Counter manager vs dept manager

The differences between counter managers and dept managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a counter manager and a dept manager. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $42,396 average annual salary of a counter manager.

The top three skills for a counter manager include cleanliness, store management and fragrance. The most important skills for a dept manager are customer service, sales floor, and pallet jack.

Counter manager vs dept manager overview

	Counter Manager	Dept Manager
Yearly salary	$42,396	$50,222
Hourly rate	$20.38	$24.15
Growth rate	-	6%
Number of jobs	32,169	221,313
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a counter manager do?

A counter manager is a person who leads a team of employees in the retail departments of bakeries, cosmetics, and delis. Counter managers take both administrative and leadership responsibilities. They support managers in procedure enforcement, customer relations, and staff communication. It is their job to oversee service management and keep track of the inventory. Among other duties, they tend to include employee recruitment and training, goal setup, conflict resolution, corporate finance, and budgeting.

What does a dept manager do?

A department manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the assigned department, ensuring the maximum productivity and optimal performance of the staff. Department managers also coordinate with business partners, clients, and customers, as well as identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and increase profitability. They handle department budgets and maintain the proper allocation of resources to support project management and deliverables. A department manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, managing the staff's needs, and providing excellent support.

Counter manager vs dept manager salary

Counter managers and dept managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Counter Manager	Dept Manager
Average salary	$42,396	$50,222
Salary range	Between $29,000 And $61,000	Between $28,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	-	Bay Shore, NY
Highest paying state	-	Rhode Island
Best paying company	-	UPMC
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between counter manager and dept manager education

There are a few differences between a counter manager and a dept manager in terms of educational background:

	Counter Manager	Dept Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Counter manager vs dept manager demographics

Here are the differences between counter managers' and dept managers' demographics:

	Counter Manager	Dept Manager
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 15.1% Female, 84.9%	Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between counter manager and dept manager duties and responsibilities

Counter manager example responsibilities.

Set and achieve Burberry and Nordstrom personal sales goals while supporting the goals of the team.
Manage with integrity, honesty and knowledge that promote the culture, values and mission of Nordstrom.
Manage accounts payable/receivable, administering an expansive QuickBooks database.
Assist all customers with a high level of customer service to enhance their experience using update technology and POS systems.
Display strong organizational leadership skills within fragrance department.
Execute POS system operations including management of personal client registry.

Dept manager example responsibilities.

Manage application process and hiring of employees for seasonal photography business.
Implement inventory management system to effectively manage on-hands, assist with correct replenishment and maintain an acceptable level of over-stock.
Experience with photography including DSLR formats and small to large format film processes.
Process merchandise information through store computer system, POS register system and complete all require paperwork.
Perform fast and efficient computerize cash register/credit card POS operations, cash accountability, and drive control.
Assist in several other departments throughout store, such as electronics, jewelry, automotive, apparel and sporting goods.

Counter manager vs dept manager skills

Common counter manager skills

Cleanliness, 16%
Store Management, 15%
Fragrance, 14%
Business Results, 9%
Customer Service, 7%
Merchandise Transfers, 6%

Common dept manager skills

Customer Service, 33%
Sales Floor, 9%
Pallet Jack, 9%
Inventory Control, 6%
Product Knowledge, 6%
Payroll, 4%

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Counter Manager
Counter Manager vs Dept Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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