National Salary Info » General and Operations Managers

Highest Paying Industries for General and Operations Managers

The top 100 highest paying industries for general and operations managers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $173,160, research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences is the highest paying industry for general and operations managers. It is followed by securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage industry (average annual salary $171,680). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of general and operations managers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for General and Operations Managers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$173,160	$83,990	12,410
2	Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage	$171,680	$74,580	6,930
3	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$169,980	$72,110	20,160
4	Other Financial Investment Activities	$169,230	$70,810	13,020
5	Scientific Research and Development Services	$168,720	$80,910	14,420
6	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$165,550	$79,180	2,170
7	Monetary Authorities-Central Bank	$164,400	$90,530	450
8	Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds	$159,500	$77,090	190
9	Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles	$158,530	$69,240	370
10	Other Investment Pools and Funds	$156,970	$62,800	180
11	Software Publishers	$154,770	$71,350	6,740
12	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$154,660	$80,550	210
13	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$147,090	$65,760	47,010
14	Oil and Gas Extraction	$145,400	$54,510	5,450
15	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$143,650	$74,290	19,890
16	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$143,550	$78,380	2,250
17	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$143,250	$57,990	16,940
18	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$142,840	$72,690	5,940
19	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$142,210	$80,320	630
20	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$141,610	$75,100	8,480
21	Engineering Services	$140,860	$71,310	21,560
22	Other Information Services	$140,780	$57,540	5,260
23	Insurance Agencies and Brokerages	$140,620	$54,730	15,710
24	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$140,450	$67,190	2,010
25	Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures	$140,010	$40,990	720
26	Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities	$140,000	$59,690	24,480
27	Other Insurance Related Activities	$139,010	$68,500	8,770
28	Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing	$139,000	$68,800	990
29	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$137,660	$60,320	206,540
30	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$137,170	$56,440	52,120
31	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$135,480	$65,380	4,720
32	Insurance Carriers and Related Activities	$135,030	$64,420	45,230
33	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$134,430	$73,990	4,290
34	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$133,710	$66,200	33,340
35	Metal Ore Mining	$131,600	$77,620	370
36	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$131,330	$58,340	15,340
37	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - State government owned	$131,040	$68,740	470
38	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$130,870	$61,010	86,050
39	Insurance Carriers	$130,400	$68,510	20,750
40	Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing	$129,550	$65,250	1,340
41	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$129,330	$71,180	1,340
42	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$128,690	$53,940	16,120
43	Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers	$127,030	$70,490	5,630
44	Finance and Insurance	$126,020	$57,890	112,450
45	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$124,970	$56,180	6,090
46	Television Broadcasting	$124,910	$61,540	3,230
47	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$124,570	$60,650	2,550
48	Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing	$124,010	$70,650	1,010
49	Federal government, including USPS	$123,690	$81,090	33,000
50	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$123,690	$81,080	32,680
51	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$123,690	$55,970	1,860
52	Chemical Manufacturing	$122,610	$60,690	14,980
53	Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers	$122,230	$65,680	9,350
54	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$122,200	$60,470	6,260
55	Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers	$122,080	$49,550	4,430
56	Forging and Stamping	$121,780	$55,950	2,200
57	Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills	$121,100	$61,520	930
58	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$120,950	$63,240	1,990
59	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$120,910	$70,880	8,060
60	Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers	$120,780	$48,950	5,900
61	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$120,770	$59,500	5,670
62	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$120,720	$55,680	2,360
63	Postal Service (federal government)	$120,580	$85,190	320
64	Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	$120,560	$63,160	2,440
65	Rail Transportation	$119,980	$57,750	2,390
66	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$119,770	$64,600	3,060
67	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$119,420	$67,840	530
68	Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation	$119,260	$66,570	1,280
69	Specialized Design Services	$118,710	$52,330	4,990
70	Hardware Manufacturing	$118,410	$60,990	600
71	Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing	$118,330	$61,010	5,020
72	Water Transportation	$118,290	$65,980	1,720
73	Tobacco Manufacturing	$118,220	$88,770	390
74	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$118,100	$52,650	27,160
75	Information	$117,670	$47,030	55,120
76	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$117,620	$55,460	17,490
77	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Local government owned	$117,590	$94,760	160
78	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$117,350	$48,120	11,390
79	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$117,350	$59,090	6,600
80	Legal Services	$117,130	$59,770	10,290
81	Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing	$116,760	$56,690	3,860
82	Inland Water Transportation	$116,320	$64,430	430
83	Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing	$116,290	$64,050	1,560
84	Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing	$116,010	$64,880	1,160
85	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$115,860	$55,150	5,340
86	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$115,780	$56,550	13,130
87	Automobile Dealers	$115,610	$47,690	26,380
88	Primary Metal Manufacturing	$115,530	$64,190	5,220
89	Paper Manufacturing	$115,420	$49,720	5,600
90	Nonresidential Building Construction	$115,330	$54,590	19,390
91	Machinery Manufacturing	$115,290	$58,330	21,740
92	Mining	$115,270	$53,070	18,820
93	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$115,010	$62,940	10,820
94	Utilities	$114,810	$61,980	11,780
95	Land Subdivision	$114,730	$58,870	2,170
96	Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers	$114,690	$56,600	4,030
97	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$114,660	$59,780	14,840
98	Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	$114,610	$56,830	1,690
99	Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel	$114,340	$66,130	940
100	Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing	$114,260	$55,120	2,040