What Does a Career in Business Administration & Management Look Like?

Business administration and management professionals can assume leadership roles in nearly every industry.

Does a career in business sound appealing? Then you might consider pursuing business administration and management. Succeeding in this field requires people skills and a knack for leadership, and a good way to start is by earning a business degree.

Read on to learn what a business administration and management career looks like in terms of earnings, professional responsibilities, and educational requirements.

Business administrators and managers help organizations run efficiently and meet their short- and long-term goals. These professionals also direct the activities of lower-level employees by communicating regularly about their progress and adherence to company regulations. They also communicate with executives, who provide direction and guidance.

Administration and management has eight major branches: finance, marketing, human resources, strategy, production, operations, service, and information technology (IT). In all of these specialties, duties can include both everyday tasks — like training employees — and long-term managerial tasks, like deciding where to invest funds.

Administration encompasses the daily tasks necessary to keep a business organization functioning, while management is more concerned about an organization’s higher goals, like expansion, developing an identity, and diversifying.

There are no requirements for licensure or certification in business administration and management careers, but it can be helpful to obtain optional certifications in particular areas of expertise. Graduate-level certificates in administration and management can help, too.

Business administrators and managers work in a variety of industries, including retail, marketing, healthcare, and finance, usually in the private sector and working for for-profit organizations.

Depending on the size of the organization, a business manager might manage or handle administrative duties for an entire organization or for a particular department within an organization, like human resources, sales, or marketing.

Careers in administration and management often require long hours, including overtime hours. The typical manager or administrator works 50-60 hours per week, and some may work more.

A variety of soft and hard skills are required for a successful business administration and management career. Employers place high value on strong communication and leadership skills: the former to convey company goals to employees and take direction from those above them, and the latter to command the respect of those working under them.

Earning a business degree can help you strengthen these skills. For instance, coursework in organizational leadership can refine your skills in leadership, communication, and conflict management by providing a theoretical framework to assess your own choices.

As the data below indicates, administrators and managers enjoy high salaries and demand, especially in metropolitan hubs like Seattle, Los Angeles, and Houston. Administrative services managers, for instance, make a median annual salary of $96,940, and the BLS also projects an employment growth rate of 6% between 2019 to 2029.

Many people are drawn to the field of business administration and management because of the level of responsibility it entails. Good management helps businesses set feasible goals and then meet those goals; bad management can drive a company under.

One of this field’s biggest challenges is the stressful nature of having to make these high-level decisions. However, many administration and management professionals find this challenge fulfilling and derive professional satisfaction from solving problems. The type of person who does well in this field handles stress gracefully and enjoys a fast-paced work environment with complex responsibilities.

The demand for business administrators and managers is fairly steady because these employees can find work across different branches of business, helping organizations meet changing societal needs. Their work not only impacts everyone working under them, but also affects the consumers who use or purchase their employers’ products and services.

Obtaining entry-level work as a business administrator or manager usually requires a bachelor’s in business management or a bachelor’s in business administration. 

A business management bachelor’s differs from a business administration bachelor’s in that it offers coursework related to organizational management theory and leadership strategies. The business administration bachelor’s may also cover these topics, but it typically focuses more on day-to-day aspects of business.

Employers usually prefer candidates with several years of experience and strong communication and leadership skills. At the beginning of your career, you can impress employers by including internship experience and membership in professional organizations on your resume or CV.

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