Top 14 Careers/Salaries Opportunities for Master's in Organizational Leadership Graduates
Having a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership degree can increase a person's salary-earning capabilities immensely, especially in the fields of administration and management. As businesses need skilled and organized workers to help them run more efficiently and compete in the global marketplace, graduates with organizational leadership degrees are always in demand. The skills refined in a master of organizational leadership program are integral to the responsibilities encompassed in effective business operation, addressing workplace leadership challenges, evaluating job satisfaction, worker productivity, and how to improve a business's bottom line.
Thus, career prospects for graduates of this degree are very widespread, especially those who graduate with a masters as they have an edge over other potential candidates with only an undergraduate degree. Graduates with a master's degree not only attract an abundance of opportunities but usually a sixth-figure salary. For graduates with a bachelor's degree, a master's program is the next logical step for its high-earning capabilities and short commitment of one to two years of study. With courses available on campus and online, graduates can complete their studies at their convenience and receive a quick return on their investment.
Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we've assembled a median salary and job outlook guide to top careers for organizational leadership graduates.
What can I do with an MS in Organizational Leadership degree?
An organizational leadership degree can open a myriad of opportunities in the job market and propel graduates into high-paying roles in administration and management. The skills acquired in this degree include leadership development, delegation, decision-making, interpersonal communication, and team building, making it an extremely beneficial field of study to prepare a graduate for the workforce. Consider the following lucrative career paths that a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership graduate can pursue, along with their listed median salary, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Management Analyst
Management analysts, sometimes referred to as management consultants are responsible for reviewing a company's efficiency and productivity. They then propose ways in which the company can enhance their operations to run more smoothly. Management analysts typically advise managers on how to make their company or organization more profitable by exploring ways the company can reduce costs and increase revenues in certain facets of the business. The average salary for a management analyst is $67,000.
Human Resources Manager
The primary responsibilities of HR managers are planning, coordinating, and directing the administrative functions of an organization. They do this by recruiting, onboarding, and interviewing new employees as well as managing employee benefits and conducting performance assessments. The annual median salary for this position sits at $110,120.
Insurance Underwriter
Insurance underwriters determine whether to extend an insurance policy to a prospective customer. They also evaluate what the terms of that policy should be. To work as an insurance underwrite requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics, or mathematics. The median salary for this position is $69,760 per year.
Project Coordinator
Project coordinators traditionally work in construction, technology, and other industries. Their main responsibilities involve working with various members of a project team and a client to develop a timeline, create schedules, and evaluate progress toward specific goals. They do this by planning, supervising, and executing projects. To be a successful project coordinator you will need strong leadership and organizational skills, which are developed in a Master of Organizational Leadership degree. The median salary for this role hovers around $67,280.
Sales Manager
Sales managers lead teams to reach sales goals as well as review data and create training programs that improve company morale. Salaries in this field differ significantly depending on years of experience, qualifications, and company field. However, the beauty of this career is there is plenty of room for growth. Sales managers may begin with a small team and then go on to become regional or state managers, managing directors or even CEOs. Sales manager positions earn a median salary of $132,000 and have a 4% growth outlook over ten years. Managers in finance and insurance can even earn upwards of $163,000. A master's in organizational leadership can help you on your path towards becoming a great sales manager.
Industrial Production Manager
Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing plants. This job requires strong organizational skills and subsequent qualifications dependent upon the industry you are managing. Some of the responsibilities that encompass this role include coordinating, planning, and directing activities that are used to produce a wide range of goods. This could be anything from cars to books. A standard salary in this field is about $108, 790 per year.
Public Relations and Fundraising Manager
Public relations and fundraising managers work in high-stress environments and are responsible for overseeing large teams and conducting big events. Whether you're helping to establish, enhance and maintain the public image of your employer or are running campaigns to raise funds for religious or civic organizations, both leadership and organizational skills are a must. You may be required to run multiple events at once and will be guiding many colleagues in doing so. Developing these skills with an MS in organizational leadership will help you grow into these positions. With a median salary of $118,000 and expected job growth of 9% by the end of the decade, a career in public relations and fundraising management may prove highly beneficial.
Elementary, Middle, or High School Principal
Elementary, middle and high school principals benefit from a graduate degree in organizational leadership and learning as they prepare to lead in any educational setting. Most principals need many years of teaching experience, so moving from the classroom into administration is not an uncommon affair. Principals oversee a school's day-to-day operations, and big picture stuff like hiring, coordinating curriculums and ensuring the best learning environment for faculty and students. Because they interact with students, colleagues and parents, great versatile interpersonal skills are also a must. Principal positions are projected to grow 4% by the end of the decade and are paid a median salary of $99,000. Most work in public schools, and public-school principals see a slight increase in median salary, too.
