Career Guide
Business manager

If you possess a talent for strategic planning, demonstrate strong leadership skills, excel in problem-solving and have a sharp instinct for decision-making, you may have a future in the business manager career.

If you posess a talent for strategic planning, demonstrate strong leadership skills, excel in problem-solving and have a sharp instinct for decision-making, you may have a future in the business manager career.

Career overview

A business manager — a type of general and operations manager — is a professional hired to effectively manage business operations and optimize performance of a company or organization.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), business managers' responsibilities encompass a broad range of duties across different areas of management and administration. These professionals are at the helm of coordinating and directing various functions, playing a pivotal role in the smooth operation of an organization. Their key responsibilities include developing policy, optimizing daily operations and effectively managing the use of materials and human resources. This role extends to project management, including creating team members’ schedules, delegating work, supervising employees and ensuring completion of projects.

Around 3.5 million general and operations managers — including business managers — were employed in 2022, according to BLS. Within the business manager career path, you can work across industries including retail trade; professional, scientific and technical services; wholesale trade; manufacturing and construction, among others. Both small and large companies hire general and operations managers, BLS reports.

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Career-relevant skills

The following skills may be relevant in day-to-day experience in the business manager career:

Organizational behavior
Training and development
Organizational culture
Business law and ethics
Business structures
Business acumen
Leadership

Innovation
Change management
Key performance indicators
Teamwork
Standard operating procedures
Logistics
Macroeconomics

Economic development
Business economics
Project management
Operational improvement
Process optimization
Risk management
Business forecasting

Additional skills:

Financial analysis
Time value of money
Financial planning
Consumer behavior
Marketing strategies
Market research
Performance improvement
Decision making
Quality control

Soft skills

Regularly used on the job

Complex problem solving, judgement and decision making, coordination, negotiation and time management are crucial skills needed to excel as a business manager, according to O*NET.

Salary range $62 - $154K

25th-75th percentile

General and operations managers, including business managers, within the 25^th and 75^th percentiles earned between $62,070 and $154,560 in 2022, based on nationwide stats from BLS.^[1]

147,300 jobs

Projected growth (2022-2032)

Job opportunities for general and operations managers are projected to grow by 4% nationally between 2022 and 2032, according to BLS.^[1]

[1] The salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location, and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level, or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website. The BLS Projected Growth for 2022-2032 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Education and experience

A business manager wearing an apron sits at a restaurant table and uses a laptop

The business manager job description generally requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or another major related to their area of work, BLS states. Large corporations may give stronger preference to candidates with a master’s degree on this track, especially in business administration, BLS adds.

To get a job in the business manager career path, you may also need experience in a supervisor or managerial role at a lower level, BLS reports. As a business manager, you could gain experience for future career opportunities in higher managerial or executive positions. BLS recommends professional development programs or executive training programs to help you strengthen your skills and continue to build on your knowledge if you choose the executive track.

At University of Phoenix, we offer several bachelor’s, master’s and certificate programs aligned with this career. Learn more about which of these programs — focused on teaching you the skills you’ll need in the business manager career — is right for you and can help you pursue your goals. In the highlighted programs below, students work to complete one course at a time.

Bachelor's degrees

Bachelor of Science in Business

The Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) undergraduate degree program is designed to prepare graduates with the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively apply various business principles and tools in an organizational setting. The BSB foundation is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practical application, while examining the areas of accounting, communications, diversity and inclusion, economics, finance, business law and ethics, management, marketing, organizational behavior, business analytics and information systems.

In this program, you’ll learn how to:

Integrate decision-making skills to address business needs
Integrate business concepts and principles to advance organizational goals
Analyze interrelationships among distinct functional areas of an organization
Analyze logistics involved in global business operations

To earn this degree, you will be required to complete 120 credits through courses in general education, core topics and elective subjects. The length of this program is 47 months, and each course is five weeks long.

Bachelor of Science in Management

The Bachelor of Science in Management (BSM) degree program is designed to develop the professional knowledge and skills of cross-functional managers in an organization. The BSM degree enhances skills necessary for improved organizational effectiveness in a dynamic and evolving workplace. The program focuses on the development of management roles and emphasizes skills necessary to align resources, and to improve communication, productivity and effectiveness.

In this program, you’ll learn how to:

Evaluate management principles necessary for organizational effectiveness
Evaluate the effectiveness of processes used to achieve organizational goals
Integrate key problem-solving strategies in the analysis and recommendation of business decisions
Analyze interrelationships among distinct functional areas of an organization

Master's degrees

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program prepares students in the functional areas of business allowing them to develop managerial skills necessary to be effective in a rapidly changing business environment. The program is designed for students with an interest in entering or advancing their careers in business and reflects current research of leadership competencies, as well as graduate business standards as reflected by existing international accreditation agencies.

