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About Management
You'll become
Average Salaries
Management workers may earn between $54,000 and $160,000 per year
Shape Australia’s future and build in-demand skills for an exciting career by studying a management course.
You’re a natural leader with a head for making decisions. Use it to play a key leading role in the future of Australian business and build the in-demand skillset for a rewarding and dynamic new career in management.
More than 12 million Australians are employed by over two million businesses, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and in an increasingly competitive commercial world organisations are urgently seeking skilled managers to strategically guide them to success.
As a graduate of a management course, you’ll have the skills, abilities and insights to shape the success of a wide range of businesses, and unlock the potential of people to achieve their goals. If you’re seeking a rewarding, dynamic and exciting new career that can make a real impact, studying a management course is for you.
You may study a management course at a range of different levels, including as a certificate or diploma course, as a bachelor’s degree, or as a master’s degree or post-graduate certificate. Opportunities also exist for people seeking to challenge themselves and advance our understanding of best management and leadership principles by undertaking a PhD.
After completing a management course, you may work in a range of leadership, management, administrative and operational roles, and may work as a business manager, general manager, team leader or operations manager in the private or not-for-profit sector, or even start your own business.
What do management graduates do?
Graduates of management courses may seek employment in a wide variety of management roles in a diverse range of industries, which means your day-to-day duties will vary, depending on the role you take on. However, your work will likely be focused on managing the operations of businesses and teams, and will include tasks such as:
- Identifying and organising key organisational goals and strategic priorities;
- Developing plans, policies and procedures relating to the operation and objectives of the business;
- Monitoring and advising on projects;
- Authorising the allocation and movement of resources, including financial and human resources;
- Leading teams and training and managing staff members;
- Providing day-to-day guidance and direction to achieve organisational objectives;
- Assessing changing situations, managing conflict and responding accordingly;
- Conducting meetings;
- Preparing reports, submissions and notes;
- Conducting monitoring and evaluation activities of business projects and activities;
- Representing the business or organisation in public;
- Ensuring the business’s ongoing compliance with relevant regulations; and
- Liaising between different departments and teams within a business
Depending on the level of your qualification, you may perform a range of senior leadership, including developing a strategic or organisational plan, managing high-level projects, and making key strategic decisions.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Management course graduates are in demand in a range of different industries. After completing a management course, you may work in a field like:
- Banking and finance
- Construction
- Education
- Engineering
- Government services
- Information technology
- Marketing and sales
- Media services
- Retail trade and hospitality
- Tourism and events management
After completing a management course, you may seek employment in a wide range of management, leadership and business administration roles, or start your own small business. Roles you may choose to take on after graduating may include working as a:
- Human Resources Officer
- Management Consultant
- Office Administrator
- Team Leader
- Senior Manager
- Small Business Owner
- General Manager
- Executive Director
- Marketing Manager
- Chief Executive
- Managing Director
- Human Resources Manager
- IT Manager
- Financial Analyst
- Project Manager
- Operations Manager
- Startup Founder
- Business Development Manager
- Executive Officer
- Purchasing Manager
- Growth Specialist
- Business Administrator
- Sales Executive
- Service Manager
- Training Manager
- Product Manager
- Department Manager
- Area Manager
- Business Manager
- Facilities Coordinator
- Program Manager
- Consultant
- Office Manager
- Executive Personal Assistant
- Entrepreneur
- Administration Manager
- Project Assistant
- Program Coordinator
- Program Consultant
- New Business Start-Up
- Administration Officer
- Hotel Manager
- Hotel Front Office Attendant
- Hotel Service Supervisor
- Tourism Manager
- Hotel Supervisor
- Hospitality Operator
- Financial Planner
- Business Strategist
- Manager
- Small Business Manager
- Executive Manager
- CEO
- RTO Manager
- Community Services Manager
- Centre Manager
- Community Services Coordinator
- Account Executive
- Sales Team Manager
- Strategic Advisor
- Project Team Leader
- Line Manager
- Warehouse Team Leader
- Administrative Supervisor
- Contract Administrator
- Project Administrator
- Program Administrator
- Construction Manager
- ICT Project Manager
- Change Management Leader
- Foreman
- Site Supervisor
- Site Manager
- Estimating Manager
- Human Resources Coordinator
- Senior Human Resources Generalist
- Services Team Leader
- Practice Manager
- Senior Medical Receptionist/Supervisor
- Risk Manager
- Project Coordinator
- Senior Project Administrator
- Construction Project Manager
- Site Supervisor/Foreman
- Administrative Coordinator
- Administrative/Office Manager
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Administrative Officer
- International Business Manager
- International Consultant
- Food and Beverage Manager
- Front of House Manager
- Front Office Supervisor
- Human Resources (Strategy) Senior Executive
- Director Manager
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Is management right for you?
You’ll enjoy working in management if you:
- Are a natural leader
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Thrive when working with people
- Have big ideas
- Are highly motivated
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are highly organised and efficient
- Are proactive and can work independently
- Can think strategically and exercise sound judgment
- Can speak confidently in public
- Enjoy fast-paced work
- Enjoy challenging yourself
- Want to make a difference
- Believe in the potential of people
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook predicts strong growth in job opportunities for business managers over the next decade, predicting the profession will grow to employ an additional 7,900 people by 2020. Currently employing approximately 51,000 people, the profession is considered large, and roles are available in most areas of Australia.
Similarly, job opportunities for chief executive officers and managing directors are also increasing, with Job Outlook reporting that approximately 67,700 people will be employed in those roles by 2020. Currently, approximately 58,900 people are employed as CEOs and managing directors in Australia.
Opportunities are also available for management course graduates seeking to start their own small business. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that approximately 1.96 million small businesses operate in Australia, representing nearly 96 per cent of all businesses operating.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, a general manager can expect to earn a salary between $54,000 and $160,000 per year, with an average annual salary of approximately $92,000. An operations manager can expect to earn between $35,000 and $90,000 per year, and entry-level managers may enjoy earning a competitive average salary of approximately $50,000 per year.
At the highest levels of business, chief executive officers and chief financial officers can take home base salaries in excess of $300,000, according to Job Outlook, and may also hold stock in a company or share profits with shareholders in addition to receiving a wage.