What Can You Do With a Business Management Degree?

As an ambitious individual with high hopes for climbing the career ladder, you understand the importance of selecting a degree that will equip you with today's most in-demand skills. Ideally, you'll enroll in a highly respected program that gives your resume an automatic boost upon graduation.

Options abound, but one path, in particular, provides a compelling blend of far-reaching, transferable skills and targeted knowledge — not to mention the respect of potential employers: a business management degree. 

What can you do with a business management degree? Below, we dive into the many benefits and opportunities associated with the Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

What Is Business Management?

A far-reaching term with many different interpretations, business management refers to the wide array of initiatives required to coordinate various business pursuits. This concept encompasses the how of modern businesses: how a broad spectrum of administrative and operational essentials are carried out to improve productivity and limit waste.

Business management professionals oversee employees from numerous departments, ensuring that everyday processes are appropriately planned and executed. They keep teams and entire organizations running efficiently while promoting innovation and collaboration.

What Can You Do With a Business Management Degree?

A bachelor's degree in business management opens doors to a wide range of professional opportunities across industries. This program provides essential leadership, analytical, and organizational skills—along with practical experience through projects, internships, and real-world problem-solving. With this strong foundation, graduates are well-prepared to step into roles that support business operations, strategy, and organizational growth.

Below are several career paths you can pursue with a business management degree.

Business Operations Manager

Business operations managers keep organizations running smoothly by overseeing daily operations and implementing efficient processes. They analyze workflows, identify bottlenecks, manage budgets, and coordinate between departments to ensure everything operates at peak efficiency. This role requires strong problem-solving skills and the ability to see the big picture while managing intricate details. Business operations managers often serve as the bridge between executive leadership and frontline teams, making them essential to organizational success.

Human Resources Specialist

Human resources specialists focus on the people side of business, managing everything from recruitment and onboarding to employee relations and benefits administration. They help create positive workplace cultures, resolve conflicts, ensure compliance with labor laws, and support employees throughout their careers with the organization. This career path is ideal for those who enjoy working with people and want to make a direct impact on employee satisfaction and organizational culture.

Marketing Coordinator

Marketing coordinators support promotional campaigns, coordinate marketing materials, and help execute strategies that build brand awareness and drive sales. They might manage social media accounts, organize events, analyze campaign performance, and collaborate with creative teams to produce compelling content. This role offers a great entry point into the marketing field and provides exposure to various aspects of marketing, from digital advertising to traditional communications.

Sales Manager or Sales Representative

Sales professionals drive revenue by building relationships with customers and closing deals. Sales representatives connect directly with potential clients, pitch products or services, and guide customers through the purchasing process. Sales managers take on additional leadership responsibilities, overseeing sales teams, setting targets, developing strategies, and coaching representatives to meet their goals. Both roles reward strong communication skills, persuasive abilities, and a results-driven mindset.

Project Coordinator or Project Manager

Project coordinators and project managers plan, execute, and oversee specific business initiatives from start to finish. Coordinators typically handle administrative tasks, track progress, and support project teams, while project managers take full ownership of timelines, budgets, resources, and stakeholder communication. Whether you're launching a new product, implementing software, or organizing a corporate event, these roles require excellent organizational skills and the ability to keep multiple moving parts aligned toward a common goal.

Management Analyst

Management analysts, sometimes called management consultants, help organizations improve efficiency and solve complex business problems. They study company operations, gather and analyze data, identify areas for improvement, and recommend strategic changes. This role often involves working with multiple clients across different industries, making it ideal for those who enjoy variety, analytical thinking, and helping businesses transform their operations.

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts assess financial data to help organizations make informed business decisions. They create financial models, evaluate investment opportunities, prepare reports and forecasts, and analyze market trends. Whether working for corporations, investment firms, or government agencies, financial analysts play a crucial role in strategic planning and risk management. This career combines analytical skills with business acumen and often serves as a stepping stone to senior financial leadership roles.

Account Manager

Account managers serve as the primary point of contact between a company and its clients, building and maintaining strong business relationships. They ensure client satisfaction, identify opportunities for growth, coordinate with internal teams to deliver services, and work to retain and expand accounts. Success in this role requires excellent communication skills, customer service orientation, and the ability to balance client needs with company objectives.

Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner

A business management degree provides the foundational knowledge needed to launch and run your own venture. Entrepreneurs and small business owners wear many hats — developing business plans, managing finances, marketing products or services, hiring employees, and making strategic decisions that determine their company's success. This path offers maximum autonomy and the opportunity to bring your own vision to life, though it also comes with considerable risk and responsibility.

Administrative Services Manager

Administrative services managers oversee the support functions that keep organizations operating efficiently. They coordinate office operations, manage facilities and equipment, supervise administrative staff, and ensure workplace policies are followed. These professionals might handle everything from office relocations and space planning to records management and vendor relationships. This role suits detail-oriented individuals who excel at organization and enjoy creating systems that help entire teams work more effectively.

