Operations Manager: Career Overview

Official government data · Updated April 2026

Operations Managers earn a national median of $102,950/yr with 4.4% projected employment growth over 2024–2034. The role draws on expertise in Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, English Language.

Median Salary

$102,950

National · 2024

10-Year Growth

4.4%

About as fast as average

Employed Nationally

3,584,420

2024 data

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Entry-level

What Employers Expect From a Operations Manager

These are the competencies recruiters screen for in Operations Manager candidates, ranked by importance. Your resume should demonstrate each one:

1 Reading Comprehension 2 Active Listening 3 Speaking 4 Monitoring 5 Critical Thinking 6 Coordination 7 Social Perceptiveness 8 Management of Personnel Resources 9 Active Learning 10 Persuasion

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge domains most important for Operations Manager performance, based on verified occupational data.

Administration and Management Customer and Personal Service English Language Production and Processing Mathematics

Tools & Technologies

High-demand tools and technologies for Operations Manager roles.

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft PowerPoint Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Photoshop Amazon Web Services AWS software Apache Hadoop Apple macOS Atlassian Confluence

Job Outlook: 2024–2034

Employment is projected to grow 4.4% for Operations Manager roles over the 2024–2034 decade. That's about as fast as average compared to the 4% average across all occupations.

Current Employment
3,584,420
Projected Growth
4.4%
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Operations Manager do?
Operations Managers apply expertise in Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, English Language to perform their core responsibilities. Key competencies include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring.
How much does a Operations Manager make?
The national median salary for a Operations Manager is $102,950 per year based on official government wage survey data. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
Is Operations Manager a good career in 2026?
Employment for Operations Manager roles is projected to grow 4.4% over the 2024–2034 decade — about as fast as average compared to all occupations. There are currently 3,584,420 workers in this occupation nationally.
What education do you need to become a Operations Manager?
The typical entry-level education for a Operations Manager is Bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by employer and specialization.
What skills do Operations Managers need?
The most important skills for Operations Manager roles based on verified occupational data: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Management of Personnel Resources, Active Learning, Persuasion. Key tools and technologies include: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Creative Cloud software.

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Salary, employment, and skills figures sourced from official U.S. government records and occupational databases. Actual compensation and requirements vary by location, experience, and employer. Salary and employment figures from official U.S. government records. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.