsible for the success of the organization, and O*NET reports 70% work more than 40 hours in a typical week.
What is the job outlook for operations managers?
The BLS projects 5% growth for general and operations managers from 2025 to 2035, a gain of about 181,300 jobs, and O*NET lists about 285,000 projected openings.
Conclusion
An operations manager directs daily operations, schedules and leads staff, manages budgets and tracks results against goals. The job typically needs a bachelor’s degree, supervisory experience and strong communication, decision-making and leadership skills. If you are ready to apply, use the resources below to prepare.
Related Reading
- Business operations manager resume sample
- Business operations manager cover letter sample
- Business operations manager interview questions and answers
- Operations coordinator resume sample
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 and industry; check the posting before you apply.