by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Operations Management covers Operations Management And Supervision. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage And Direct The Physical And/or Technical Functions Of A Firm Or Organization, Particularly Those Relating To Development, Production, And Manufacturing. Includes Instruction In Principles Of General Management, Manufacturing And Production Systems, Plant Management, Equipment Maintenance Management, Production Control, Industrial Labor Relations And Skilled Trades Supervision, Strategic Manufacturing Policy, Systems Analysis, Productivity Analysis And Cost Control, And Materials Planning. Examples: [Maintenance Management], [Production Management]. Continue reading for the important information every operations management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering operations management programs.
In the U.S., operations management is a popular field of study, with 12,273 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Operations Management Schools ranking analyzes these 150 schools to determine the best overall colleges for operations management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of operations management programs later in this article.
Programs in Operations Management build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations operations management graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a operations management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a operations management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several operations management degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 89 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 203 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,019 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,958 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to operations management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.2% |
| Some college courses | 12.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.6% |
| Master’s degree | 3.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in operations management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying operations management can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to operations management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to operations management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 877,525 | -2.0% |
| Logistics Analysts | 688,094 | 1.5% |
| Logistics Engineers | 687,152 | 13.4% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Construction Managers | 496,716 | -0.3% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of operations management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for operations management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers operations management grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $175,079 |
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $126,666 |
| Quality Control Systems Managers | $108,531 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
With 150 different operations management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased operations management school rankings to help you.
Those considering operations management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 3,126 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 579 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
