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The differences between dept managers and assistant store 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 dept manager and an assistant store manager. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $40,759 average annual salary of an assistant store manager.
The top three skills for a dept manager include customer service, sales floor and pallet jack. The most important skills for an assistant store manager are store management, payroll, and loss prevention.
| Dept Manager | Assistant Store Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $50,222 | $40,759 |
| Hourly rate | $24.15 | $19.60 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 221,313 | 428,619 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Assistant store managers are considered second-in-command to store managers. They help oversee operations and take over when the manager is unavailable. Assistant store managers may be assigned to focus on certain aspects of store operations such as marketing, finance, human resources, or quality control. They should be familiar with running the store and with all the other tasks needed to be done. Assistant store managers should have decision-making skills, interpersonal skills, and business acumen. They should also be able to do the work usually done on the operations floor in case of a lack of manpower.
Dept managers and assistant store managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dept Manager | Assistant Store Manager | |
| Average salary | $50,222 | $40,759 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $87,000 | Between $32,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bay Shore, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | UPMC | US Foods |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a dept manager and an assistant store manager in terms of educational background:
| Dept Manager | Assistant Store Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between dept managers' and assistant store managers' demographics:
| Dept Manager | Assistant Store Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5% | Male, 49.2% Female, 50.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |