Online Organizational Leadership Degree in Massachusetts: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: Massachusetts employs about 95,880 general and operations managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your employer on whether the credential meets a promotion requirement. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare organizational leadership programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in Massachusetts

Organizational leadership is not licensed and carries no required certification. The degree functions as a completion credential for working supervisors, so employers typically read it alongside the management experience it formalizes.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your employer on whether the credential meets a promotion requirement 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 59 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

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.

#3

Merrimack College

North Andover, MA 31.6 miles away BOC Score 65.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 71.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 361
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,506 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Western New England University

Springfield, MA 54.5 miles away BOC Score 62.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 279
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $76,928 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Gordon College

Wenham, MA 39.4 miles away BOC Score 61.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $57,638 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Suffolk University

Boston, MA 22.1 miles away BOC Score 59.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 15
  • Annual completions: 301
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $74,456 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, MA 58.7 miles away BOC Score 57.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 114
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,912 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Framingham State University

Framingham, MA 2.4 miles away BOC Score 54.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 44
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $61,569 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Lasell University

Newton, MA 12.7 miles away BOC Score 46.6
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 104
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,411 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Curry College

Milton, MA 19.3 miles away BOC Score 44.5
Tuition $47,970 - $64,020
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 87.6%
  • Graduation rate: 49.7%
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 86
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $72,447 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What General and Operations Managers Earn in Massachusetts

General and Operations Managers in Massachusetts earn a median $127,220 per year, above the national median of $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Organizational Leadership Pay and Employment in Massachusetts at a Glance

MetricMassachusettsNationalSource
Median annual wage$127,220$105,770BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$60,700$50,090BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$82,190$72,320BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$199,540$167,280BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$314,780$253,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment95,8803,503,020BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient1.171.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state4.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How Massachusetts Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The Massachusetts median of $127,220 sits above 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 1.17 puts Massachusetts well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (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 Massachusetts

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Boston$133,80070,950
Worcester$111,9007,910
Springfield$106,3904,390
Barnstable Town$100,5903,210
Pittsfield$98,2101,500
Amherst Town$98,2001,600

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Supervisory and management roles exist wherever employers do, so this market tracks total employment rather than any single industry.

General and Operations Managers Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton70,950$133,800$163,800$63,020$329,130
Providence-Warwick14,110$110,360$136,300$60,420$227,770
Worcester7,910$111,900$135,930$54,080$249,990
Springfield4,390$106,390$127,940$55,010$218,850
Barnstable Town3,210$100,590$120,530$52,880$206,270
Amherst Town-Northampton1,600$98,200$118,720$55,280$202,000
Pittsfield1,500$98,210$119,480$51,710$206,900

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 Massachusetts Metro Areas With Published Data

Amherst Town * Barnstable Town * Boston * Pittsfield * Springfield * Worcester


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 Massachusetts?

The median annual wage for general and operations managers in Massachusetts is $127,220, above the national median of $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $82,190 at the 25th percentile to $199,540 at the 75th.

How many general and operations managers work in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts holds about 95,880 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 Massachusetts?

Organizational leadership is not licensed and carries no required certification. The degree functions as a completion credential for working supervisors, so employers typically read it alongside the management experience it formalizes. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your employer on whether the credential meets a promotion requirement before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn an organizational leadership bachelor's or master's online while working in Massachusetts?

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 employer on whether the credential meets a promotion requirement.

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

Among Massachusetts metro areas with published data, Boston reports the highest median at $133,800 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is Massachusetts a good state for general and operations managers?

On pay, the state median of $127,220 sits above the national $105,770 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.17 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/.