What is the salary and career path for a operations manager?
Operations managers are reported under General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021), a close BLS match for the role. Its OEWS May 2025 median is $105,770 a year ($50.85 an hour), from $50,090 at the 10th percentile up to $253,390 at the 90th, reflecting a very wide range across employers and industries. BLS projects this large code up about 4.4% over 2024–2034, about average, with roughly 308,700 openings a year. A bachelor's degree plus progressive operational and supervisory experience is the typical path.
- Operations Managers earn a national median $105,770/yr ($50.85/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-1021); the top 10% clear $253,390.
- The role maps closely to General and Operations Managers (11-1021), a very broad, cross-industry code.
- BLS projects the code up about 4.4% through 2034, roughly average, with around 308,700 openings a year.
- Pay runs from a supervisor near $50,090 to a director or VP of operations at the $253,390 top decile, driven by scope of responsibility.
Career Path
How do you become an operations manager?
Supervisor / team lead
Leading a team or shift and learning the operation starts near the $50,090 10th percentile.
Operations Manager
Running day-to-day operations, budgets and targets earns around the $105,770 median.
Senior operations manager
Owning a larger operation or multiple functions lifts pay toward the $167,280 75th percentile.
Director of operations / VP
Leading operations across a large organization reaches the $253,390 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays operations managers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-1021. National median: $105,770. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does operations manager pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles operations managers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: operations managers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +4.4% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly operations managers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-1021 (operations managers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do operations managers need?
The typical foundation; an MBA is common among senior operations leaders. See all state licences →
Process-improvement credentials that strengthen an operations-management profile.
PMI's credential, useful where operations work is project- and initiative-driven.
ASCM's credential valuable in supply-chain-heavy operations roles.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do operations managers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-1021
Salary Levers
How do operations managers earn above the $105,770 BLS median?
Move from supervisor to manager
Owning the operation and its budget instead of a single team lifts pay off the $50,090 band toward the median.
Manage a larger operation
Taking on bigger teams, budgets and multiple functions lifts pay toward the $167,280 upper band.
Reach director or VP of operations
Leading operations across the organization reaches the $253,390 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an operations manager worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-1021. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Operations Manager Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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