Disclosed is a lever operating device having a simple structure and high durability without a contact defect.In the disclosed lever operating device, when an operating lever is tilted in one of the first and second operating surfaces that are substantially orthogonal to each other, a slider supported by a lever support is selectively moved in one of two directions that are substantially orthogonal to each other in a plane parallel to a circuit board, and the electric resistance of a GMR sensor mounted to the circuit board varies depending on the position of a permanent magnet held by the slider. In this way, the operating position of the operating lever is detected.