What can you do with a business administration degree?
In business administration, people oversee the performance and operations of a company or department. With a business administration degree, you can help organizations reach their goals and make operations more successful and efficient. If you're interested in this field, read on to learn about getting a business administration degree, review some business administration jobs you can pursue, and explore tips for becoming a business administrator.
Getting a business administration degree
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), business is the most popular undergraduate degree program in the United States. About 19% of students who graduated in 2019 majored in business-related fields.
"Almost all fields need people who can take care of administrative tasks, so people with degrees in business administration have plenty of options."
To become a business administrator, people need at least a bachelor's degree. Courses you study may include:
- Advertising
- Finance or accounting
- Marketing
- Sales
- Business ethics
- Communication
- Statistics
- Computer science and programming
After you graduate, you can get an internship in a field that interests you, such as human resources, sales, project management, or office administration. That way, you can gain professional experience, develop your business administration skills, and network with other professionals.
Business administration jobs
Almost all fields need people who can take care of administrative tasks, so people with degrees in business administration have plenty of options. Here are some of the most popular jobs for professionals with business administration degrees:
Restaurant manager
A restaurant manager handles restaurant operations, including hiring and managing cooks, servers, and other staff members, interacting with customers, and helping create new menu items. Restaurant managers may also order ingredients from suppliers, make deposits at the bank, and give feedback to employees when needed.
They train servers to use point-of-sale software systems, and they use inventory management programs to order supplies at the right times. They help improve company culture and team morale, and many restaurant managers are bilingual, making communicating with staff members easier. Restaurant managers usually have five to 10 years of experience working in a restaurant. Their average salary is $52,342 per year, and people in cities with competitive restaurant scenes often make more.
Hotel manager
A hotel manager takes care of the daily operations of a hotel. This often includes managing cleaning staff, restaurant staff, customer service staff, and others. These professionals also create reports for owners, boards of directors, or district managers, help set prices for rooms, help organize special events like weddings, purchase advertising for the hotel, and create posts for social media. A hotel or hospitality manager makes an average of $64,000 per year.
Nursing home administrator
A nursing home administrator uses their business administration skills to maintain a nursing home or assisted living facility and maximize its performance. They hire, fire, and discipline staff, help improve care standards, oversee grant funding requests, and meet with facility investors and board members. Nursing home administrators make an average of $78,500 per year, and they often have experience as nurses or other health care workers as well as a degree in business or health care administration.
Construction manager
People who use their business administration degree to get a job in construction management will oversee entire construction projects. Their responsibilities can cover planning projects, hiring contractors, supervising construction, maintaining a project's budget, following local building codes and other regulations, and more. They often help many teams, such as architects, engineers, plumbers, and electricians, coordinate their tasks. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction managers made an average of $108,210 per year in 2021.
Systems administrator
A systems administrator oversees a company's computer system and network. Systems administrators handle checks on computer systems and help install or update software or equipment. They also train employees about network security and other IT topics, use software to track employee performance, and help fix software errors or bugs.
These professionals often have a background in computer science or programming as well as business administration. Some have an IT-related degree and an MBA or master's in business administration. Computer networks are common in many industries, meaning systems administrators can work in a variety of fields. They make an average of $91,500 per year.
Sales manager
A sales manager leads a team of salespeople. They establish sales quotas and goals, mentor salespeople, analyze sales data, make reports on sales performance, and assign tasks. Some sales managers also provide sales training to staff members, hire new employees, help decide on new sales tactics, and recommend new products. They usually have previous sales experience as well as a degree in business administration. Sales managers spend most of their time in offices, and they often work long hours and travel to speak with important clients.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, sales managers earned a median of $127,490 per year in 2021. Demand for this occupation is expected to grow around 7% by 2030, which is about as much as average.
Franchise manager
A franchise manager oversees the franchising department of a business. This department often works with people who want to open a franchise of the business. Franchise managers support franchisees and make sure that all locations maintain the same business strategy. They may also oversee franchisee training and education and persuade new people to become franchisees. Franchise managers make an average of $153,500 per year, and they usually have extensive management experience.
Tips for becoming a business administrator
Business administration can be a competitive field, and every advantage can help you increase your earnings and advance your career. Here are some tips to help you become a business administrator:
Showcase your work ethic
A strong work ethic is a valuable skill in any field, and displaying it can help you get a new job or a promotion. If you work later than usual, make sure that clients and team members know about it. You can set an example for others and make sure that customers value your company. You can also phrase the job duties on your resume in a way that shows you're a hard worker. When possible, volunteer for added responsibilities. That way, you can expand your experience and skills.
Continue your education
After you get a business administration degree, you can pursue an MBA or another degree in the industry you want to specialize in. You can also get additional training at work and learn from CEOs and business owners. Learning how to use business administration software can be useful in many fields, and it can make you more valuable to employers.
A professional certification can add value to your resume as well. For example, you might become a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) and apply your knowledge of project management, records management, business writing, technology, operations, and communication to business administration. Alternatively, you could become a Certified Project Management Professional (CPMP) by passing an exam that tests your project management and business administration skills. Getting a Salesforce certification can also show that you know how to use customer resource management or CRM software.
Keep up with trends
Learning about the latest trends is important for business administrators in many industries. They can help you predict which products or services customers will prefer, beat the competition, and come up with new ideas.
These are only some of the things you can do with a business administration degree, whether you choose to pursue a bachelor's or master's program. With CareerBuilder, you can learn more about advancing your career in business administration and sign up for email alerts to help you find roles that are relevant to your education and experience.
More tips for business administration degree holders:
Soft skills are important for people in business administration and other management fields. They can include leadership, communication, teamwork, and empathy.
Business administrators may also need management skills, such as problem-solving, attention to detail, and multitasking.
Like a systems administrator, an IT director often has a degree in business administration.
Knowing the answers to common interview questions can help you get the business administration job you want.