In this program, you’ll learn how to:

Integrate decision-making skills to deliver organizational value in dynamic environments.
Create strategies for sustainable organizational success that integrates the organization's mission and vision with societal values.
Synthesize leadership skills to foster innovation and facilitate change in a dynamic business environment.
Evaluate the global environment to sustain an organization's competitive advantage.
Integrate managerial skills to support strategic execution in a rapidly changing business environment.

To earn this degree, you will need to complete 33 credits through 11 core courses. This program is 16 months long. Each course is six weeks in length.

Master of Business Administration (Competency-based)

We also offer a Master of Business Administration Competency-based program. It is important to note that competency-based programs are not the right fit for every student. If you learn well in a structured learning environment with regular instruction, the traditional MBA may be a better option for you. The MBA competency-based program is best for students who prefer to work independently, set their own pace and manage their time effectively — while saving time and money on their degree. The length of this program is 12 months. Learn more about our competency-based programs.

Master of Management

The Master of Management degree program promotes the development of management competencies through the practical application of theory, business and management diagnostics and the formulation of creative management and consulting solutions. Students will acquire a wide range of tools, concepts and methodologies to design, conduct and follow through on successful leadership and entrepreneurship practices. In addition, students will be able to actively develop their interpersonal and business-related management skills in order to foster leadership, creative thinking, collegiality and teamwork ability in an international context. The Master of Management will provide students with firsthand knowledge of the tools and techniques used by successful consultants in the competitive leadership, entrepreneurship and management industry.

In this program, you’ll learn how to:

Synthesize management functions to support attainment of goals in a variety of organizations.
Align strategic management competencies with organizational needs to foster innovation and facilitate change within dynamic business environments.
Synthesize leadership skills to support strategic execution in rapidly changing business environments.
Evaluate business research and analytics to support accountability in planning and decision-making in a variety of business environments.
Integrate business law, regulations and ethics in the management of diverse organizations.

To earn this degree, you will need to complete 33 credits through 11 core courses. This program is 16 months long. Each course is six weeks in length.

Certificates

Certificates may also be a worthwhile option as you work towards the business manager career. Certificate programs can help you stay on top of the latest trends in your industry and hone proficiencies you’ll need for your career — such as critical thinking, delegation and written and oral communication skills — in a shorter amount of time than a traditional degree.

We offer undergraduate certificate programs — in leadership and management and small business management and entrepreneurship — that also align to the business manager career. These certificates are designed to support individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and are looking to specialize or expand their expertise within a specific field. It is important to note that the certificates below are rigorous in nature and foundational knowledge through related degree programs may be necessary for completion.

Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship Certificate (Undergraduate)

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship certificate provides students with the skills necessary to establish and operate a small business or entrepreneurial enterprise through the successful management of planning, marketing, financial management and integrated business operations. Upon completion of this program students will be able to examine small business marketing opportunities, identify innovative small business strategies, evaluate financial management decisions and address the challenges and opportunities specific to small business management and entrepreneurship.

In this program, you’ll learn how to:

Evaluate business opportunities and risks to make sound financial decisions.
Apply innovation and creativity to solving entrepreneurial business opportunities.
Apply management concepts and principles to launch an entrepreneurial business.

This certificate requires you to complete 18 credits and is seven months long. Each course is five weeks in length.

Leadership and Management Certificate (Undergraduate)

The Certificate in Leadership and Management program is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to effectively lead others within a variety of organizational settings and situations. The program includes content related to organizational leadership, business strategy development, decision making, change management, effective communication, performance improvement and entrepreneurship.

In this program, you’ll learn how to:

Synthesize leadership concepts and practices in support of organizational mission and values.
Integrate decision-making skills to advance organizational goals

This certificate requires you to complete 18 credits and is seven months long. Each course is five weeks in length.

Additional pathways

If you choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business, you can also earn enroute associate degrees and certificates:

Students may find this choice worthwhile as it can prepare you for career opportunities aligned with both the chosen program and the Bachelor of Science in Business degree.

Additionally, if you choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business or a Bachelor of Science in Management, you can also get a head start on a graduate-level education. Through our Business Master’s Pathway, you have the option to take two graduate-level courses from our Master of Business Administration or Master of Management programs as electives to count towards your master’s degree.

A business manager talks with a colleague as they look over clothing inventory

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Career Guide
Business manager