Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of store managers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of store managers:
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District Manager is the highest-paid type of store manager with an average salary of $96,909 and an average hourly rate of $46.59.
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The second highest-paying type of store manager is associate manager, with an average salary of $83,246.
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The average store manager salary is $46,950 per year, and the average hourly pay is $22.57.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a store manager, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of store managers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of store managers:
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District Manager
Average Salary: $96,909
District managers oversee the operations of a group of stores or areas covered by the assigned district. They are responsible for ensuring that the sales, marketing, quality control, and people management of their community align with the company’s direction. They review the district’s financial statement, draft ways to improve the district’s key metrics, and mitigate any challenges that may come their way. They are also responsible for hiring store or area managers and training them to ensure that they will be significant contributors to the organization.
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Associate Manager
Average Salary: $83,246
Associate managers are responsible for overseeing the support and clerical staff of the company. They recruit and train employees who perform different tasks that include greeting customers, answering phones, and faxing documents. They also perform other duties, including keeping employees’ motivation, ensuring that everyone understands the company’s guidelines and policies, and supervising other staff members. To be qualified as an associate manager, one should have a high school diploma, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic. One should also have the necessary computer skills, bookkeeping skills, and customer service skills.
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Regional Operation Manager
Average Salary: $78,588
A regional operation manager is in charge of overseeing multiple stores or warehouses in a particular region, ensuring efficiency and profitability. Their responsibilities typically revolve around setting sales targets, devising marketing and workforce management strategies, and gathering extensive data to produce progress reports and presentations. They must also address issues and concerns, dealing and resolving them in a timely and professional manner. Furthermore, as a regional operation manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce, all while implementing the company’s policies and regulations.
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Operations Manager
Average Salary: $76,894
Operations managers are in charge of running the main business of the organization. They ensure that the business is running smoothly from an operations standpoint. They make sure that the processes in place produce the necessary output by implementing quality control measures. They also manage finances and ensure that there is enough budget to keep the operations of the business running. They also ensure that the production of goods or services is cost-efficient. Operations managers also handle people-related concerns. They are responsible for interviewing candidates, choosing the ones to hire, and ensuring that individuals assigned to operations are properly trained.
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Retail Operation Manager
Average Salary: $76,518
A retail operation manager is a professional who is responsible for managing the daily operations of retail stores while maintaining their physical space tidy and organized. Retail operation manager must ensure proper staffing at all stores as well as train employees to enhance their job performance and retention. They are required to conduct inventory analysis to ensure optimal stock levels. Retail operation managers must also visit retail locations so that they can evaluate the sales performance and level of customer satisfaction of each store.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various store manager that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Store Managers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for store managers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Store Manager Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid store manager job?
The highest-paid store manager job is a district manager. District Managers earn an average salary of $96,909, which is $ 46.59 hourly.
District managers oversee the operations of a group of stores or areas covered by the assigned district. They are responsible for ensuring that the sales, marketing, quality control, and people management of their community align with the company’s direction. They review the district’s financial statement, draft ways to improve the district’s key metrics, and mitigate any challenges that may come their way. They are also responsible for hiring store or area managers and training them to ensure that they will be significant contributors to the organization.
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What is a good salary for a store manager?
A good salary for a store manager is $46,950 or more. The average store manager salary is $46,950, so those making at least $46,950 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average store manager salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a store manager, the average entry level salary is $19,338, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $46,950 average, as this includes all store managers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Store Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, store manager jobs pay well. As in any industry, some store manager jobs pay better than others, but the average store manager salary of $46,950 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many store manager jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of store managers earning $54,153 a year on average.
Store Managers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a store manager. Do your research on the going rate for a store manager in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do store managers get paid the most?
Store Managers get paid the most in Alabama. In Alabama, store managers earn an average annual salary of $50,721 and an average hourly wage of $24.39.
Following AL, the states with the highest-paid store managers are Delaware, Texas, and Connecticut, with average annual salaries of $62,363, $50,204, and $55,514 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid store manager salaries are:
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Washington, DC – $64,385
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New York, NY – $60,187
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San Francisco, CA – $54,089
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
