Operations Management Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Operations Management degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$42K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Operations Management in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Operations Management programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Operations Management enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Process Improvement and Lean/Six Sigma. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $42,000, growing to $77,280 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Operations Management Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Operations Management salary: $50,000 starting, $92,000 mid-career, $118,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Operations Management ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Operations Management degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,600
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$516,592
Lifetime earnings premium ($604,800) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Operations Management in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Operations Management
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Operations Management in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Operations Management graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Operations Management Job Titles
Operations Management in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$49K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$48K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Columbia
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$59K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Accounting
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$49K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Operations Management Degree in Columbia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Operations Management ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbia.