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Salary comparison

Architectural and Engineering Managers vs. General and Operations Managers: Who Earns More?

Architectural and Engineering Managerss out-earn General and Operations Managerss by $66K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Architectural and Engineering Managerss land at $171,270 and General and Operations Managerss at $105,770. The education gap is real: architectural and engineering manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while general and operations manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Architectural and Engineering Managerss is New Mexico ($215,120); for General and Operations Managerss it's New Jersey ($173,690).

Architectural and Engineering Managers
General and Operations Managers
Median salary
$171,270
$105,770
Hourly rate
$82.34/hr
$50.85/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$120,810
$50,090
Senior level (90th %)
$262,760
$253,390
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
220,260
3,503,020
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4.4%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
New Mexico
New Jersey

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Architectural and Engineering Managers median pay.

State
Architectural and Engineering Managers
General and Operations Managers
California
$210,280
$124,390
Massachusetts
$201,430
$127,220
Washington
$189,680
$133,750
District of Columbia
$185,220
$168,000
Colorado
$183,810
$131,840
Delaware
$181,190
$137,220
New Jersey
$180,640
$173,690
Virginia
$176,160
$122,080
Rhode Island
$175,910
$117,380
New York
$175,710
$130,860
Connecticut
$175,490
$137,220
Maryland
$172,670
$117,930
New Hampshire
$172,240
$124,680
South Dakota
$164,330
$137,400
Wisconsin
$142,060
$118,730

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Architectural and Engineering Managerss or General and Operations Managerss?

Architectural and Engineering Managerss earn more nationally. The median is $171,270 for Architectural and Engineering Managerss versus $105,770 for General and Operations Managerss, a difference of $66K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Architectural and Engineering Managers or General and Operations Managers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Architectural and Engineering Managers or General and Operations Managers?

Architectural and Engineering Managers typically requires bachelor's degree. General and Operations Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Architectural and Engineering Managerss get paid the most?

New Mexico is the top-paying state for Architectural and Engineering Managerss at $215,120/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Architectural and Engineering Managers vs. General and Operations Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Architectural and Engineering Managerss earn $210,280 vs. $124,390 for General and Operations Managerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Architectural and Engineering Managers salary breakdownView →Full General and Operations Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Architectural and Engineering Managerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for General and Operations Managerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a architectural and engineering managersGuide →How to become a general and operations managersGuide →