What Can You Do With A Business Management Degree?

If you have a knack for business and enjoy problem-solving, then a business management degree may be right up your alley. You may be wondering, “What can you do with a business management degree?”

In this article, we will answer this question, as well as: “What jobs can you get with a business management degree?” By knowing these answers, you can decide if this is the right degree to pursue, or if you’d rather study business administration or an entirely different subject altogether.

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What is a Business Management Degree?

A business management degree covers the basics of business. Graduates of this degree will gain deep knowledge and understanding of organizational effectiveness, business principles, data analytics, relationship management, and the like.

Some of the course titles you can expect to take when enrolled in a business management degree include:

• Business Analysis and Intelligence
• Human Resource Management
• Functional and Project Management
• Principles of Finance
• Business Law and Ethical Behavior
• Dynamic Team Development
• Organizational Behavior Analysis

What Can I Do with a Business Management Degree?

Depending on the level of the degree you pursue in business management, the opportunities vary in regard to what jobs you can get.

Let’s take a look at some career titles based on earning an associate’s degree in business management and a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Associate’s Degree Options

Associate’s degrees are typically two-year programs that offer a way to learn foundational knowledge that can open the door to entry-level positions.

Here’s a look at some common job titles for graduates with an associate’s degree in business management:

Bookkeeper

A bookkeeper is responsible for keeping track of an organization’s key accounts by recording incoming and outgoing transactions. Bookkeepers must have solid time management and fantastic attention to detail to perform the job well. Bookkeepers may also be responsible for reconciling accounts to ensure that the company’s internal ledger is aligned with external statements.

According to Salary.com, the average salary for a bookkeeper is $44,848 per year.

Administrative Assistant

An administrative assistant works within businesses to handle responsibilities like: answering calls, scheduling meetings, preparing invoices, overseeing incoming and outgoing mail, etc.

Salary.com lists the average salary for this position at $47,643.

Personal Banker

Personal bankers work in retail banking settings to help customers with their various needs. Bankers may open new checking or savings accounts for customers and facilitate banking transactions.

Per Glassdoor.com, the average salary for a personal banker is $41,313.

Sales Associate

A sales associate works in any retail setting to assist customers through the buying process. Sales associates may help their customers to find what they are looking for, show them how to use certain products, and can finalize the purchase by ringing them up at the register.

Sales associates earn an average of $35,206 per year, according to Glassdoor.com. 

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Bachelor’s Degree Options

With a bachelor’s degree in business management, your career prospects expand, as does the salary potential that goes along with these roles.

Let’s take a look:

Marketing Manager

A marketing manager is responsible for developing marketing and pricing strategies to help a business make more sales. They create budgets, analyze trends, and generate new sales leads.

According to Salary.com, marketing managers earn an average of $108,272 per year.

Sales Manager

Sales managers oversee sales teams to ensure that they reach their targets. They hire and train salespeople and monitor their performance over time. Sales managers can work their way up to be promoted to a director of sales position.

Per Salary.com, sales managers earn an average of $120,030 per year.

Account Manager

Account managers develop relationships with customers and explore new business opportunities with existing clients. They bridge the gap between an organization’s business goals and customer service to ensure that customers’ needs are being taken care of adequately.

Glassdoor.com reports that the average salary for an account manager is $58,670 annually.

Financial Analyst

Financial analysts plan finances for a business and perform analyses like forecasting future revenues and expenditures to properly budget.

According to Glassdoor.com, the average salary for a financial analyst is $73,725 per year.

Skills You’ll Hone

With a business management degree, you’ll hone a lot of transferable skills that will include:

• Leadership Skills: With this degree, students learn how to run departments and develop leadership styles that can motivate teams, set organizational goals, and manage change within a business.
• Analytical Skills: Business management professions rely on knowing how to analyze situations and come up with creative and timely solutions.
• Communication Skills: Within these roles, people must be able to communicate verbally, visually, and through the written word to share information with team members, executives, and stakeholders. Additionally, communication skills are necessary to maintain good relationships with clients.
• Personnel Management: Business management professions often hold the title of managers or are in leadership positions. This means that those who fulfill these roles must know how to manage other people and provide an environment that is supportive and motivational so everyone is aligned to achieve business goals.

Business Administration vs. Business Management

Now that you know what you can do with a business management degree, it’s also good to understand the difference between that and a business administration degree.

The two are similar in that they both offer fundamentals to develop business acumen.

However, the main difference is that business administrators are more in tune with the day-to-day operations within a business, whereas business management is more about personnel management and overseeing other people within a business. It’s human-centric, whereas business administration is focused on efficiency, strategy, and entrepreneurship.

For students who are interested in pursuing a degree in business administration, University of the People offers this selection as part of its tuition-free degree programs. Students can choose between obtaining an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration (MBA).

The Bottom Line

Now that you know what you can do with a business management degree, it’s up to you to decide if this is the degree that you wish to pursue for your future career prospects.

As a graduate with a business management degree, or a business administration degree, there are a wide array of job titles you can attain. Consider your career goals first, and then decide what degree is best suited for achieving your dreams.