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What is a business continuity manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

You might have heard a lot about business managers, which is a more common role than a business continuity manager. As the name of the title suggests, a business continuity manager develops plans to make sure that a company still keeps operating even after disruptive events such as crime, terrorism, natural disasters, or human and computer error.

If you have a bachelor's degree in disaster management, computer science, business management, or a related field, you can apply for the position of business continuity manager. Communication skills, teamwork capability, and strong leadership are some of the main skills that you need for this role.

Business continuity managers are paid a handsome amount which is around $55 per hour. So, they can make more than $114,000 in a year. If you are looking for a career that rewards you well in the long run, you can consider working as a business continuity manager.

ScoreBusiness Continuity ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.4

Avg. Salary $81,325

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
4.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 8.83%

Black or African American 6.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 70.43%

Gender

female 27.51%

male 72.49%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Business continuity manager career paths

Key steps to become a business continuity manager

  1. Explore business continuity manager education requirements

    Most common business continuity manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.3 %

    Master's

    18.4 %

    Associate

    9.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific business continuity manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Crisis Management9.90%
    Business Continuity8.94%
    Business Impact Analysis8.91%
    Risk Management7.10%
    Business Continuity Management6.81%
  3. Complete relevant business continuity manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business continuity managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business continuity manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business continuity manager resumes.
  4. Gain additional business continuity manager certifications

    Business continuity manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific business continuity manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for business continuity managers include Master Business Continuity Professional (MBCP) and IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research business continuity manager duties and responsibilities

    • Construct and manage SharePoint site for program area.
    • Collaborate with other teams and leadership to accomplish target ROI levels and customer SLAs.
    • Establish and manage team responsible for build out, simplification and support services of business enterprise process model.
    • Lead emergency operation procedures for mobility business continuity plans during regional/national disaster events, and declare emergencies to support business customers.
  6. Prepare your business continuity manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business continuity manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business continuity manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable business continuity manager resume templates

    Build a professional business continuity manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your business continuity manager resume.
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
    Business Continuity Manager Resume
  7. Apply for business continuity manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a business continuity manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first business continuity manager job

Alexey DzhuraevAlexey Dzhuraev LinkedIn profile

Business Continuity Manager, Unitel

Actually, I never thought I would become an expert in business continuity. In university, I studied international relations and thought I would work in that field, but when I was pursuing my master's degree, I was approached by PwC, where I was invited to work in a technical assistant position (the study conditions in my country allowed me to work and study).
After obtaining my master's degree, I began looking for ways to apply my knowledge. I looked within PwC, as I was already accustomed to the company, and the corporate conditions there surpass those of most local companies. I went through several interviews with different teams. The business continuity group noticed me. They had specialists in physical and economic security and wanted to strengthen the team with my knowledge in cybersecurity and international security.
After working at PwC, I worked at a local consulting company, where I focused on restoring expertise in business continuity.
About 2 years ago, I moved to Uzbekistan, where I currently live and work as a business continuity manager. I have worked in a bank, a fintech company, and in telecommunications.
For Uzbekistan, my expertise is unique because there are no such specialists here, and most companies know nothing about business continuity managers or business continuity in general. Therefore, I have set myself one of the global goals to educate local teams about this important field, which helps businesses remain resilient under critical conditions.

Average business continuity manager salary

The average business continuity manager salary in the United States is $81,325 per year or $39 per hour. Business continuity manager salaries range between $55,000 and $118,000 per year.

Average business continuity manager salary
$81,325 Yearly
$39.10 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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