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Department lead vs sales leader

The differences between department leads and sales leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a department lead and a sales leader. Additionally, a sales leader has an average salary of $68,699, which is higher than the $42,113 average annual salary of a department lead.

The top three skills for a department lead include cleanliness, safety procedures and customer service. The most important skills for a sales leader are product knowledge, customer service, and sales floor.

Department lead vs sales leader overview

Department LeadSales Leader
Yearly salary$42,113$68,699
Hourly rate$20.25$33.03
Growth rate-5%
Number of jobs204,534458,558
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4343
Years of experience66

What does a department lead do?

A department lead's responsibilities will vary in an organization or company. It will, most of the time, revolve around overseeing the progress of work in a particular area and evaluating department staff's performance. Other responsibilities include setting goals and implementing the company's policies and guidelines. They may also carry out administrative tasks such as approving and signing paperwork, producing reports and presentations, and crafting guidelines and strategies to help reach goals. Furthermore, as a department head, it is important to encourage staff and shape them into valuable company members.

What does a sales leader do?

A Sales Leader's responsibility is more than just leading. Most of the tasks involve monitoring the progress of sales, creating strategies to attain financial gains, managing the workforce, and as well as suggesting and enforcing particular options that would be beneficial for the sales and the company. All while making sure that all actions adhere to the policies and standards of the company. Above all, a Sale's Leader must have the passion and determination to drive a team towards the company's goal.

Department lead vs sales leader salary

Department leads and sales leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Department LeadSales Leader
Average salary$42,113$68,699
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $79,000Between $33,000 And $139,000
Highest paying CityNew Haven, CTSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyTufts Medical CenterZS
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between department lead and sales leader education

There are a few differences between a department lead and a sales leader in terms of educational background:

Department LeadSales Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiSUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Department lead vs sales leader demographics

Here are the differences between department leads' and sales leaders' demographics:

Department LeadSales Leader
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 54.7% Female, 45.3%Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between department lead and sales leader duties and responsibilities

Department lead example responsibilities.

  • Implement inventory management system to effectively manage on-hands, assist with correct replenishment and maintain an acceptable level of over-stock.
  • Operate POS system, and receive payment by cash, check, credit cards, vouchers, or automatic debit.
  • Oversee the completion of all POS transactions, maintain cash office records and assistant in training of all new cashiers.
  • Conduct geotechnical and geological investigations and mineral resource evaluations for commercial, industrial and governmental clients using the above-mentioned drilling techniques.
  • Develop unique SQL, cloudbase, and ADHOC telephony query techniques resulting in the identification of previously undiscovered nefarious networks.

Sales leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage to sales KPI's (including sales and expense budget numbers), assuring efficient and effective use of resources.
  • Manage all lead activity for a specific vertical sales territory, identifying opportunities and engaging appropriate field sales representatives.
  • Provide excellent customer service, operate cash register, offer product and pet knowledge.
  • Charge with training new associates for visual updates, stock processing, client experience, product knowledge, and POS.
  • Assist with payroll and timekeeping duties.
  • Interact with kids while the parents are shopping.
  • Show more

Department lead vs sales leader skills

Common department lead skills
  • Cleanliness, 12%
  • Safety Procedures, 11%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Store Management, 8%
  • Inventory Management, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 6%
Common sales leader skills
  • Product Knowledge, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Sales Floor, 9%
  • Store Management, 6%
  • Loss Prevention, 6%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%