General and Operations Managers Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for General and Operations Managers — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$105,770
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$50.85
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$253,390
entry level starts ~$50,090
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 3,503,000 employed

How much do General and Operations Managers make?

The median pay for General and Operations Managers in the United States is $105,770 per year — about $50.85 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $50,090, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $253,390.

That is $44,380 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

General and Operations Managers salary range by percentile

Half of all General and Operations Managers earn between $72,320 and $167,280 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$50,090$24.08
25th percentile (early career)$72,320$34.77
50th percentile (median)$105,770$50.85
75th percentile (experienced)$167,280$80.42
90th percentile (top earners)$253,390$121.82

Highest-paying states for General and Operations Managers

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New Jersey leads the country for General and Operations Managers pay at $173,690 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($168,000) and South Dakota ($137,400). At the other end, Arkansas posts the lowest median at $74,050 — a gap of $99,640 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New Jersey$173,690$83.50+64%
2District of Columbia$168,000$80.77+59%
3South Dakota$137,400$66.06+30%
4Connecticut$137,220$65.97+30%
5Delaware$137,220$65.97+30%

Workforce and education

About 3,503,000 people work as General and Operations Managers in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $134,940 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do General and Operations Managers make in the United States?
The median General and Operations Managers salary in the United States is $105,770 per year, or about $50.85 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $50,090, while the top 10% of earners make $253,390 or more.
How does General and Operations Managers pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the General and Operations Managers median of $105,770 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays General and Operations Managers the most?
New Jersey is the highest-paying state for General and Operations Managers, with a median salary of $173,690 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do General and Operations Managers need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many General and Operations Managers work in the United States?
About 3,503,000 people were employed as General and Operations Managers in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.