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What is a district manager & store manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Steve Wages Ph.D.,
Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.
introduction image

District managers/store managers work in retail and manage a number of stores simultaneously that are located within their assigned geographical area. They are responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations in their stores. They monitor inventory and make sure products are always on stock, hire and train the people on their sales team, and make sure sales in their locations meet expected monthly quotas.

It will be your job to research your competition and know every thought and desire of your targeted customer group. You will come up with sales strategies and monitor sales performance in the stores under your watch. You will analyze metrics and create reports to present to higher-level management.

A degree in sales or marketing might be a prerequisite for getting hired for this position. Another typical way of getting the job, though, is rising to the position through years of experience as a sales representative and sales team leader or floor manager. If you have excellent communication skills, know how to organize your workload, and have that knack for sales, you can make $45,921 on average per year.

What general advice would you give to a district manager & store manager?

Steve Wages Ph.D.Steve Wages Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director, Cloverdale Center for Youth and Family, Faulkner University

As soon as possible, establish a formal mentoring relationship with someone who is seasoned in pastoral counseling. Generally, the research demonstrates that the performance of employees with mentors is of a higher quality, they advance in their responsibilities and careers faster, and they avoid common mistakes exhibited by other employees. Establish short-term goals (6 months) for your position and a plan for overcoming obstacles; then ask your mentor to hold you accountable for implementing your plan. As part of your self-care. you also need to be proactive in developing a few close friendships, perhaps including colleagues, who can be a source of emotional support and encouragement to you personally.

You should be confident in your training while also being realistic and transparent about your limitations. There is still a lot that you do not know and much you will learn with experience. Until then, be willing to say "I don't know" when faced with problems you have not addressed before. Then commit to learning more about the issue through personal study and/or consulting with a more experienced colleague or mentor. In some cases, you may need to invite a more experienced counselor to meet with a client or where appropriate refer them to someone else.

You need to equip yourself to address structural changes to the delivery of pastoral care and counseling as a consequence of the pandemic. You will need to adapt to providing pastoral counseling virtually perhaps via Zoom sessions. Give thought as to how the virtual context impacts the counseling process and the spiritual resources you employ. For example, if you are comfortable praying with a client in your office, will you be equally inclined to pray with them online or over a phone. In light of the pandemic, Dr. Chuck Lawless noted, "Good pastoral care has required being more proactive than reactive." Ordinarily, pastoral counselors are reactive in that they respond to needs when they hear about them or when they are
ScoreDistrict Manager & Store ManagerUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,438

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.33%

Black or African American 6.14%

Hispanic or Latino 15.06%

Unknown 4.33%

White 67.66%

Gender

female 38.81%

male 61.19%

Age - 44
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 - 44
Stress level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

District manager & store manager career paths

Key steps to become a district manager & store manager

  1. Explore district manager & store manager education requirements

    Most common district manager & store manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.1 %

    Associate

    22.3 %

    High School Diploma

    13.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific district manager & store manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service13.78%
    Payroll11.07%
    Store Operations10.41%
    Loss Prevention8.31%
    Customer Satisfaction5.64%
  3. Complete relevant district manager & store manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New district manager & store managers 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 district manager & store manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real district manager & store manager resumes.
  4. Research district manager & store manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage schedule to ensure proper coverage in all locations while maintaining owner's payroll guidelines for maximum profitability.
    • Develop and implement strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
    • Operate and maintain espresso bar, POS system, and store equipment.
    • Greet customers by taking orders, and following through with the transaction on the POS system.
  5. Apply for district manager & store manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a district manager & store manager 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 district manager & store manager job

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Average district manager & store manager salary

The average district manager & store manager salary in the United States is $37,438 per year or $18 per hour. District manager & store manager salaries range between $28,000 and $49,000 per year.

Average district manager & store manager salary
$37,438 Yearly
$18.00 hourly

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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.

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