How To Become An Area Supervisor: What It Is and Career Path

What is an area supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An area supervisor oversees the operations of a specific geographic region for a company or organization. They are responsible for managing a team of employees, ensuring they consistently meet or exceed company performance goals. Area supervisors may also develop and implement strategies to improve business operations and profitability. They work closely with other managers and departments to ensure progress is made toward company goals.

ScoreArea SupervisorUS Average

Salary

3.2

Avg. Salary $40,965

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 6.53%

Black or African American 8.50%

Hispanic or Latino 17.99%

Unknown 4.65%

White 61.67%

Gender

female 41.61%

male 58.39%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an area supervisor?

Pros

Chance to develop management and leadership skills
Higher salary and benefits compared to entry-level positions
Exposure to various aspects of the business
Opportunities for career advancement within the company
Recognition and appreciation from colleagues and superiors

Cons

Long working hours, including weekends and holidays
Responsibility for managing conflicts within the team
Limited work-life balance due to work demands
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with company policies and regulations
Risk of burnout due to high job demands

Key steps to become an area supervisor

Explore area supervisor education requirements

Most common area supervisor degrees

Bachelor's

47.3 %

Associate

21.3 %

High School Diploma

18.7 %

Start to develop specific area supervisor skills

Skills	Percentages
Ladders	16.65%
Cleanliness	16.07%
Sales Floor	15.19%
Front End	13.31%
Loss Prevention	9.55%

Complete relevant area supervisor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New area supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an area supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real area supervisor resumes.

Gain additional area supervisor certifications

Area supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific area supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for area supervisors include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

More About Certifications

Research area supervisor duties and responsibilities

Promote from associate to manage several departments including jewelry, housewares, automotive and electronics.
Demonstrate resourcefulness and imagination when managing professional responsibilities.
Schedule and lead safety meetings par OSHA regulations.
Train new and current employees run reports and stats for upper management.

Prepare your area supervisor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your area supervisor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an area supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable area supervisor resume templates

Build a professional area supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your area supervisor resume.