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Key holder vs supervisor

The differences between key holders and supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a key holder, becoming a supervisor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a supervisor has an average salary of $53,902, which is higher than the $31,779 average annual salary of a key holder.

The top three skills for a key holder include sales floor, product knowledge and visual standards. The most important skills for a supervisor are customer service, safety procedures, and sales floor.

Key holder vs supervisor overview

Key HolderSupervisor
Yearly salary$31,779$53,902
Hourly rate$15.28$25.91
Growth rate-6%-
Number of jobs431,956224,920
Job satisfaction45
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4346
Years of experience62

What does a key holder do?

A keyholder is responsible for ensuring the store's daily security before and after the operation. Keyholders' duties include assisting with administrative tasks, handling customers' inquiries, managing and escalating customers' complaints, monitoring the alarm system, keeping track of the deliveries, supporting staff training, cooperating in company's events, and recommending operational strategies to meet business goals and objectives. A keyholder must have excellent customer service and time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially during high customer volume.

What does a supervisor do?

Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the daily functions of employees in a specific team, department, or even a work shift. They create work schedules, organize work processes and workflows, train new hires, provide necessary reports related to the team function and the employees, monitor and evaluate employee performance, and ensure that goals of the specific team or department are met. When needed, supervisors also provide guidance to employees in terms of their career or even personal challenges. They also help in fostering harmonious work relationships by resolving interpersonal conflicts at work. To be successful in their role, they must have leadership skills, time management skills, decision-making capabilities, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.

Key holder vs supervisor salary

Key holders and supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Key HolderSupervisor
Average salary$31,779$53,902
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $31,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateWisconsinAlaska
Best paying companyConnecticut Children's Medical CenterReed Smith
Best paying industryManufacturingHealth Care

Differences between key holder and supervisor education

There are a few differences between a key holder and a supervisor in terms of educational background:

Key HolderSupervisor
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiStanford University

Key holder vs supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between key holders' and supervisors' demographics:

Key HolderSupervisor
Average age4346
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%6%

Differences between key holder and supervisor duties and responsibilities

Key holder example responsibilities.

  • Achieve and exceed store and company sales and KPI goals.
  • Manage monetary transactions and POS operations.
  • Used upselling techniques daily when selling gaming systems and accessories.
  • Maintain operational duties in the manager's absence including scheduling and review of KPI reports.
  • Used social networking, such as Facebook, to keep customers update on new arrivals and merchandise.
  • Maintain a cleanly environment for customers, employees, and other animals, especially after any pet messes.
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Supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Lead continuous process improvement and six sigma teams to meet ISO 9001 and QS 9000 standards.
  • Manage and implement merchandising strategy for POS marketing and display inventory.
  • Lead comprehensive training for each new volunteer or court-mandate worker regarding OSHA regulations and warehouse procedure.
  • Organize care with 6 CNAs.
  • Coordinate lifeguard duty schedule for all pools.
  • Maintain cleanliness throughout kitchen, coolers, and freezer areas.
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Key holder vs supervisor skills

Common key holder skills
  • Sales Floor, 18%
  • Product Knowledge, 11%
  • Visual Standards, 9%
  • Bank Deposits, 7%
  • Loss Prevention, 7%
  • Store Management, 6%
Common supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Sales Floor, 9%
  • POS, 9%
  • Direct Supervision, 9%
  • Payroll, 5%