Management majors work in every kind of business, directing operations, overseeing employees, negotiating contracts, and completing administrative tasks. Management majors are trained to oversee an organization’s operations and employees, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that high-level executives across a variety of industries have degrees in management. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship or working in business, management can be a great major to teach you the skills necessary to succeed in both entry-level positions and management roles.
Here is a list of 12 jobs for management majors:
Most Common Jobs for Management Majors
1. General Manager
A job as a general manager is the ultimate goal for most management majors. General managers are the heads of organizations, the individuals tasked with steering the ship. General managers may be given different titles — chief executive officer (CEO) or president, for example — and may have a variety of different tasks depending on the organization they run. But for the most part, general managers perform the same role across different industries. They are tasked with planning and directing the operations of an organization from top to bottom, coordinating its staff, directing its policies and culture, managing its budget, and overseeing its administration. They are ultimately responsible for the profits and losses of their company. Becoming a general manager requires a great deal of experience. Most climb their way up through the ranks of a company over time, steadily ascending through management roles until they reach the top. Educational requirements vary based on the industry, but the vast majority of general managers and top-level executives have at least a bachelor’s degree and frequently a master’s degree.
Median annual wage: $100,410
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree/Master’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 16%
2. Management Analyst
Management analysts are consultants who analyze an organization’s management structure and provide suggestions about how it can be improved to make the organization more profitable or efficient. Management analysts create in-depth research reports that take into account an organization’s structure, the experiences and opinions of staff, and financial records. They then suggest changes to the organization’s structure or operation with the goal of improving the organization’s overall operation. Positions as management analysts are open to candidates with bachelor’s degrees, although most analysts have previous work experience in management positions. Some employers may seek out candidates with master’s degrees.
Median annual wage: $82,450
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 13%
3. Human Resources Specialist
Human resources specialists are tasked with managing an organization’s staff. They often recruit and hire new employees and handle any issues related to employee relations, payment and training. They may be delegated some administrative tasks and are sometimes responsible for managing a company’s employment records. Human resources specialists may advance to positions as human resource managers or general managers. A bachelor’s degree in management or another field related to labor relations is typically enough to find employment in the field.
Median annual wage: $60,350
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 31%
Unique/Specialized Jobs for Management Majors
4. Healthcare administrator
Healthcare administrators work at the intersection of medicine and business, managing hospitals, clinics or other medical practices. They are responsible for managing their facility’s finances, managing its day-to-day operation, ensuring that it is providing efficient and quality healthcare, and complying with changes in regulations. The minimum requirement to become a healthcare administrator is a bachelor’s degree, but many employers seek out candidates with master’s degrees or even doctorates. Aspiring healthcare administrators pursuing a degree in management should also take coursework in biology, medicine, and healthcare administration. Nursing home administrators must be licensed according to state requirements. Healthcare administrators in other kinds of organizations do not typically need to be licensed.
Median annual wage: $98,350
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 0.7%
5. University Administrator
Universities employ large administrative staff that manage everything from admissions to financial aid to student housing. They may work in the registrar, admissions or student affairs offices, managing the university’s finances and daily operations. In essence, they are the cogs that keep a school running. University administrators often begin their careers in entry-level administrative positions (some even begin working at their university as students) and steadily advance to higher level management positions. Some may eventually become provosts or academic deans. Typically, university administrators have at least a master’s degree or even a doctorate. Some entry-level positions may be open to applicants with only a bachelor’s degree, but career advancement typically requires a postgraduate degree.
Median annual wage: $92,360
Common entry-level degree: Master’s degree/Doctoral degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 1%
6. Administrative Services Manager
Administrative services managers are in charge of the administrative and supportive services of an organization. Though their specific role varies based on the organization they work for, in general, administrative services managers supervise the administrative staff, keep track of records, oversee bookkeeping, and manage the facilities. They may also be in charge of mail distribution. In essence, they do the jobs that nobody else has time to, keeping the organization running smoothly.
Median annual wage: $94,020
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 73%
Non-Traditional Jobs for Management Majors
7. Financial Analyst
Financial analysts are responsible for examining financial data in order to provide information and guidance to businesses or individuals on business and investment decisions. They are employed within the financial industry by investment banks and firms and outside of the financial industry by smaller banks, insurance companies, and real estate brokerages. Financial analysts will examine trends in the market and individual companies’ statements to compile investment recommendations. Financial analysts typically must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Median annual wage: $84,300
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 23%
8. Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts are employed by a company or a marketing firm to study market conditions for a particular product or service. Market research spend their days researching, monitoring and forecasting marketplace trends by gathering data on consumer behavior and analyzing market data. They also help develop marketing strategies and campaigns for their clients or company. A bachelor’s degree in a related field with coursework in economics and business is essential for entry into the field. A graduate degree is typically not necessary for entry-level positions, but provides opportunities for advancement into a leadership role.
Median annual wage: $63,230
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 61%
9. Event Planner
Event planners are hired by clients to organize a variety of events. They may specialize in organizing a specific kind of event, such as a wedding, a conference, or a convention. Event planners are typically responsible for organizing an event from the bottom up, meeting with clients to develop a plan, managing costs, booking venues, and coordinating and monitoring event services and activities. Most event-planning positions require a bachelor’s degree.
Median annual wage: $48,290
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 4%
Other Jobs for Management Majors
10. Sales Representative
Sales representatives are responsible for selling goods or services to businesses or individuals. Sales representatives work in a wide variety of fields, from real estate to pharmaceuticals and everything in between. But while the products that sales representatives work with may vary, the job typically involves the same tasks — contacting potential clients, pitching your company’s or organization’s services, and maintaining relationships with clients. Some sales positions may be open to candidates with a high school diploma, but competitive positions will typically require at least a bachelor’s degree, and sometimes more, depending on the product.
Median annual wage: $56,970
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 85%
11. Labor Relations Specialist
Labor relations specialists are responsible for negotiating and interpreting contracts between employers and employees. Typically, they act as the middleman between labor unions and management, overseeing and directing meetings between the groups and drafting collective bargaining agreements, which stipulate agreements on issues like wages, salaries, benefits, pensions, management practices, and vacation time. In order to become a labor relations specialist, you will need at least a bachelor’s degree.
Median annual wage: $63,200
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 31%
12. Business Operations Specialist
Business operations specialists handle the day-to-day operation of a business. They are tasked with optimizing the workplace’s efficiency and productivity by analyzing budgets, operations reports and other business metrics, and using that information to develop improvement plans in accordance with the department’s budget and needs. Employers typically seek out operations specialists who have at least a bachelor’s degree in management or business. Some may require experience in a management position.
Median annual wage: $70,010
Common entry-level degree: Bachelor’s degree
Likelihood that robots will take your job: 23%
10 Famous People Who Studied Management
- Genelia D’Souza, Bollywood actress
- William Clay Ford Jr., business executive
- Mike Golic, sports analyst and former athlete
- Robert Horton, business executive
- Ellen J. Kullman, business executive
- Lawrence Lessig, academic, attorney & political activist
- Bob McDonnell, politician
- Alan Mulally, business executive
- Indra Nooyi, business executive
- Thomas J. Wilson, business executive
To explore options for other majors, click here.