School and Career Counselor
Another possible career path from an organizational leadership degree is being a school or career counselor. In this role, you provide mentorship and guidance to students who are choosing a career or program as well as assisting them in the development of their social skills. The median salary for this role sits around $58, 120 per year.
Training and Development Manager
Organizational leadership graduates are well suited to training and development managerial positions. Over the course of their degrees, students will learn how to plan, coordinate and direct enhancement programs more effectively, all skills required for the job. Although a bachelor's degree is common, many employers require managers to have a master's degree, concentrating in human resource management or organizational development. Salaries depend on the subfield one gets into, but organizational leadership graduates can expect to earn a median salary of $115,000, with those in professional, scientific and technical services earning $135,780. Qualified candidates will be in high demand as these positions are expected to grow 7% in the next eight years.
Industrial Production Management
Industrial production managers, or plant managers, oversee the day-to-day operations of production plants and are responsible for ensuring plants run effectively. On top of deciding how to best manage employees to meet production goals without sacrificing employee safety, they also ensure production stays within budget and if overtime work is required. They will conduct quality control programs to ensure products have no defects and address issues if necessary, too. Although a bachelor's degree and years of experience may suffice for these positions, the more oversight responsibility the job has the likelier a company is to hire someone with a graduate degree. Projected job growth may be at 1%, but plant managers earn a median salary of $109,000, and those in transportation and chemical manufacturing earn even more.
Top Executive
Education requirements vary for top executives, but most have a bachelor's degree, and many have graduate degrees, too. Usually responsible for leading organizations, top executives must ensure that their organization meets its goals. They instruct employees to carry out their vision, and therefore must know how to plan into the future, delegate tasks accordingly and lead effectively. Hiring the right people to trust with these assignments is a major job responsibility. Top leadership roles like this are great for organizational leadership graduates. Anyone from a small-town mayor to a Silicon Valley CEO can be considered a top executive, so salaries vary drastically based on the executive's field and job title. Although the median pay for top executives is $108,000, chief executives earn a median salary of $185,000 and those in manufacturing or scientific services earn over $208,000.
Medical and Health Services Manager
Jobs for medical and health services managers are expected to grow 32% by 2029. The fantastic job outlook and a high median salary of $104,000 make these positions highly attractive to graduates with a master's degree in organizational leadership. As well as a background in healthcare, master's degrees are common for these positions. Managers are responsible for running the business activities of healthcare providers as well as staying on top of changes in healthcare, including government policies and evolving technologies. Most people find work in hospital settings, but physician offices, residential care facilities, government organizations and outpatient care centers are all viable employment options. Long hours and weekend work are common, but the work is worth it.
Postsecondary Education Administrator
Education employment is a viable option for every organizational leadership graduate. Postsecondary education administrator job duties depend on which department administrators work in, but often deal with managing student services, academics and faculty research. Job titles like admissions officer, registrar and provost are common, and responsibilities vary accordingly. An admissions officer will focus on attracting students and setting standards for admission, whereas a registrar will keep academic and personal records. Provosts may have been professors prior to moving into administration, and often have a PhD as well. Regardless of the job title, each position requires great critical-thinking, leadership and organizational skills. College administrators can expect median salaries of $98,000 and a 4% job growth by 2029, with university employees making more than their junior college counterparts.
What is required for an Organizational Leadership degree?
To qualify for our MS in Organizational Leadership program, students will need to have completed a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Fortunately, most schools offer both on-campus and online classes to accommodate different lifestyles. This allows students with busy schedules to study at their convenience and gives others the chance to interact face-to-face in a learning environment. For this reason, Pepperdine University gives their students the opportunity to complete their degree exclusively from home with synchronous and asynchronous sessions.
Earn your Organizational Leadership degree at Pepperdine University's School of Education and Psychology
Earn your Master of Science in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University's School of Education and Psychology. This program is intended for individuals seeking to lead learning and talent development in private and public organizations, private education, not-for-profits, NGOs, healthcare, faith-based, and occupational education. Accelerate your career in instructional design and technology. Our program's unique format gives students the opportunity to participate in a cohort model while choosing between online or in-classroom options every term. You will gain the knowledge, skills, and support needed to reach your potential in a variety of settings such as online program management entities, staff training, corporations, PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and many types of organizations in the non-profit, private, and public sectors.
Complete our 32-unit program in 20 months at our beautiful West Los Angeles campus. Steeped in Christian heritage with a strong community of excellence, Pepperdine University provides students with the chance to study on and off campus to best suit their individual lifestyles. Learn more about our admissions and curriculum by visiting our website. Our MS in Organizational Leadership also offers students the option to earn credit towards a doctorate while concurrently completing this master's degree. Up to nine hours of credit may be applied to a doctoral degree within the School of Education, enabling candidates to reduce costs and save time to complete both degrees. For prospective students, attend one of our informational sessions to learn more about Pepperdine's MS in Organizational Leadership program today.