Being a leader at work involves having the right education and training. While you might think leadership comes naturally, there are certain skills and knowledge you need to be a truly effective leader in an organization or company. Should you get a master’s in leadership? If your career goals include taking on a leadership position, having this type of degree is important. When you go through a master’s in leadership program, you’ll develop the necessary skills for becoming a leader in the workplace.
What can you do with a degree in leadership? Several kinds of jobs are available for those who earn this degree. The following are just some of the careers you can pursue when you have your master’s degree in leadership. Keep in mind that salary information for these jobs can vary, depending on your experience and where you work.
Human resources managers handle a company or organization’s administrative functions, such as overseeing employee benefits programs and the recruitment process. These managers are also expected to handle disputes that occur among employees or other staff and advise managers on how to handle human resources issues, such as equal employment opportunity. Human resources managers might also be responsible for supervising the payroll department or planning and administering labor contracts. Some human resources managers provide management with guidance on improving worker productivity.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resources managers earn a median salary of $121,220 per year. The job outlook for these managers from 2020 through 2030 is 9 percent, which is about the same as the job outlook for all careers. This job growth is expected to occur as managers who retire need to be replaced or as managers leave to work in other positions. Human resources managers can work in a wide range of settings and industries, including manufacturing, corporate, government, social assistance, and healthcare.
School principals are responsible for overseeing elementary and secondary school operations, such as supervising staff, establishing class schedules, and ensuring a safe school environment for students and staff. Principals might also handle discipline as needed, develop curriculum, manage a school’s budget, and evaluate teacher performance. Other tasks school principals might handle include implementing and improving security procedures, scheduling school maintenance, and organizing workshops for staff. In some cases, school principals meet with teachers and parents to discuss behavioral issues or academic performance.
According to the BLS, school principals earn an average salary of $98,490 per year, which can vary based on the type of school they work at. The job outlook for school principals from 2020 through 2030 is 8 percent. Increased school enrollment and the opening of new schools could lead to more opportunities for school principals. Jobs might also be available as current principals retire. Most school principals work for local elementary and secondary schools, while others work for private schools.
Sales managers oversee a company or organization’s sales team, which often includes coming up with training programs and setting sales goals. These managers might also handle customer complaints, develop and implement new sales techniques as needed, analyze data on sales, and come up with special prices or discounts. Other tasks that sales managers are responsible for include estimating how profitable certain services or products are, preparing budgets, and recruiting new team members. These managers usually work with management in other departments to improve sales, such as marketing departments, in order to reach sales goals or quotas.
According to the BLS, the average salary for sales managers is $132,290 per year. Those working in certain industries, such as finance and insurance, have a higher average salary compared to those working in other industries, such as retail or wholesale trade. The job outlook for sales managers from 2020 through 2030 is 7 percent. A stronger focus on customer service is expected to occur in stores in order to compete with online retail, which should provide steady job growth for sales managers throughout the next decade. Wholesale and retail trade employ the largest number of sales managers, while finance and insurance employ the fewest.
Corporate executives are responsible for coordinating work activities and coming up with strategies to help a company or organization achieve its goals. These executives usually develop goals and policies for a department or organization, negotiate contracts, evaluate budgets in order to find ways to cut costs, and meet with other executives to discuss general operations. Corporate executive tasks often depend on how big the company or organization is. Smaller companies might have these executives take on more responsibilities, such as hiring and training new staff. Larger companies might have corporate executives handle strategy and policy planning rather than day-to-day functions.
According to the BLS, top executives earn an average salary of $107,680 per year, although this varies widely. Chief executives, for example, have an average salary of $185,950 per year, while general and operations managers have an average salary of $103,650 per year. The job outlook for top executives from 2020 through 2030 is 8 percent, while the job outlook for chief executives is 6 percent. Corporate executives can work in various settings, including retail, wholesale trade, manufacturing, healthcare, and government.
Corporate managers typically handle the day-to-day operations within a department or organization. This might include creating staff schedules, handing out work assignments, and overseeing projects. Some corporate managers are responsible for coming up with department or company policies, especially in smaller companies or organizations. Corporate managers might also be expected to oversee budgetary activities, analyze sales reports and other data, or oversee general activities for product development and manufacturing.
According to the BLS, general and operations managers, including corporate managers, have an average salary of $125,740 per year. Some industries have a higher average salary for these managers, such as finance and computer manufacturing. The job outlook for management occupations overall, including corporate managers, is 9 percent from 2020 through 2030. Job growth is expected to remain steady for corporate managers during this time. Companies and enterprises employ the highest number of corporate managers. Other top industries for these managers include restaurants, computer systems design, and merchant wholesalers.
Earning a master’s in leadership starts with finding the right program. If you’re thinking of pursuing this type of degree, please contact Geneva College. We offer a Master of Science in Leadership Studies degree that can prepare you for a rewarding role in a leadership position. You can earn this online degree in less than 2 1/2 years while taking classes at home. Our program allows you to choose from a few specializations, including ministry, project management, and non-profits, so you can build your ideal career.
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Apr 29, 2022