Business Managers hold many different job titles and work in a wide range of different industries. In general, though, this job field has a strong future outlook, with positive growth expected. It also tends to pay very well, with salaries significantly higher than average. This makes it a good potential career.
What is a Business Manager?
A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.
A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.
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What is the Job Outlook for Business Management?
All Management Jobs
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is a federal agency that gathers and analyzes labor market statistics and publishes a variety of reports detailing its findings. It reports a strong job outlook for all management jobs. It says, “Overall employment in management occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 1.1 million openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.”
When it comes to salaries, BLS says, “The median annual wage for this group was $116,880 in May 2023, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $48,060.” The agency finds that California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois employ the most people in management occupations. New Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia, Delaware, and California pay the highest wages. BLS also reports that the top-paying industries for management occupations are the financial industry and the media industry, both of which have an annual mean wage of over $200,000.
Management Specializations
BLS also provides more information about a number of specific management jobs. For instance, it lists the role of Administrative Services and Facilities Manager. It predicts that jobs in this field will grow by about 5 percent over the next decade, which is faster than average. It says, “Demand for administrative services managers is expected to be particularly strong for those working in records and information management. As cloud computing continues to expand, these workers will have a critical role in helping organizations develop new records and information management practices and in maintaining data security.” The median pay for this position is almost $105,000.
Another management job is Human Resources Manager, which is also expected to see job growth of about 5 percent over the next ten years. According to BLS, “About 15,500 openings for human resources managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.” This job pays an average salary of $136,000.
Training and Development Managers are also expected to see above-average growth--about 6 percent--and have a median salary of about $125,000. BLS explains that this growth will be a result of the continued need to develop new training methods for employees. It explains, “Innovations in training methods and learning technology are expected to continue throughout the decade, particularly for organizations with remote workers. Organizations use social media, visual simulations, mobile learning, and social networks in their training programs. Training and development managers need to continue modifying training programs, allocating budgets, and integrating these features into training programs and curriculums.”
Financial Managers have a very strong job outlook. BLS predicts that between 2022 and 2032, the job growth rate for this position will be 16 percent, which is far higher than the average U.S. job growth rate of 3 percent. It explains, “Services provided by financial managers, such as planning, directing, and coordinating investments, are likely to stay in demand as the economy grows. In addition, several specialties within financial management, particularly cash management and risk management, are expected to be in high demand over the decade.” This job pays well; according to BLS, Financial Managers earn about $156,000 yearly.
As reported by BLS, 4 percent growth is expected for Sales Managers. The agency notes that this job can involve travel. It explains, “Many sales managers travel to national, regional, and local offices and to dealers’ and distributors’ offices.” It says, “About 43,200 openings for sales managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.” The average salary for this role is $135,000.
How Do I Find a Business Manager Job?
To work in business management, you’ll need to learn a broad set of skills including finance, communication, and leadership. You’ll also need knowledge of the specific industry you plan to work in. A great way to get this education is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate course at a career training school. These types of programs are usually both comprehensive and accelerated, with a focus on helping you master everything you need for a career in business management, and doing so in the shortest amount of time possible. They are typically intended to prepare you for an entry-level job in your intended field. Most also include career support services such as help creating a resume and portfolio, and advice about applying for jobs and interviewing. In some cases, you’ll even leave the course with connections to professional networks in your field.
If you want to work in business management, in addition to education, you’ll need work experience, during which you can learn how to apply your knowledge in real-world situations. Experience is also an important part of learning the many intricacies of being a Business Manager. There are lots of different ways to gain experience. LinkedIn has an article titled, “You Want To Get Experience in Business Management Before Starting your Career. How Can You Do It?” which explains some ways to gain experience in this field while you’re still in school. It says, “One of the most effective ways to get experience in business management is to find an internship or a part-time job that relates to your field of interest. You can search for opportunities on job boards, career fairs, social media, or your network.” Other suggestions are: joining a student organization, volunteering, and starting a side project.
Professional certifications can also be beneficial for a career in business management. Research shows that these often give job applicants an edge over other candidates, and can also increase the chances of advancement or pay raises. The specific certification that you pursue will depend on what field you plan to work in and what type of specialization you’re pursuing. Some certifications that might be useful in business management include Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), and Certified Professional-Human Resource (IPMA-CP).
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Manager at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
- One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
- Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
- Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
- Another bootcamp option is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
- Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.