Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between associate category managers and department sales managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an associate category manager, becoming a department sales manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an associate category manager has an average salary of $76,432, which is higher than the $57,136 average annual salary of a department sales manager.
The top three skills for an associate category manager include data analysis, category strategies and category performance. The most important skills for a department sales manager are sales floor, strong customer service, and store operations.
| Associate Category Manager | Department Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $76,432 | $57,136 |
| Hourly rate | $36.75 | $27.47 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 42,374 | 297,625 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 8 |
An associate category manager is responsible for conducting data and statistical analysis from the current market trends to identify opportunities and products that would generate more revenue resources and increase the store's profitability. Associate category managers develop cost-efficient techniques by building a strong business relationship with trusted suppliers and vendors. They also monitor the store's display category according to customers' demands and guide the staff in placing products in the appropriate sections. An associate category manager must have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially in responding to customers' inquiries and concerns and resolving complaints efficiently.
The department sales manager is a person in charge of working with a company's marketing, advertising, and sales department. The service's sales manager ensures that the company receives better marketing. This person works alongside the sales team to determine the right strategy to sustain a profit in the company's products or services. The service sales manager also monitors and evaluates product performance and provides suggestions on how the product or service can be improved and improved.
Associate category managers and department sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Category Manager | Department Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $76,432 | $57,136 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $99,000 | Between $41,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an associate category manager and a department sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Associate Category Manager | Department Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 82% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between associate category managers' and department sales managers' demographics:
| Associate Category Manager | Department Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 7% |