Jobs Similar to General and Operations Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to general and operations managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers, Purchasing Managers and Postmasters and Mail Superintendents.
General and Operations Managers: $105,770 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. General and Operations Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 84% | $87,520−17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Purchasing Managers | 84% | $148,080+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | 84% | $96,660−9% | High school |
| 4 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 83% | $69,500−34% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Project Management Specialists | 83% | $102,320−3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Administrative Services Managers | 83% | $114,130+8% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | 83% | $69,990−34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Gambling Managers | 82% | $93,220−12% | High school |
| 9 | Information Technology Project Managers | 82% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Sales Managers | 82% | $148,270+40% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Financial Managers | 82% | $166,570+57% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Chief ExecutivesSame group | 82% | $213,990+102% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | 81% | $107,230+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Supply Chain Managers | 81% | $107,230Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 79% | $123,860+17% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Wind Energy Development Managers | 79% | $141,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 79% | $149,230+41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Marketing Managers | 79% | $166,790+58% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Logisticians | 79% | $82,320−22% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 79% | $79,520−25% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
84% similar · $87,520 (−17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Purchasing Managers
84% similar · $148,080 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
84% similar · $96,660 (−9%) · High school
- 4First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
83% similar · $69,500 (−34%) · Training or associate
- 5Project Management Specialists
83% similar · $102,320 (−3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Administrative Services Managers
83% similar · $114,130 (+8%) · Training or associate
- 7Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
83% similar · $69,990 (−34%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Gambling Managers
82% similar · $93,220 (−12%) · High school
- 9Information Technology Project Managers
82% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Sales Managers
82% similar · $148,270 (+40%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Financial Managers
82% similar · $166,570 (+57%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Chief Executives
82% similar · $213,990 (+102%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
81% similar · $107,230 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Supply Chain Managers
81% similar · $107,230 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Medical and Health Services Managers
79% similar · $123,860 (+17%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Wind Energy Development Managers
79% similar · $141,900 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Compensation and Benefits Managers
79% similar · $149,230 (+41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Marketing Managers
79% similar · $166,790 (+58%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Logisticians
79% similar · $82,320 (−22%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
79% similar · $79,520 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than general and operations managers.
- Marketing Managers79% similar · $166,790 (+58%)
- Financial Managers82% similar · $166,570 (+57%)
- Compensation and Benefits Managers79% similar · $149,230 (+41%)
- Purchasing Managers84% similar · $148,080 (+40%)
- Sales Managers82% similar · $148,270 (+40%)
- Medical and Health Services Managers79% similar · $123,860 (+17%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for general and operations managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where general and operations managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (91)
- Project Management Specialists (90)
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (90)
- Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling (89)
- Information Technology Project Managers (89)
- Administrative Services Managers (88)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (88)
- Supply Chain Managers (88)
- Lodging Managers (86)
- Treasurers and Controllers (85)
Questions about jobs like general and operations managers
What jobs are most similar to general and operations managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (84% similar), Purchasing Managers (84% similar), Postmasters and Mail Superintendents (84% similar), First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (83% similar) and Project Management Specialists (83% similar).
Which jobs like general and operations managers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +102%; usually a graduate degree), Marketing Managers ($166,790, +58%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Financial Managers ($166,570, +57%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with general and operations managers ($105,770). Without more preparation than general and operations managers usually need: Marketing Managers, Financial Managers and Compensation and Benefits Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.