What Can You Do with a Business Management Degree? 7 In-Demand Jobs

For the last 10 years, business has been the most popular major for bachelor’s degree students, even when compared to high-demand areas like health professions and STEM. It’s no surprise why this is the case: the business field has always been full of exciting opportunities and lucrative earning potential.

One specialized business degree that may provide even more versatile opportunities is a BS in Business Management, which combines business education with management training for those seeking to solve problems through leadership in the business field. This type of program provides a strong foundation for those interested in advancing to management, leadership and entrepreneurial roles as part of their long-term career goals.

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Understanding Business Management

Business management encompasses more than just how businesses run. This field of study includes how commerce is executed across society. So while you will learn how organizations of all sizes work, you’ll also gain specialized skills like:

• Strategic planning
• Financial management
• Marketing
• Operations
• Leadership
• Data analysis
• Resource coordination

Business management students will explore these and other areas so that by the time they graduate they’ll have the skills to solve problems in nearly every industry across the public and private sectors.

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What Career Opportunities Can You Pursue With a Business Management Degree?

Because business management programs offer a curriculum with widely applicable skills and knowledge, graduates can seek out a wide range of potential career opportunities. Because all organizations involve business management, skill development in this area can be applicable to any industry, including:

• Technology
• Health care
• Retail
• Finance
• Nonprofits

Through a combination of coursework and career experience, you may be able to leverage your business management knowledge in specialized fields like entrepreneurship, risk management, financial management and investment and commercial banking.

Pathways to Leadership

Executive positions, especially C-suite roles like CEO and COO, will require extensive experience and a graduate degree. However, a bachelor’s in business management provides a strong foundation for later career advancement to high-level leadership roles.

Graduates of a BS in Business Management program can work toward these roles by gaining experience, pursuing further education and practicing their leadership skills.

7 In-Demand Career Paths With a Bachelor’s in Business Management

Job Title	Median Annual Salary
Sales Manager	$80,300
Financial Analyst	$85,400
Management Analyst	$85,400
Marketing Manager	$90,000
Business Development Manager	$95,100
Human Resources Manager	$90,000
Entrepreneur/Small Business Owner	$60,000*

Source: Lightcast

*This role has above average variability in earnings, with income being dependent on the success of the venture.

1. Sales Manager

Median Annual Salary: $80,300 (Lightcast)

These managers oversee the sales process of an organization, typically leading a team of sales representatives and ensuring that they have the resources, motivation and support that they need to successfully land deals and grow the business.

Sales managers handle the strategic planning, daily operations and coordination of the sales process. Typically, these leadership professionals will:

• Create budgets and handle expenses
• Develop and adjust the strategy of the sales process
• Investigate customer complaints
• Monitor data to track KPIs and sales goals
• Support sales representatives through training, development programs and conflict resolution
• Collaborate with marketing and operations teams

2. Financial Analyst

Median Annual Salary: $85,400 (Lightcast)

Financial analysts support the financial health of an organization through investments and contribute to competition and growth in the market at large. In order to grow the profits of an organization, financial analysts:

• Collect and organize an organization’s financial data
• Conduct extensive research and monitor economic trends
• Analyze their data and research to create investment strategies and recommendations

Financial analysts consider both financial risks and opportunities, and they help organizations seek out the opportunities while minimizing the risk. They may collaborate with other finance professionals, like portfolio managers or finance managers, to establish strategies, success metrics and reporting procedures.

3. Management Analyst

Median Annual Salary: $85,400 (Lightcast)

Management analysts support organizations looking to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. They may also support managers and leaders, providing guidance on improving employee motivation, organizational productivity and company culture. Some of their responsibilities include:

• Gathering information about areas for improvement
• Interviewing staff to gain an understanding of processes
• Analyzing any financial data that indicates profitability and revenue
• Recommending improvements to procedures, systems or organizational structure
• Supporting organizations as they implement the improvements

Most management consultants prioritize the profitability and long-term viability of organizations. They may also look to reduce waste, minimize risks and seize development opportunities.

4. Marketing Manager

Median Annual Salary: $90,000 (Lightcast)

Marketing managers combine crucial skills in management and leadership with marketing strategy. In addition to supporting the marketing team and developing big-picture strategies and plans, marketing managers will be responsible for:

• Multi-channel marketing strategy
• Market research projects
• Client budget management
• Client contracts and negotiations

Marketing managers may also be responsible for both establishing initial go-to-market strategies for new clients, as well as modifying and creating marketing strategies for existing products and services. They must apply their expertise in market dynamics to ensure that the organization is able to effectively market and sell their goods or services.

