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The differences between assistant store managers and assistant department managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an assistant store manager and an assistant department manager. Additionally, an assistant department manager has an average salary of $43,686, which is higher than the $40,759 average annual salary of an assistant store manager.
The top three skills for an assistant store manager include store management, payroll and loss prevention. The most important skills for an assistant department manager are standard operating procedure, customer service, and work ethic.
| Assistant Store Manager | Assistant Department Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $40,759 | $43,686 |
| Hourly rate | $19.60 | $21.00 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 428,619 | 199,757 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Assistant store managers are considered second-in-command to store managers. They help oversee operations and take over when the manager is unavailable. Assistant store managers may be assigned to focus on certain aspects of store operations such as marketing, finance, human resources, or quality control. They should be familiar with running the store and with all the other tasks needed to be done. Assistant store managers should have decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, and business acumen. They should also be able to do the work usually done on the operations floor in case of a lack of manpower.
An assistant department manager is responsible for supporting the assigned department operations under the supervision of the head department manager. Assistant department managers oversee the performance of the staff, ensuring the highest productivity with quality services. They also assist in budget allocation, coordinating with the senior management for expenses reports, and suggest cost reduction strategies. An assistant department manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially on coordinating with business partners for project deliverables and maximize the staff's potential by arranging department training and programs.
Assistant store managers and assistant department managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Store Manager | Assistant Department Manager | |
| Average salary | $40,759 | $43,686 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $51,000 | Between $26,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | - |
| Best paying company | US Foods | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an assistant store manager and an assistant department manager in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Store Manager | Assistant Department Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 58% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between assistant store managers' and assistant department managers' demographics:
| Assistant Store Manager | Assistant Department Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 9% |