How To Become An Assistant Manager Retail: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant manager retail and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Assistant managers work in retail. They support the work of floor managers by providing quality services for customers and by helping to recruit, train, and manage teams of sales representatives. They are responsible for maintaining smooth retail operations, managing inventory and marketing, and contributing to meeting desired sales quotas.

They make sure their sales team has the necessary resources to carry out their job efficiently. They make sure goods are always in stock and sales reps know where to turn in case of doubts or problems.

They are expected to motivate their team and keep track of receipts and revenues on their floor. This position is a great place to practice budding leadership skills while making around $11 an hour on average.

ScoreAssistant Manager RetailUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $32,861

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 6.90%

Black or African American 8.38%

Hispanic or Latino 17.69%

Unknown 4.64%

White 61.73%

Gender

female 61.02%

male 38.98%

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

Key steps to become an assistant manager retail

Explore assistant manager retail education requirements

Most common assistant manager retail degrees

Bachelor's

44.9 %

High School Diploma

22.0 %

Associate

21.6 %

Start to develop specific assistant manager retail skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.30%
Retail Management	11.98%
Retail Store	10.32%
POS	6.45%
Inventory Control	5.13%

Complete relevant assistant manager retail training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant managers retail 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 assistant manager retail based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant manager retail resumes.

Gain additional assistant manager retail certifications

Assistant manager retail 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 assistant manager retail certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assistant managers retail include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research assistant manager retail duties and responsibilities

Manage the day-to-day operation of tourist boutique merchandising and selling jewelry, souvenirs and eclectic artwork.
Review of monthly financial reports, budget analysis, loss prevention, payroll expenses and compliance with federal and state regulations.
Maintain optimal customer service while facilitating sales of name brand/high end jewelry.
Conduct group/individual reading, math and science activities.

Prepare your assistant manager retail resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant manager retail 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 assistant manager retail resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Assistant Manager Retail Resume templates

Build a professional Assistant Manager Retail 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 Assistant Manager Retail resume.