Retail managers are in charge of the day-to-day running of retail stores. Ensuring customers are satisfied requires a lot of work: hiring and training employees, keeping the store well-supplied, keeping records of sales, maintaining security, banking cash from the register, and dealing with customer complaints and returns. Although they have to comply with store policies, retail managers can do a lot to make a store successful. Whether by hiring great salespeople or creating displays that draw customers in, a good retail manager can make a big impact in the job.
Annual salaries for retail managers will vary depending on your experience, education level, and expertise. In 2013, the average annual salary for retail managers working in the U.S. was $41,450 per year.
For more information on what parts of the country have the most opportunity for retail managers, click through to our Best Places to Work tab for information on the number of people employed and the average salary in each state.
California leads the nation in employment for retail managers, where 124,200 professionals are working statewide, and earning an average yearly salary of $44,330. Texas is second, with 102,870 retail managers employed in various industries, who earn an average salary of $42,840.
The metro areas employing the most retail managers are:
The metro areas employing the highest concentration of retail managers are:
The metro areas employing the best-paid retail managers are:
Use our interactive map below to find out which areas of the United States are currently experiencing the greatest amount of growth and job availability for graduates looking for a career as a retail manager. The associated information has been gathered from Bureau of Labor statistics, representing data collected in 2012.
Retail managers set the tone for a store and help to make it a pleasant place to shop—or not. Here are some of the reasons a career in retail management may be worth considering:
A retail manager takes on a lot of responsibility for the success of a store. A working knowledge of these skill sets will help to set you apart from other candidates.
Feel like you’ve got a lot to learn? Get more information about retail management careers, degrees, and applicable courses from one of the schools below.
On-the-job training
One of the key factors employers look for is experience. Some retail sales managers are promoted from within after strong performance as employees for a retail store. Promotion is likely to take several years, however. Other retail sales managers may have experience in sales or in managing employees from previous roles. Having additional qualifications in management or administration is also valuable.
Associate’s / Bachelor’s degree
Colleges, technical colleges and other schools offer associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in retail management. These take some time to complete—usually two years in the case of an associate’s degree, four in the case of a bachelor’s—but you won’t necessarily have to work your way through the ranks. Retail experience is still important, however, even if you have a degree.