What is an operations manager and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a business operations manager?

It takes 7 to 9 years to become an operations manager. Most operations managers have completed an undergraduate degree and have at least 3 to 5 years of experience. The pathway to becoming an operations manager typically involves a combination of education, certification (sometimes), and experience on the job.

Q: How much should an operations manager be paid?

An operations manager should be paid $85,660 or higher. However, differences in pay rates can range from as high as $180,000 to as low as $50,000. The big discrepancy in salaries results from the differences in the operations manager's type of role from one industry to another.

Q: What are careers in operations management?

Operations managers, operations associates, and operation personnel are careers in operations management. Here are some details about these careers in operations management: Operations manager

Q: What should an operations manager do?

Operations managers should oversee their organization's production of goods and services (e.g., purchasing, warehousing, and manufacturing). An operation manager must make sure that their company's operations run smoothly and effectively.

Q: General Manager vs. Operations Manager

A general manager supervises employees and leads them towards the company's day-to-day goals, while an operations manager oversees all activities related to producing goods and/or services for a business.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Eric Olsen,

Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.

An operations manager oversees the daily operations of a business. They manage resources, personnel, equipment, and materials to ensure that the organization runs efficiently. Their key responsibilities include controlling operational activities, developing strategies to improve productivity, managing financial resources, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. They also work with managers and departments to align operations. Operations managers must have leadership skills, analytical abilities, and effective communication.

What general advice would you give to an operations manager?

Eric Olsen

Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business

Times of change are also times of great opportunities. We are going to need new technical solutions to address problems we are just learning about. You have to lean into the issues. Don't be a technologist - be a problem solver. That is why we also emphasize soft skills like lean six sigma, teamwork, and change management.

ScoreOperations ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.0

Avg. Salary $76,894

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.43%

Black or African American 6.26%

Hispanic or Latino 15.44%

Unknown 4.35%

White 67.06%

Gender

female 30.58%

male 69.42%

Age - 44

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 - 44

Stress level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an operations manager?

Pros

High earning potential
Variety of responsibilities
Opportunities for career growth
Working with diverse teams and individuals
High level of job security

Cons

High stress and pressure to meet deadlines and goals
Dealing with difficult customers or employees
Need to constantly adapt to changes in technology and industry trends
Managing conflicts between departments or teams
Need to enforce policies and procedures that may not be popular with employees

Key steps to become an operations manager

Explore operations manager education requirements

Most common operations manager degrees

Bachelor's

62.5 %

Associate

17.0 %

Master's

8.7 %

Start to develop specific operations manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	23.49%
Logistics	6.59%
Continuous Improvement	6.20%
Payroll	5.17%
Project Management	3.88%

Complete relevant operations manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New operations 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 an operations manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real operations manager resumes.

Gain additional operations manager certifications

Operations 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 operations manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for operations managers include Six Sigma Green Belt and Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP).

More About Certifications

Research operations manager duties and responsibilities

Manage and lead operations that include performance management, organizational development, employment compliance, employee relations, payroll management.
Manage 2HVAC system retrofit replacement teams.
Manage all invoices, A/P, A/R and other accounting duties.
Manage computer operation teams supporting propriety and DoD programs at the Lewisville site.

Prepare your operations manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your operations 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 an operations 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 operations manager resume templates

Build a professional operations 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 operations manager resume.

Apply for operations manager jobs

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

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

How do operations managers rate their job?

5/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Operations manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022

Pros

I have leadership skills I always hire employees who like to work in a team I like to see sales increase and love to see the best customer service is given

Cons

In reality, i do not complain as its who i am

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

Educating employees and getting everyone on the same mindset about what it takes for a company to succeed.

Cons

I don't like it when moral is low and nothing seems to perk employees up to become more productive at work.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

I love the problem solving aspect. Helping my team work through problems and training new employees to perform to their best.

What is an operations manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an operations manager?

What are the pros and cons of being an operations manager?

Operations manager career paths

Key steps to become an operations manager

Explore operations manager education requirements

Most common operations manager degrees

Start to develop specific operations manager skills

Complete relevant operations manager training and internships

Gain additional operations manager certifications

Research operations manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your operations manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable operations manager resume templates

Apply for operations manager jobs

How did you land your first operations manager job

Average operations manager salary

How do operations managers rate their job?

Operations manager reviews

Operations manager FAQs

How long does it take to become a business operations manager?

How much should an operations manager be paid?

What are careers in operations management?

What should an operations manager do?

General Manager vs. Operations Manager

Search for operations manager jobs

Operations manager jobs by state