Department manager vs department supervisor

The differences between department managers and department supervisors 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 manager and a department supervisor. Additionally, a department manager has an average salary of $67,160, which is higher than the $47,300 average annual salary of a department supervisor.

The top three skills for a department manager include inventory management, sales promotions and cleanliness. The most important skills for a department supervisor are store management, product knowledge, and plumbing.

Department manager vs department supervisor overview

	Department Manager	Department Supervisor
Yearly salary	$67,160	$47,300
Hourly rate	$32.29	$22.74
Growth rate	5%	6%
Number of jobs	330,327	216,893
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a department manager do?

Department managers oversee the operations of the department they are assigned to. They manage all aspects of the operation, including finance, sales, quality control, and human resources. They set department goals and the steps the team needs to take to ensure that the goals are met. Department managers are also in charge of training team members so that these team members will be able to work together harmoniously. They should also be able to keep the team's goal in sight and adjust their strategy as needed.

What does a department supervisor do?

A department supervisor's role is to oversee and ensure a business operation's efficiency in a particular area. Acting as a leader, it is their responsibility to develop strategies on meeting goals within a timeline and ensure that the workforce is functioning effectively in a harmonious environment. Furthermore, a department supervisor is in charge of setting goals such as budget and results, evaluating employees' performances and activities, training new members of the workforce, handling and resolving issues, and enforcing the company's policies and regulations.

Department manager vs department supervisor salary

Department managers and department supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Department Manager	Department Supervisor
Average salary	$67,160	$47,300
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $115,000	Between $33,000 And $66,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Lakewood, NJ
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	Ralph Lauren	Club
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Finance

Differences between department manager and department supervisor education

There are a few differences between a department manager and a department supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Department Manager	Department Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Department manager vs department supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between department managers' and department supervisors' demographics:

	Department Manager	Department Supervisor
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%	Male, 57.9% Female, 42.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 6.8% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between department manager and department supervisor duties and responsibilities

Department manager example responsibilities.

Participate in company's ISO certification program, successfully achieving ISO [] and AS9100 certification.
Manage and delegate over lumber-building materials department including millwork department.
Manage electronics, wireless connection center, layaway and online order/pickup departments.
Develop schedules; manage payroll; multitask extensively to ensure competing requirements are complete.
Monitor and maximize sales and payroll by identifying sales opportunities and managing controllable expenses.
Manage geotechnical aspects of an EIR/EIS for a coastal development in an environmentally sensitive lagoon.

Department supervisor example responsibilities.

Achieve a high degree of customer relations, in-stock, and store appearance.
Manage geotechnical aspects of an EIR/EIS for a coastal development in an environmentally sensitive lagoon.
Maintain an ISO certify department.
Home depot sales associate , 2/2012 to7/1012
Obtain good working knowledge of EDI.
Assist customers, complete callbacks and diamond counts

Department manager vs department supervisor skills

Common department manager skills

Inventory Management, 38%
Sales Promotions, 17%
Cleanliness, 13%
Customer Service, 8%
Sales Floor, 3%
Product Knowledge, 2%

Common department supervisor skills

Store Management, 21%
Product Knowledge, 19%
Plumbing, 18%
Math, 8%
Customer Satisfaction, 6%
Store Sales, 6%

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Department Manager vs Department Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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