Operations Managers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of operations managers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for operations managers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of operations managers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for operations managers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Operations Managers?
Do operations managers need a degree? What kind of experience do operations managers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for operations managers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Operations Managers
Jobs Postings for Operations Managers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 10,943 (38%)
- No Education Listed: 8,501 (30%)
- High School or GED: 5,298 (19%)
- Master's degree: 3,325 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 512 (2%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of operations managers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 38% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Operations Managers
Jobs Postings for Operations Managers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,115 (14%)
- 2-3 Years: 6,771 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 4,795 (31%)
- 7-9 Years: 987 (6%)
- 10+ Years: 935 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for operations managers. In 43% of job postings for Operations Managers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 14% of job postings for operations managers.
What Kind of Degree Do Operations Managers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for operations managers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 18 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective operations managers, and in 2023 a total of 175,106 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective operations managers.
Top Degree Programs for Operations Managers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Operations Managers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management. | 29,623 |
| Public Health, General. | 25,431 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management. | 29,623 |
| Public Health, General. | 25,431 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | 4,872 |
| Project Management. | 4,299 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion. | 4,086 |
| Office Management and Supervision. | 3,122 |
| Public Health, Other. | 3,119 |
| Medical Office Management/Administration. | 2,804 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling. | 2,374 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other. | 1,994 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Medical/Health Management and Clinical Assistant/Specialist. | 1,159 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management. | 1,102 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Veterinary Office Management/Administration. | 96 |
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What Skills Do Operations Managers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by operations managers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for operations managers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Operations Managers
Based on 25,723 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Operations Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Office Management | 9,443 | 37% |
| Accounting | 8,347 | 32% |
| Billing | 6,374 | 25% |
| Accounts Receivable | 5,678 | 22% |
| Accounts Payable | 4,824 | 19% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Operations Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 11,414 | 44% |
| Management | 10,908 | 42% |
| Operations | 9,545 | 37% |
| Leadership | 7,521 | 29% |
| Customer Service | 5,927 | 23% |
Based on 25,723 job postings related to operations managers, office management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 37% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for accounting, billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for operations managers, followed by management, operations, leadership, customer service and detail oriented.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Office Management | 9,443 | 37% |
| Accounting | 8,347 | 32% |
| Billing | 6,374 | 25% |
| Accounts Receivable | 5,678 | 22% |
| Accounts Payable | 4,824 | 19% |
| Finance | 4,593 | 18% |
| Administrative Support | 3,967 | 15% |
| Invoicing | 3,605 | 14% |
| Medicaid | 3,535 | 14% |
| Auditing | 2,997 | 12% |
| Medicare | 2,927 | 11% |
| Financial Statements | 2,776 | 11% |
| Bookkeeping | 2,476 | 10% |
| Project Management | 2,450 | 10% |
| Purchasing | 2,216 | 9% |
| Deposit Accounts | 2,047 | 8% |
| Marketing | 2,004 | 8% |
| Long-Term Care | 1,750 | 7% |
| Workflow Management | 1,635 | 6% |
| Office Supply Management | 1,625 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 11,414 | 44% |
| Management | 10,908 | 42% |
| Operations | 9,545 | 37% |
| Leadership | 7,521 | 29% |
| Customer Service | 5,927 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 5,186 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,990 | 19% |
| Planning | 4,965 | 19% |
| Collections | 4,882 | 19% |
| Administrative Functions | 4,434 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 4,422 | 17% |
| Microsoft Excel | 4,357 | 17% |
| Writing | 3,874 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 3,861 | 15% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,629 | 14% |
| Research | 3,578 | 14% |
| Scheduling | 3,512 | 14% |
| Budgeting | 3,402 | 13% |
| Business Administration | 3,152 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 3,060 | 12% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about operations managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for operations managers.
What do operations managers do?
How much do operations managers make?
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