What Can I Do With a Business Management Degree?
An Associate of Science degree program in business management covers a broad range of business principles and concepts. Keep reading to learn more about career opportunities available to you with an associate's degree in business management.
Career Options for Graduates with an Associate of Science in Business Management
With the knowledge of basic business principles and practices you acquire through an associate's degree program in business management, you can pursue an array of entry-level management positions within a variety of industries. Job opportunities can be found in banking, sales, insurance, and government, just to name a few. Specific careers include:
- Office manager
- Sales supervisor
- Human resources manager
- Entrepreneur
Important Facts About These Occupations
| Administrative Services Managers | Sales Managers | Human Resources Managers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Similar Occupations | Cost Estimator, Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Agent | Advertising Sales Agent, Market Research Analyst, Public Relations Specialist | Compensation and Benefits Manager, Labor Relations Specialist, Training/Development Manager |
| Key Skills | Detail oriented, leadership, and analytical skills | Communication, customer service, and analytical skills | Decision-making, leadership, and interpersonal skills |
| Required Education | High school diploma/GED; bachelor's degree preferred, but not required | Some have bachelor's degrees, but work experience is more important | Usually a bachelor's degree in business administration |
| Work Environment | Usually an office setting | Often traveling between national and regional offices | Typically in an office setting |
| Median Salary (2020)* | $98,890 | $132,290 | $121,220 |
| Job Outlook (2019-2029)* | 6% | 4% | 6% |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Administrative Services Managers
As an office manager, you'll oversee the day-to-day operations and productivity of administrative support workers. Individual tasks could include training staff, evaluating employee performance, delegating job responsibilities, and monitoring project deadlines. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected employment opportunities for administrative services managers to increase by 6% between 2019 and 2029 (www.bls.gov).
However, according to the BLS, there are far fewer office management positions than there are qualified individuals applying for those positions. As of May 2020, supervisors of office and administrative professionals in the U.S. earned an annual median salary of $58,450 (www.bls.gov).
Sales Managers
In this position, you'll supervise a sales staff, which includes cashiers, customer service representatives, and retail sales employees. You could set sales goals, prepare budgets, or create sales promotion plans. You might hire new staff, approve merchandise returns, or help your sales associates resolve customer issues.
According to the BLS, sales managers within the merchant wholesalers earned a median annual salary between $133,270 to $146,400 as of May 2020, while those in manufacturing industries earned a median of $218,700, annually. Employment of sales managers was projected by the BLS to increase by only four percent between 2019 and 2029, growing at an average rate compared with other occupations (www.bls.gov).
Human Resource Managers
If you're good with people, you may consider pursuing a position as a human resource manager. The main responsibilities of this position include overseeing the compiling, verifying, and maintaining of personal documents for company personnel. You also manage the recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining staff.
With an increase of 6% in employment opportunities projected for human resource managers between 2019 and 2029, the BLS reported that applicants experienced in basic office functions who possess strong interpersonal and computing skills could be given preference in a competitive market. According to the BLS, the median annual salary among human resource managers as of May 2020 was $121,220.
Entrepreneurship
With the business knowledge you acquire through an associate's degree program in business management, you may choose to be self-employed and pursue entrepreneurial opportunities. According to the BLS, small business ownership is the most common way to get your feet wet, develop ideas, and identify customer needs in order to expand and perfect your business plan. Entrepreneurship can be a rewarding but challenging path to choose.
Skills Acquired in a Business Management Program
An associate's degree in business management can help you develop valuable skills in decision making, problem solving, organization, and leadership. Associate's degree programs introduce you to accounting, human resources, management, finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship, among other topics.