Every occupation the official NCES/BLS crosswalk connects to business programs, with BLS pay, the education each job usually needs, what the work involves, and where to go next.
Business · CIP 52 family · 17 codes · 37 careers · Check one exact major, e.g. 52.0101 Business/Commerce, General, in the major to career finder
The official NCES/BLS crosswalk maps business programs to 37 occupations that such programs typically prepare people for, including CEO, Operations Manager and Sales Manager. BLS median pay across them runs from $48,520 (Store Manager) to $213,990 (CEO) in May 2025. The crosswalk describes preparation, not what graduates actually go on to do.
Data Program → related occupations: these are jobs business programs typically prepare people for (NCES/BLS crosswalk). Not a guaranteed outcome, and not a record of what graduates do.
Data Filter by the education the job usually needs or its preparation level; sort by pay or by number employed.
| Occupation | Most common education | Job Zone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operations Manager | $105,770 | 3,503,020 | High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 4 |
| Office Manager | $69,500 | 1,436,680 | Bachelor's Degree | 3 |
| Store Manager | $48,520 | 1,121,800 | High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 1-2 |
| Project Manager | $102,320 | 1,066,670 | n/a | 4 |
| Recruiter | $75,940 | 912,430 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Management Consultant | $101,860 | 898,280 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 | 841,710 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,450 | 673,430 | High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 3 |
| IT Manager | $175,140 | 670,570 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 | 637,080 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $79,860 | 617,500 | High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 3 |
| Hospital Administrator | $123,860 | 597,080 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 | 380,360 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $114,130 | 263,960 | High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 3 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | 251,040 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $126,060 | 246,250 | High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 4 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | 224,220 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $107,230 | 221,180 | n/a | 4 |
| HR Manager | $149,280 | 220,660 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $171,270 | 220,260 | Bachelor's Degree | 5 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $80,390 | 209,330 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| CEO | $213,990 | 204,350 | Master's Degree | 5 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $104,590 | 180,470 | Master's Degree | 5 |
| Facilities Manager | $106,660 | 156,180 | Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 3 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | 112,380 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | 111,040 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Natural Sciences Manager | $167,220 | 108,690 | Bachelor's Degree | 5 |
| Underwriter | $81,370 | 105,420 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Purchasing Manager | $148,080 | 84,320 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Business Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $99,080 | 82,150 | Doctoral Degree | 5 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $117,330 | 63,850 | n/a | 4 |
| Training and Development Managers | $133,000 | 48,050 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Fundraising Manager | $125,470 | 38,810 | n/a | 4 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $79,520 | 37,980 | n/a | 4 |
| Actuary | $130,000 | 26,670 | n/a | 4 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $149,230 | 22,940 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $82,890 | 12,620 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
No occupations match these filters.
Data The education column shows a typical entry level only where O*NET data supports one answer. Check the typical education for Operations Manager, one of the business jobs above.
Data BLS national median annual wage, May 2025. These are pay levels of the occupations, not earnings of graduates.
Data The largest related occupations by employment (postsecondary teaching shown in the explorer).
Direct or coordinate an organization's financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
Confer with board members, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
Judgment and Decision Making · Complex Problem Solving · Critical Thinking
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 52.0101, 52.0201Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement.
Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
Reading Comprehension · Active Listening · Speaking
Mapped from CIP 52.0101, 52.0201Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
Negotiation · Active Listening · Speaking
Mapped from CIP 52.0101, 52.0201Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Set goals and deadlines for the department.
Time Management · Reading Comprehension · Active Listening
Mapped from CIP 52.0101, 52.0201Monitor the facility to ensure that it remains safe, secure, and well-maintained.
Oversee the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment, and electrical and mechanical systems.
Speaking · Reading Comprehension · Active Listening
Mapped from CIP 52.0101, 52.0201Set and monitor product standards, examining samples of raw products or directing testing during processing, to ensure finished products are of prescribed quality.
Direct or coordinate production, processing, distribution, or marketing activities of industrial organizations.
Coordination · Judgment and Decision Making · Speaking
Mapped from CIP 52.0101, 52.0201Data Related occupations grouped by government career field, with their pay range.
Data Other programs whose crosswalk occupations overlap with these.
Data A national median for federal-aid graduates of this field: a separate measure from the BLS job pay above.
See earnings by degree level, college spread and federal debt.
The NCES/BLS crosswalk relates instructional programs (CIP 2020) to occupations (SOC 2018) when programs in the CIP category typically prepare individuals directly for jobs in the occupation. This page uses the CIP program series below and shows every non-residual occupation mapped to them that has BLS wages and O*NET data; each occupation lists the CIP codes that map to it.
Searches this page answers include “what can you do with a business degree”, “business degree jobs”, “business major jobs” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