Skills Learned From a Business Management Degree

As we've discussed, business management degree programs emphasize a strategic blend of soft and technical skills. The importance of soft skills cannot be overstated; they are critical to success when overseeing teams of professionals. Examples include:

• Empathy
• Collaboration
• Public speaking
• Written communication
• Time management
• Decisiveness
• Problem-solving
• Patience

In addition to these crucial core competencies, business management programs help students develop analytical and technical skills. Foundational areas of study include financial accounting, managerial accounting, marketing, and economics.

As a business management student, you can expect a deep dive into these critical concepts:

• Marketing segmentation
• Cost-volume-profit relationships
• Risk analysis
• Project life cycle
• Cash and accrual basis accounting
• Information systems security

Job Outlook and Projected Growth

While the outlook can vary considerably from one industry or niche to the next, it's abundantly clear that the future is bright for business management professionals.

A lot depends on specialty areas and education level, but employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals strong potential for many areas of business management. With a job growth outlook of only 5 percent across all professions, it's exciting to see expected job growth exceeding 10 percent in the following fields:

• Operations research analysts: 23 percent
• Financial managers: 17 percent
• Computer and information systems managers: 16 percent
• Management analysts: 11 percent
• Advertising, promotions, and marketing: 10 percent
• Public relations and fundraising: 8 percent

Job outlook can be more difficult to determine for consultants and entrepreneurs, but these options are also worth mentioning. Self-starters with an independent streak often gravitate toward these opportunities, which can provide greater flexibility and a strong sense of satisfaction.

Salaries and Earning Potential for Business Management Jobs

Salary details are important when asking, “What jobs can you get with a business management degree?” The niches with the highest earning potential are often those with the strongest demand. However, it is possible to command impressive wages when employed in a field with a lesser job outlook. It is common for business management professionals across many fields to earn well over six figures.

To illustrate this strong income potential, we've outlined a few high-earning fields that call for a bachelor's degree, along with their median annual wages as highlighted by the BLS:

• Industrial production managers: $103,150
• Training and development: $120,130
• HR managers: $126,230
• Sales managers: $127,490
• Financial managers: $131,710
• Computer and information systems managers: $159,010

Advancement Opportunities for Business Management Graduates

Many business management graduates are able to quickly rise through the ranks, especially upon acquiring valuable experience through targeted internships. After a few short years on the job, stepping into middle management or beyond is possible. Hard work can make all the difference, especially if you are willing to take on new challenges or responsibilities.

Eventually, you may find that advancing becomes much easier if equipped with an MBA. If you've already completed your undergraduate program in business management, you'll be well-positioned to succeed in this notoriously rigorous graduate program. This is your chance to build on the solid foundation previously developed as an undergrad. At the graduate level, you can continue developing vital problem-solving skills while gaining one of today's most respected credentials.

Networking Tips for Getting a Job in Business Management

The right degree can give you a definite leg up in your job search, but there's also a great deal of truth to the common cliche: it's not just what you know but who you know. College is extremely helpful in this regard, as it is the ultimate networking opportunity.

While enrolled, you will regularly interact with the field's best and brightest professionals while building connections with future leaders. Following graduation, you will have access to a vast alumni network, which can continue to steer you in the right direction for years to come.

To further improve your networking efforts, follow these simple suggestions:

• Make the most of your internship and capstone experiences. An internship provides an exciting opportunity to connect with professionals in your field or niche of choice. Many students are hired directly from these internships, while others find that recommendations quickly help them secure desirable jobs. Take this opportunity to build strong relationships with several professionals while demonstrating your unique skill set.
• Find a mentor. Today's most successful business management professionals credit their mentors for keeping them inspired and motivated. College is the perfect time to form a lasting relationship with a mentor.
• Connect with employees and students from all backgrounds. Don't limit yourself to business management professionals. Connections in other areas can prove valuable. Get to know students, interns, instructors from other programs, or employees from different departments.

Additional Education and Certifications

A business management degree provides a strong start, but you can also secure many specific credentials to make you a more compelling hire for the best employers. Credentials should not be earned instead of a degree, but they can provide a valuable supplement, particularly if you eventually choose to move into a different field or niche. Examples include:

• Project Management Institute: Project Management Professional (PMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), or PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)
• National Association of Sales Professionals: Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL) or Certified Master Sales Professional (CMSP)
• Association of International Product Marketing & Management: Certified Product Manager or Certified Product Marketing Manager
• Institute of Management Accountants (IMA): Certified Management Accountant or Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis
• American Marketing Association (AMA): Marketing Management Certification
• Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP): Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP) or Certified Business Process Leader (CBPL)

Pursue a Career in Business Management With an Online Degree

Now that you know what it takes to thrive in the competitive yet opportunity-filled world of business management, it's time to take an essential first step: seeking a targeted and highly respected degree. The online bachelor's in Business Management from Champlain College Online could provide a leg up, delivering a crucial blend of business-oriented skills and the chance to build a robust professional network.

Champlain College Online is committed to supporting you as you pursue your degree and far into the future. Whether you're just starting in business management or are determined to climb the career ladder, we provide the resources and guidance you need to thrive. Get in touch today to learn more.