Cosmetic counter manager vs key holder

The differences between cosmetic counter managers and key holders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a cosmetic counter manager and a key holder. Additionally, a cosmetic counter manager has an average salary of $39,207, which is higher than the $31,779 average annual salary of a key holder.

The top three skills for a cosmetic counter manager include product knowledge, make-up and customer service. The most important skills for a key holder are sales floor, product knowledge, and visual standards.

Cosmetic counter manager vs key holder overview

	Cosmetic Counter Manager	Key Holder
Yearly salary	$39,207	$31,779
Hourly rate	$18.85	$15.28
Growth rate	-	-6%
Number of jobs	18,992	431,956
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	High School Diploma, 35%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a cosmetic counter manager do?

A cosmetic counter manager is responsible for overseeing a cosmetic counter's daily operations, ensuring optimal service, and ensuring client satisfaction. They set priorities and objectives, recruit and train staff, develop strategies to improve productivity, monitor operations, and maintain a high level of productivity and service. They may also participate in greeting customers and assisting them as needed. A cosmetic counter manager empowers staff to reach the daily sales targets.

What does a key holder do?

A keyholder is responsible for ensuring the store's daily security before and after the operation. Keyholders' duties include assisting with administrative tasks, handling customers' inquiries, managing and escalating customers' complaints, monitoring the alarm system, keeping track of the deliveries, supporting staff training, cooperating in company's events, and recommending operational strategies to meet business goals and objectives. A keyholder must have excellent customer service and time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially during high customer volume.

Cosmetic counter manager vs key holder salary

Cosmetic counter managers and key holders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cosmetic Counter Manager	Key Holder
Average salary	$39,207	$31,779
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $50,000	Between $25,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	Wisconsin
Best paying company	-	Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between cosmetic counter manager and key holder education

There are a few differences between a cosmetic counter manager and a key holder in terms of educational background:

	Cosmetic Counter Manager	Key Holder
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	High School Diploma, 35%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Cosmetic counter manager vs key holder demographics

Here are the differences between cosmetic counter managers' and key holders' demographics:

	Cosmetic Counter Manager	Key Holder
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1%	Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between cosmetic counter manager and key holder duties and responsibilities

Cosmetic counter manager example responsibilities.

Manage accounting functions on a daily basis, AR/AP, and cash handling using QuickBooks.
Manage the Clarins counter, charge with a prime objective of developing brand awareness of the French base cosmetics line.
Manage accounts payable/receivable, administering an expansive QuickBooks database.
Educate coworkers and customers about Chanel's makeup, skincare, and fragrance lines.
Operate AS400 and JDE shipping systems efficiently and accurately.
Ensure proper SIMS on-hand qualitiess of all merchandise in cosmetic dept.

Key holder example responsibilities.

Achieve and exceed store and company sales and KPI goals.
Manage monetary transactions and POS operations.
Used upselling techniques daily when selling gaming systems and accessories.
Maintain operational duties in the manager's absence including scheduling and review of KPI reports.
Used social networking, such as Facebook, to keep customers update on new arrivals and merchandise.
Maintain a cleanly environment for customers, employees, and other animals, especially after any pet messes.

Cosmetic counter manager vs key holder skills

Common cosmetic counter manager skills

Product Knowledge, 34%
Make-Up, 19%
Customer Service, 11%
Customer Relationships, 8%
Customer Preferences, 4%
POS, 4%

Common key holder skills

Sales Floor, 18%
Product Knowledge, 11%
Visual Standards, 9%
Bank Deposits, 7%
Loss Prevention, 7%
Store Management, 6%

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Cosmetic Counter Manager
Cosmetic Counter Manager vs Key Holder

Updated January 8, 2025

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