How to hire a dept manager

How to hire a dept manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step dept manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a dept manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new dept manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a dept manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your dept manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a dept manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A dept manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, dept managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of dept manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Dept Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Dept Manager		$13-41
   Part-Time Key Manager	A part-time key manager is a senior manager employed to work part-time. Key managers are hired for their expertise and experience for business development and growth to increase revenues, production, and profits... Show more	$22-54
   Co-Manager	A co-manager's role is to supervise business operations and perform administrative tasks as support to a manager. One of the primary functions of a co-manager is to delegate tasks of team members and arrange schedules... Show more	$16-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Sales Floor
   • Pallet Jack
   • Inventory Control
   • Product Knowledge
   • Payroll
   • Jewelry
   • Customer Complaints
   • Cycle Counts
   • Loss Prevention
   • POS
   • Sales Associates
   • Inventory Management
   • ISO

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage application process and hiring of employees for seasonal photography business.
   • Implement inventory management system to effectively manage on-hands, assist with correct replenishment and maintain an acceptable level of over-stock.
   • Experience with photography including DSLR formats and small to large format film processes.
   • Process merchandise information through store computer system, POS register system and complete all require paperwork.
   • Perform fast and efficient computerize cash register/credit card POS operations, cash accountability, and drive control.
   • Assist in several other departments throughout store, such as electronics, jewelry, automotive, apparel and sporting goods.

   More dept manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your dept manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A dept manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, dept managers' average salary in montana is 56% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level dept managers 68% less than senior-level dept managers.
   • Certifications. A dept manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a dept manager's salary.

   Average dept manager salary

   $50,222yearly

   $24.15 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level dept manager salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average dept manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$82,897	$40
   2	California	$75,985	$37
   3	Texas	$66,684	$32
   4	Pennsylvania	$58,339	$28
   5	Ohio	$57,496	$28
   6	Colorado	$57,301	$28
   7	Alabama	$56,550	$27
   8	Arizona	$55,302	$27
   9	Michigan	$54,776	$26
   10	Florida	$53,138	$26
   11	Illinois	$52,953	$25
   12	North Carolina	$51,509	$25
   13	Missouri	$48,085	$23
   14	Georgia	$47,724	$23
   15	Tennessee	$47,562	$23
   16	Oregon	$47,485	$23
   17	Washington	$46,985	$23
   18	North Dakota	$46,855	$23
   19	Montana	$41,652	$20

   Average dept manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UPMC	$95,814	$46.06
   2	University of California-Berkeley	$92,773	$44.60
   3	DreamWorks Animation	$57,439	$27.61
   4	Greenbox Loans	$55,648	$26.75
   5	LiDestri Food and Drink	$55,068	$26.48
   6	The Clorox Company	$54,293	$26.10	3
   7	Save Mart Supermarkets	$47,971	$23.06	2
   8	PLUM	$47,819	$22.99	21
   9	Coborn's	$46,929	$22.56	24
   10	SiteOne Landscape Supply	$44,993	$21.63	16
   11	Randstad North America, Inc.	$44,262	$21.28
   12	Family Tree Nursery	$44,016	$21.16
   13	Blanchard Machinery	$43,993	$21.15
   14	Town & Country Foods	$43,752	$21.03
   15	AHMC Healthcare	$42,665	$20.51
   16	C&S Wholesale Grocers	$42,296	$20.33	7
   17	City of Dallas Employees	$40,829	$19.63
   18	Albertsons	$39,030	$18.76	122
   19	Petco Holdings, Inc.	$37,338	$17.95	72
   20	Dollar General	$37,233	$17.90	9,797

4. Writing a dept manager job description

   A dept manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a dept manager job description:

   Dept manager job description example

   SiteOne associates are customer obsessed, always safe, continuously improving, and having fun! Whether you are experienced in the green industry, a professional looking for a career change, or a new graduate or veteran transitioning into the workforce, we are confident you will find opportunity and reward with SiteOne.
   
   SiteOne Landscape Supply is the largest and only national wholesale distributor of landscaping products in the United States and Canada. With over 700 branches across the U.S. and Canada, we offer a comprehensive selection of products including: irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products, nursery goods, hardscapes, landscape lighting, drainage and erosion control products, tools, and other landscaping accessories and supplies.
   
   Our Bilingual Department Managers take the lead as the Lawn Care and Landscape Maintenance expert in the branch, working closely with customers on any or all needs within the department to ensure excellence.
   What you'll do:
   Assist Branch Manager with the sales and operations planning process, statistical demand forecasting, and integration of supply and demand plans. Understand and execute the principals of inventory management, target customer mix and sales. Create a positive environment for employees which encourages teamwork in alignment with SiteOne DNA. Train and develop agronomic staff to be knowledgeable of the product line and customer needs to support achievement of departmental sales goals. Support other branch departments and customers as needed.
   Skills We Are Seeking
   
   1-3 years' experience in the green industry and an understanding of landscape, nursery, or irrigation products preferred Lawn Care, Landscape Maintenance, or Agronomic experience strongly preferred. This may include, but is not limited to: golf course maintenance; IPM; fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, and specialty chemical applications, soil amendment, or nutrient application. Bilingual Proficiency - candidates who are conversational in English/Spanish are preferred. Excellent customer service and management skills Experience with sales and operations planning and forecasting Understanding of accounting fundamentals; including debits, credits, accounts receivable, accounts payable and budgets. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds High school diploma or equivalent
   Perks:
   Weekly Paychecks with DailyPay available! Competitive Compensation Medical, Dental and Vision plans Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays 401k with company match Tuition Reimbursement Lucrative Associate Referral Program Company Apparel and Work Boot Vouchers Opportunity for Advancement Paid Training and Business Certifications Available Free Counseling Services/Employee Assistance Program Life Insurance and Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance Product Discounts Most Branches never work Sundays!
   
   THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF INDIVIDUALS PERFORMING THE JOB. THE QUALIFICATIONS DETAILED IN THIS JOB DESCRIPTION ARE NOT CONSIDERED THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE JOB, BUT RATHER AS GUIDELINES. THEY MAY VARY FROM POSITION TO POSITION.
   
   *AO

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right dept manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with dept managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit dept managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your dept manager job on Zippia to find and recruit dept manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with dept manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new dept manager

   Once you've selected the best dept manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new dept manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a dept manager?