Online Business and Management Degrees in Florida: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Florida employs about 236,290 general and operations managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state contractor licensing board if you intend to contract. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare business and management programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in Florida

Management is not a licensed occupation and no board issues a permit to run a business. What is licensed is the trade underneath a contracting firm, and those rules differ substantially between states. On the academic side the recognized programmatic accreditors are AACSB, ACBSP and IACBE.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state contractor licensing board if you intend to contract that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 61 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 9 of them carry a score. 1 does not have enough federal outcome data to score, and appears last rather than being hidden.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

South Florida State College

Avon Park, FL 5.0 miles away BOC Score 73.8
Tuition $3,165 - $11,859
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 49.4%
  • Programs offered: 69
  • Annual completions: 533
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,619 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Florida Southern College

Lakeland, FL 38.9 miles away BOC Score 55.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 69.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 68
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,753 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Polk State College

Winter Haven, FL 30.3 miles away BOC Score 54.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 976
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,180 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Florida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, FL 60.6 miles away BOC Score 46.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 64.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 387
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $90,403 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Strayer University-Florida

Tampa, FL 58.5 miles away BOC Score 38.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 125
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $68,449 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Southeastern University

Lakeland, FL 37.5 miles away BOC Score 32.6
Tuition $32,950 - $49,329
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 53.0%
  • Graduation rate: 42.9%
  • Programs offered: 9
  • Annual completions: 81
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,572 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Florida Institute of Technology-Online

Melbourne, FL 60.6 miles away
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 100
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $90,403 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What General and Operations Managers Earn in Florida

General and Operations Managers in Florida earn a median $101,580 per year, below the national median of $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Business and Management Pay and Employment in Florida at a Glance

MetricFloridaNationalSource
Median annual wage$101,580$105,770BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$48,670$50,090BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$68,400$72,320BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$158,340$167,280BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$226,080$253,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment236,2903,503,020BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient1.061.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state4.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Florida Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Florida median of $101,580 sits below the national median of $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 1.06 puts Florida slightly above the national average, so the occupation is a little more common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in Florida

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Miami$105,64074,960
Tampa$103,67035,700
Naples$102,3104,440
Palm Bay$101,8305,090
Jacksonville$100,87016,870
Orlando$100,44027,430
Crestview$100,0703,020
Wildwood$97,360810
Pensacola$97,3504,040
Lakeland$96,2205,150

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Management roles follow the local employer base rather than any one industry, which is why this occupation has a published wage in almost every metro in the country.

General and Operations Managers Wages by Metro Area in Florida

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), general and operations managers wages in Florida vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach74,960$105,640$131,240$49,220$242,380
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater35,700$103,670$130,340$50,100$223,850
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford27,430$100,440$126,060$47,400$226,870
Jacksonville16,870$100,870$126,740$50,470$221,030
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota8,610$94,900$118,270$49,690$214,380
Cape Coral-Fort Myers7,150$94,730$118,060$47,220$217,360
Lakeland-Winter Haven5,150$96,220$116,490$47,830$211,760
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville5,090$101,830$129,860$48,120$242,010
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach4,800$91,710$115,350$45,600$208,480
Naples-Marco Island4,440$102,310$130,490$49,850$230,690
Tallahassee4,360$95,250$116,940$50,880$207,450
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent4,040$97,350$116,940$48,100$201,910
Port St. Lucie3,850$94,910$115,010$47,600$206,970
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin3,020$100,070$122,080$49,010$217,870
Ocala2,690$83,770$107,800$45,030$195,280
Gainesville2,440$93,220$114,530$46,130$210,280
Panama City-Panama City Beach2,080$86,070$110,560$46,000$203,440
Punta Gorda1,380$89,820$110,570$45,570$200,360
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor1,330$89,030$113,670$46,090$211,860
Homosassa Springs820$76,610$96,620$41,100$168,040
Wildwood-The Villages810$97,360$115,890$48,130$198,250
Sebring570$81,020$100,320$45,520$173,160

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All Florida Metro Areas With Published Data

Cape Coral * Crestview * Deltona * Gainesville * Homosassa Springs * Jacksonville * Lakeland * Miami * Naples * North Port * Ocala * Orlando * Palm Bay * Panama City * Pensacola * Port St. Lucie * Punta Gorda * Sebastian * Sebring * Tallahassee * Tampa * Wildwood


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do general and operations managers make in Florida?

The median annual wage for general and operations managers in Florida is $101,580, below the national median of $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $68,400 at the 25th percentile to $158,340 at the 75th.

How many general and operations managers work in Florida?

Florida holds about 236,290 operations manager jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 3,503,020, and BLS projects about 308,700 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a operations manager in Florida?

Management is not a licensed occupation and no board issues a permit to run a business. What is licensed is the trade underneath a contracting firm, and those rules differ substantially between states. On the academic side the recognized programmatic accreditors are AACSB, ACBSP and IACBE. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state contractor licensing board if you intend to contract before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a business or management degree online while working in Florida?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state contractor licensing board if you intend to contract.

What is the highest-paying area of Florida for general and operations managers?

Among Florida metro areas with published data, Miami reports the highest median at $105,640 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Florida a good state for general and operations managers?

On pay, the state median of $101,580 sits below the national $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.06 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.