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What is a department supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A supervisor is an individual who oversees workplace operations. What separates a supervisor from a manager is that the supervisor does not have hiring and firing authority nor do they have budget authority. They are mainly responsible for the employees' work and actions.

Department Supervisors facilitate business operations in a particular area. Their day-to-day duties include training employees, tracking work performance, developing budget reports, and troubleshooting issues. Besides that, a department supervisor also assists managers in improving business processes and communicating corporate policies to employees.

Employers require department supervisors to have a relevant bachelor's degree in specialized industries such as engineering, but require a minimum of a high school diploma and a focus more on work experience, as in the case of retail sales. They earn, on average, $26 per hour and can lead to bigger roles, such as manager and director of operations.

ScoreDepartment SupervisorUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $47,300

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 6.80%

Black or African American 8.57%

Hispanic or Latino 18.17%

Unknown 4.65%

White 61.16%

Gender

female 42.10%

male 57.90%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Department supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a department supervisor

  1. Explore department supervisor education requirements

    Most common department supervisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    45.1 %

    Associate

    23.7 %

    High School Diploma

    19.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific department supervisor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Store Management20.89%
    Product Knowledge19.46%
    Plumbing17.54%
    Math7.76%
    Customer Satisfaction6.48%
  3. Complete relevant department supervisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New department supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a department supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real department supervisor resumes.
  4. Gain additional department supervisor certifications

    Department supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific department supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for department supervisors include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research department supervisor duties and 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
  6. Prepare your department supervisor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your department supervisor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a department supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable department supervisor resume templates

    Build a professional department supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your department supervisor resume.
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  7. Apply for department supervisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a department supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first department supervisor job

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Average department supervisor salary

The average department supervisor salary in the United States is $47,300 per year or $23 per hour. Department supervisor salaries range between $33,000 and $66,000 per year.

Average department supervisor salary
$47,300 Yearly
$22.74 hourly

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How do department supervisors rate their job?

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Department supervisor reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

I have 10years experience in Dubai for upholstery supervisor

Cons

I do not like whout working in the company


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Improving the sales and providing high quality customer service

Cons

Not enough support from manager


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.