Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- General Manager (GM)
- Operations Director
- Operations Manager
- Store Manager
Alternate Job Titles
- Area Manager
- Boards and Commissions Director
- Business Coordinator
- Business Manager
- Center Manager
- Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
- Corporate Manager
- Department Manager
- Department Store General Manager (Dept Store GM)
- Department Store Manager (Dept Store Manager)
- District Commercial Superintendent
- District Manager
- District Plant Superintendent
- District Traffic Chief
- District Wire Chief
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
- Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
- Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.
- Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- Plan or direct activities, such as sales promotions, that require coordination with other department managers.
- Perform personnel functions, such as selection, training, or evaluation.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Social Perceptiveness
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Active Learning
- Persuasion
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Leadership Orientation
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Achievement Orientation
- Self-Confidence
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Recognition
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Apache Hadoop
- Apple macOS
- Atlassian Confluence
- Atlassian JIRA
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Extensible markup language XML
Tools & Equipment
- 10-key calculators
- Cell phones
- Computer scanners
- Credit card processing machines
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Handtrucks
- Humidity test chambers
- Laptop computers
- Magnetic card readers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Photocopying equipment
- Point of sale POS systems
- Profilometers
Work Environment
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $47,420 |
| Median | $102,950 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 3,584,420
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Chief Executives
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $206,420
Administrative Services Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $108,390
Industrial Production Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $121,440
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $84,130
Facilities Managers
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $104,690
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.