Merchandising supervisor vs dept manager

The differences between merchandising supervisors and dept 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 merchandising supervisor and a dept manager. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $34,175 average annual salary of a merchandising supervisor.

The top three skills for a merchandising supervisor include customer service, HR and drive sales. The most important skills for a dept manager are customer service, sales floor, and pallet jack.

Merchandising supervisor vs dept manager overview

	Merchandising Supervisor	Dept Manager
Yearly salary	$34,175	$50,222
Hourly rate	$16.43	$24.15
Growth rate	10%	6%
Number of jobs	179,796	221,313
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a merchandising supervisor do?

Merchandising supervisors are professionals who create a pleasing shopping environment to entice customers to purchase additional products and gain maximum profit. These supervisors are required to identify trends and make sales predictions based on product popularity, past sales data, and information gained by attending product shows. They are required to make attractive point-of-sales displays so that the customers can easily locate the merchandise. Merchandising supervisors must also handle inventory levels by keeping track and submitting order requests to the purchasing department.

What does a dept manager do?

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.

Merchandising supervisor vs dept manager salary

Merchandising supervisors and dept managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Merchandising Supervisor	Dept Manager
Average salary	$34,175	$50,222
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $41,000	Between $28,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	-	Bay Shore, NY
Highest paying state	-	Rhode Island
Best paying company	-	UPMC
Best paying industry	-	Retail

Differences between merchandising supervisor and dept manager education

There are a few differences between a merchandising supervisor and a dept manager in terms of educational background:

	Merchandising Supervisor	Dept Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Merchandising supervisor vs dept manager demographics

Here are the differences between merchandising supervisors' and dept managers' demographics:

	Merchandising Supervisor	Dept Manager
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 43.7% Female, 56.3%	Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.7% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between merchandising supervisor and dept manager duties and responsibilities

Merchandising supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage a group of supervisors and hold weekly SWAS meetings.
Assist store leadership in effectively leading, managing and developing store and/or department operations and associates to maximize sales and profitability.
Co-Manage the firearms and hunting departments with hardlines management team.
Handle SWAS meetings for all merchandise specializing in top merchandise.
Supervise merchandising and associate relations for the hardlines area of the store.
Lead IMS team ensuring trucks are unloaded and perpetual inventory are accurate.

Dept manager example 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.

Merchandising supervisor vs dept manager skills

Common merchandising supervisor skills

Customer Service, 24%
HR, 20%
Drive Sales, 18%
Store Operations, 15%
Sales Floor, 5%
Store Management, 2%

Common dept manager skills

Customer Service, 33%
Sales Floor, 9%
Pallet Jack, 9%
Inventory Control, 6%
Product Knowledge, 6%
Payroll, 4%

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Merchandising Supervisor
Merchandising Supervisor vs Dept Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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