Department manager vs zone manager

The differences between department managers and zone 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 department manager and a zone manager. Additionally, a department manager has an average salary of $67,160, which is higher than the $50,974 average annual salary of a zone manager.

The top three skills for a department manager include inventory management, sales promotions and cleanliness. The most important skills for a zone manager are work ethic, loss prevention, and inventory control.

Department manager vs zone manager overview

	Department Manager	Zone Manager
Yearly salary	$67,160	$50,974
Hourly rate	$32.29	$24.51
Growth rate	5%	6%
Number of jobs	330,327	298,152
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	43	44
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 zone manager do?

The duties of a zone manager depend on their line of work or industry of employment. In general, they are in charge of overseeing the service and product distribution operations of a company. They typically coordinate with regional managers, establish guidelines and product roadmaps, gather and analyze data from their area of assignment, perform research and analysis, conduct sales assessments, and implement solutions to optimize operations. Moreover, a zone manager must lead and encourage staff to reach goals, all while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.

Department manager vs zone manager salary

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

	Department Manager	Zone Manager
Average salary	$67,160	$50,974
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $115,000	Between $34,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Ralph Lauren	Ford Motor
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Automotive

Differences between department manager and zone manager education

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

	Department Manager	Zone Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 46%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	University of Pennsylvania

Department manager vs zone manager demographics

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

	Department Manager	Zone Manager
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%	Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1%
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, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	10%

Differences between department manager and zone manager 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.

Zone manager example responsibilities.

Level one the managed distribution side that provides DSD to independent pet stores and veterinary clinics.
Market growth accomplish by executing fundamental basics in store and leveraging the strength of the DSD model.
Establish productive working relationships with state and federal regulatory agencies, reorganize and improve operation, and achieve OSHA compliance.
Spearhead of new training program after recognizing inadequate materials on POS systems.
Supervise apparel area including jewelry and shoe departments in preparation to becoming an assistant manager.
Used company policies and procedures, as well as incorporating creativity to merchandise apparel departments.

Department manager vs zone manager skills

Common department manager skills

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

Common zone manager skills

Work Ethic, 18%
Loss Prevention, 12%
Inventory Control, 8%
Merchandise Displays, 7%
Sales Floor, 5%
Customer Complaints, 4%

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Department Manager
Department Manager vs Zone Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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