What Can You Do With a Master’s in Leadership?

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Published on Nov 12, 2025

A Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) degree may prepare you to position yourself to potentially pursue leadership positions in your current industry or in a new industry that are aligned with your career qualifications. Through a curriculum focused on organizational dynamics, effective communication and leadership, this program can help you build a versatile foundation for navigating professional environments.

At Grand Canyon University, the MSL degree is designed to prepare learners to make a positive impact on their industry. It teaches a variety of hard and soft skills that are readily transferable to a range of fields, including competencies in servant leadership, conscious capitalism and organizational development.

What can I do with a master’s in leadership? Explore potential career paths, then review different types of leadership degrees and the skills they teach to determine the best fit for you.

Leadership Careers for Graduates With a Master's Degree

What can you do with a master’s in leadership? There are possibilities in every industry to consider, as leaders are important for every type of organization. Some of the career paths you might consider pursuing could include:

General and Operations Manager

General and operations managers plan, direct and coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. Also called business managers, their responsibilities are broad and often span multiple departments or locations. Their work is essential to ensuring that an organization runs smoothly and efficiently.

Some specific tasks may include:

Formulating and implementing organizational policies
Managing daily operations across departments
Overseeing the use of materials and human resources
Coordinating activities through subordinate supervisors

According to the BLS, general and operations managers earned a median annual salary of $105,350 as of May 2024.¹

Sales Manager

Sales managers lead an organization’s sales team by setting objectives, analyzing performance data and implementing strategies to boost results. They play an essential role in increasing revenue and maintaining customer satisfaction. Sales managers typically work in office or retail environments and may travel to meet clients or attend industry events.

Common responsibilities include:

Establishing sales goals and tracking team progress
Recruiting, hiring and mentoring new team members
Reviewing sales data to guide business strategy
Handling escalated customer issues
Designing and coordinating training programs

According to the BLS, sales managers earned a median annual salary of $138,060 as of May 2024.² The job outlook for this role is positive, with a projected growth rate of 5% from 2024 through 2034, which is faster than average. This growth reflects the ongoing need for skilled professionals to lead sales teams and drive business success, with about 29,000 openings expected during this timeframe.³

Management Analyst

Also known as management consultants, management analysts help organizations improve efficiency, reduce costs and increase profitability. They often work independently or for consulting firms, analyzing data and recommending strategic changes to enhance operations. Their work is valued across industries, especially during times of organizational change or growth.

Some specific tasks may include:

Gathering and analyzing data about problems to be solved
Recommending new systems, procedures or organizational changes
Preparing reports and presenting findings to management
Conducting cost-benefit analyses
Advising managers on strategies to improve performance

According to the BLS, management analysts earned a median annual salary of $101,190 as of May 2024.⁴ The job outlook is strong, with a projected growth rate of 9% from 2024 through 2034, which is much faster than average. This indicates a growing demand for professionals who can help organizations navigate complex challenges, with about 94,500 openings expected during this decade.⁵

Administrative Services Manager

An administrative services manager plans, implements and coordinates daily operational activities for an organization or facility. In large organizations, they may be responsible for one specific function, such as recordkeeping, while at smaller organizations, they may have a hand in multiple areas of function.

Some specific tasks for this leadership career may include:

Modifying and implementing departmental policies
Establishing goals and deadlines for their department
Supervising staff members
Ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations

According to the BLS, administrative services and facilities managers made a median annual salary of $106,880 as of May 2024.⁶ The BLS projects a 4% job growth rate from 2024 to 2034, as fast as average, indicating a need for about 18,300 new jobs.⁷

Types of Leadership Degrees: Which One Is Right for You?

Leadership degrees come in several forms. A Master of Science in Leadership may also be offered as a Master of Arts in Leadership at some schools. Another option is the Master of Business Administration (MBA), which is available with a leadership emphasis at GCU.

While the MBA and the MSL (or MA) share some core areas, the MLS focuses specifically on leadership, whereas the MBA emphasizes broader business skills.

Some of the topics that the MSL at GCU teaches include:

Becoming a servant leader
Leadership development and succession planning for an organization, with a look at mentoring strategies
The four pillars of conscious capitalism
Leading through organizational change
Data-driven, innovative decision-making

In contrast, some of the topics that the MBA with an Emphasis in Leadership at GCU teaches include:

Market environmental analysis, and marketing planning and strategy
Managerial accounting concepts and procedures
Management of operations in manufacturing and service environments
The elements of business financial decisions

To determine which is right for you, consider how the curriculum of each program might align with your career goals. If you’re more interested in examining leadership styles and methods, then the MSL might be right for you. Business problem-solvers might prefer the MBA.

Is a Master’s in Leadership Worth It?

An MSL can be worth it if you’re interested in enhancing your career qualifications to position yourself for potential leadership positions in your industry. It might also be a smart move to earn a graduate degree if you’re thinking of transitioning into a new industry or a new type of role. Even if you aren’t planning any career moves right now, an MSL can allow you to examine advanced competencies in leadership that may be immediately applicable to your current work.

Key Skills Taught in an MSL Program

What is a master’s in leadership like in terms of skill development? In addition to teaching competencies in servant leadership and organizational development, you can expect the curriculum to teach a wide range of soft skills, such as:

Informed decision-making
Communication skills
Strategic thinking
Change management
Teambuilding
Conflict resolution
Coaching and mentoring

How To Choose the Right Leadership Master’s Program

Many learners choose GCU’s MSL for the following reasons:

GCU is an institutionally accredited school that prioritizes academic quality.
GCU offers numerous degree options and specializations, including an MSL, MSL with an Emphasis in Homeland Security and Emergency Management or a dual MBA/MSL.
The MSL degree at GCU is available via online or evening classes to accommodate the needs of busy professionals.
Our private Christian university offers curriculum with a faith-based perspective.

Is a Master’s in Leadership Right for You?

If you’ve decided that earning a Master of Science in Leadership is the right choice for your career goals, Grand Canyon University invites you to apply to the Colangelo College of Business. Take classes online or in the evenings to accommodate your busy schedule. Fill out the form on this page and speak with a university counselor about earning an MSL at GCU.

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The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), General and Operations Managers as of May 2023, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as general and operations managers nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Sales Managers as of May 2024, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as sales managers nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sales Managers, retrieved October 2025.
The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Management Analysts as of May 2024, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as management analysts nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Management Analysts, retrieved October 2025.
The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Administrative Services and Facilities Managers as of May 2024, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as administrative services and facilities managers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Administrative Services and Facilities Managers, retrieved October 2025.

Approved and verified accurate by the Assistant Vice President of GCU Marketing on Oct. 24, 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.