Do you aspire to move up the professional ranks and achieve a high-paying management position? Good news! With the proper training and education in hand, top-tier management jobs are an attainable goal. Here are some of the highest-paying management jobs you can land with a Master’s in Organizational Management (MSOL) degree in 2021.
- Chief Executive of a Company:
If leadership clout and earning potential have you dreaming about a big “C” in front of your title – CEO, COO, CFO – here is what you need to know about getting there. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that chief executives earn an average salary of $197,840 annually. As the highest-ranking people in an organization, CEOs and similar executives make discerning choices that carve the path for their organization’s operations. They usually work in tandem with a board of directors or other governing body. The highest employment concentration of chief executives exists in company and enterprise management, but the next highest encompasses local government, and then elementary and secondary schools. As you can see, CEO leadership skills can transcend into very different industries.
Though there is contrasting advice about how college education impacts your chances of becoming a CEO, according to Investopedia’s research, formal education is a standard for today’s business world, and most of America’s CEOs have obtained an MBA. So, if you want to earn that C-level title, a management and leadership degree, like an MSOL, should be part of your plan. Many of today’s CEOs began working for companies like AT&T and Amazon when they were just start-ups in the 1980s and 1990s. Others built their careers on experience in a specific industry until landing this penultimate role. Dedication to a job well done, along with resourcefulness and analytical muscle are just a few qualities that top leaders have in common.
- Computer and Information Systems (IT) Manager:
Computer and IT managers plan, coordinate, and oversee all computer and technology-related activities within an organization. With new technology emerging every day, this job is essential in ensuring organizations function as efficiently as possible. Computer and IT managers earn an average salary nationwide, of $151,150. Not only is this one of the highest-paying management jobs out there, but the job outlook is promising for this career choice, with employment projected to grow 10% from 2019 to 2029, or much faster than the national average.
To become a computer and IT manager, candidates are typically required to hold a bachelor’s degree in computer or information technology and have related work experience in the industry. A master’s degree, however, is now required by many organizations. Interestingly, it’s a business degree that they favor, such as an MBA or an MSOL. Computer and information systems managers who accumulate experience and have an advanced leadership degree earn the best chance of entering the C-suite ranks as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO).
- Sales Manager:
A sales manager brings in the proverbial bacon for their organization. They lead a sales team or department by setting sales goals for their employees and implementing strategies to innovate and improve sales. On average, sales managers earn an annual salary of $132,290, making this role one of the higher-paying management jobs available today. Sales managers are found in many industries, but the highest concentration of sales managers exists in the wholesale trade sector, followed by retail trade.
A master’s degree in leadership is a great benefit to a sales manager because it equips these leaders to balance the stress of managing sales staff and meeting fiscal goals that are essential to the business. Lessons from an MSOL degree program include management and leadership studies, as well as communications and team building. With courses such as Data-Driven Decision-Making for Executives and Talent and Performance Management, you’ll gain the tools you need to think on the spot, motivate your sales team, and increase productivity. It is rare that a sales manager rises to the top ranks in an organization or business without experience, so if you have the personality and energy to become a sales leader, you might want to partner a flexible MSOL program with a sales job in your industry of choice, in order to reach your goals more quickly.
- Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers:
A marketing manager usually works with department managers across an organization to collect ideas and create campaigns that tout the organization’s products or services. For this, they are paid handsomely, on average $141,490 annually. Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers mostly work in the advertising and public relations sector (43%), followed second by self-employed marketers who hold 11% of the employment share.
At the least, a bachelor’s degree is required for this management job, preferably accompanied by marketing, advertising, or journalism coursework. Naturally, communication skills are key to this career choice. Additionally, not only is a marketing manager a rudder for their department or team, but they are also sometimes responsible for other creative-minded employees such as designers, illustrators, and writers. Leadership skills, deadline management, and innovation allow marketing managers to do a great job. A master’s degree like an MSOL can be helpful to hone these qualities.
- Human Resource Manager:
A human resource manager is responsible for coordinating, planning, and directing the administrative functions and staff of an organization. On a daily basis, these professionals can be found hiring and interviewing staff, solving conflicts within their existing team, consulting with top executives on strategic planning initiatives, and serving as a liaison between employees and managers. Human resource managers are essential assets to an organization’s leadership team, in order to keep employees’ happy and keep the organization working towards its goals. Due to the value held in their role, human resource managers earn an average of $121,220 annually.
Some organizations will hire human resource managers with a bachelor’s degree. However, most employers today seek candidates with a master’s education. A Master’s in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) includes advanced courses like Talent and Performance Management and Negotiating & Conflict Response, which will enable HR managers to excel in their leadership role.
- School Principal:
School principals have a highly-rewarding management career, in that they can make an impact on future generations while earning great pay. Whether you are interested in becoming an elementary, middle, or high school principal, this is a great career choice for those who want to make a difference in the lives of children. School principals manage and oversee all school operations, and work with teachers and school staff to provide a safe and productive educational environment for students.
School principals hold one of the highest-paying management jobs within the education system. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, school principals earn an annual salary of $98,490, on average. In order to become a principal, you typically need to hold a master’s degree in organizational leadership (such as an MSOL) or education administration. You may also needed prior work experience as a teacher in a school environment.
An MSOL Degree Can Lead to Higher Pay
An MSOL program is designed to advance your existing skillsets and offer insight into the most effective leadership strategies used in organizations. In the right master’s program, you will learn how to increase workplace productivity, acquire top talent, research critical leadership topics, as well as discover the most up-to-date data collection tools and performance management strategies used by leaders today.
All of these learnings can prepare you for a wide variety of advanced, high-paying leadership careers. Through Goodwin College, MSOL graduates create lifetime careers in:
- Corporate
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Nonprofit
- State/Federal
A Master’s in Organizational Leadership can prepare you for management careers that are both financially and personally rewarding. Take the next step in earning your MSOL degree by reaching out to Goodwin University, at: 800-889-3282, or by visiting us online.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.