5. Business Development Manager

Median Annual Salary: $95,100 (Lightcast)

Rather than running the day-to-day operations of a company, business development managers ensure that an organization has strong long-term viability through clear growth opportunities and strategies. Some ways in which they do this include:

• Researching and pursuing opportunities with new business partners
• Developing contracts or agreements
• Assessing the conditions of relevant markets
• Collaborating with teams to ensure business partner needs are met

Business development managers look to the future, considering new opportunities to explore and partnerships to nurture. Their focus is often on growing and expanding the company, taking into account how process, strategies and investments can fuel growth.

6. Human Resources Manager

Median Annual Salary: $90,000 (Lightcast)

HR managers lead organization’s HR teams, an important function that enables employees to receive compensation and benefits. HR managers will lead make sure their team is effectively meeting goals, and they will collaborate with the team to develop policy and training related to:

• Compensation
• Benefits
• Regulatory compliance
• Recruitment and onboarding
• Professional development

HR teams also make sure that organizations are protected from compliance risks and that employees are thriving in a positive, safe environment. This means that they represent the center point between employee and employer, creating a positive and productive company culture.

7. Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner

Median Annual Salary: $60,000* (Lightcast)

*This role has above average variability in earnings, with income being dependent on the success of the venture.

Not all business professionals seek out roles within existing organizations. Some professionals choose to carve their own path by starting a new business, taking over a family business or venturing into the entrepreneurial space. Entrepreneurs and business owners will have a wide variety of responsibilities depending on the size of their venture, how many employees they have and the nature of the business. However, all entrepreneurs and business owners leverage crucial business management skills such as:

• Accounting and finance
• Organization
• Marketing
• Communication
• Sales
• Data analysis

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Business Management vs. Business Administration: What’s the Difference?

Business management and administration share many similarities and overlap in terms of goals and day-to-day activities. For example, professionals in both areas will typically lead teams and both will work on strategic planning.

• Business administration is the practice of overseeing the operations of a business or organization, with the goal of efficient, effective, profitable and stable operations.
• Business management is the process of planning, organizing, directing and managing a business as it seeks to achieve its goals and objectives.

So, business administration is more focused on running an organization through its daily activities, while business management is focused on the bigger picture. Business administration is actually a sub-area of business management, which is a broader field and area of study.

	Business Administration	Business Management
Job Function	Specialized individual contributor, operations-focused manager, specialized analysts	Team leader, department head, general manager
Focus	Day-to-day operations	Strategic growth and development
Goal	Improve efficiency, manage key business functions, ensure smooth operations	Support business growth, analyze business performance, develop strategies to achieve company goals
Skills	Function-specific skills, leadership, strategic decision-making	Leadership, decision-making, strategic planning, ethics, cross-functional management
Degree Outcome	Prepares graduates for operational roles and cross-departmental collaboration	Prepares graduates for broader organizational responsibility

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Is a Business Management Degree Worth It?

Pursuing a bachelor’s degree, especially in a broadly applicable area like business management, is a great way to launch or progress your career, increase your earning potential and find personal fulfillment.

• Higher earning potential: Professionals with at least a bachelor’s degree tend to earn more on a yearly basis. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, bachelor’s degree holders earn over $30,000 more per year than individuals with only a high school degree.
• More job opportunities: Despite some individuals saying that bachelor’s degree requirements are going away, the reality is that nearly all organizations prefer a bachelor’s degree, even if they don’t technically require it. Nearly 85% of office jobs will require a bachelor’s degree or higher by 2031.
• Strengthen your skills: Even if you already have some business acumen and experience, a business management program can ensure you have a solid grasp on a wide range of core business considerations.

For adults going back to school, the benefits can be even more pronounced. If your career growth has stagnated or your job opportunities aren’t as expansive as you’d like, going back to school to earn your bachelor’s in business management can be the jumpstart you need to move forward.

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About the BS in Business Management at Cal Lutheran’s School for Professional and Continuing Studies

Continue your education and transform your career with our Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals. This undergraduate degree completion program offers a focused major in business management that teaches students to plan and execute business projects effectively. Students will gain crucial interpersonal skills for informed, ethical decision-making, leading and motivating teams and persuasive communication. If you’ve earned undergraduate credits in the past, you can apply these toward an affordable degree program that fits your career objectives.

Cal Lutheran’s School for Professional and Continuing Studies serves individuals who desire to grow educationally, personally and professionally. Our work is grounded in the assessment of students’ needs and expectations. We meet these individuals where they are in order to provide tailored programs and resources that will help them clarify and deepen their purpose so that they can transform their communities — and the world.

Download a program brochure or start your application for the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program.