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Job outlook for retail business managers in the United States
Are retail business manager jobs in demand?
Retail business manager job and salary trends over time
Retail business manager jobs over time
Retail business manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 455 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 358 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 366 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 349 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 337 | 0.00% |
Average retail business manager salary over time
Retail business manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,435 | $38.67 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $78,207 | $37.60 | --0.1% |
| 2024 | $78,324 | $37.66 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $77,920 | $37.46 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $77,067 | $37.05 | +1.6% |
Retail business manager jobs by state
Most common states for retail business managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 609 | 88% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 965 | 72% |
| 3 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 374 | 65% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 400 | 64% |
| 5 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,701 | 55% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 519 | 54% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,936 | 53% |
| 8 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 2,560 | 53% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,634 | 52% |
| 10 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 1,567 | 52% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 551 | 52% |
| 12 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 3,343 | 50% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 5,064 | 49% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,352 | 49% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 2,849 | 49% |
| 16 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 4,053 | 48% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 2,692 | 48% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 642 | 48% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 506 | 48% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 363 | 48% |
Most common cities for retail business managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monrovia | 1 | 3% | $97,180 |
| 2 | La Mirada | 1 | 2% | $95,986 |
| 3 | Lenexa | 1 | 2% | $54,517 |
| 4 | Frisco | 1 | 1% | $62,021 |
| 5 | Menifee | 1 | 1% | $93,944 |
| 6 | Rancho Cucamonga | 1 | 1% | $96,362 |
| 7 | Glendale | 1 | 0% | $71,583 |
| 8 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $63,357 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City | 1 | 0% | $50,172 |
Retail Business Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of retail business manager experts
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of Puget Sound
Catawba College
Pennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny
Landmark College
University of West Georgia
Tiffin University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Montgomery College
Pepperdine University, Seaver College
Sam Houston State University
Houston Baptist University
Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College - City University of New York
Indiana University Bloomington
Farmingdale State College
SUNY Potsdam
The City College of New York
Belmont University
What Retail Business Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kim Roberts: Business professionals lead organizations by focused efforts that revolve around products/services, processes, and people. Business professionals work to ensure the firm's products and/or services meet customer expectations, with an eye toward an ever-changing market. They manage processes that produce or support the firm's products. This requires the ability to analyze data to make informed decisions, to drive continuous improvement, and to solve problems through critical thinking. Successful business professionals must also create climates that promote teamwork and foster collaboration.
What will help Retail Business Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kim Roberts: Now is a good time to enter business professions because of the projected growth of employment opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Overall employment in business and financial occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032." Furthermore, the growth of online learning and online degrees means a full-time job and family commitments are not roadblocks to earning a business degree.
What Retail Business Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
Andreas Udbye Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorUniversity Of Puget Sound
School of Business and Leadership
What soft skills should all Retail Business Managers possess?
Andreas Udbye Ph.D.: Collaboration and teamwork skills are crucial, as well as the ability to focus and meet deadlines. Although it is nice to mention that you are a good multi-tasker, most people are these days, and employers seem to like people who can stay the course and complete tasks on time and with high quality. Tenacity and accuracy are other attractive attributes.
Dr. Elizabeth Homan Ph.D.
Professors, Department ChairCatawba College
Theatre Arts
What soft skills should all Retail Business Managers possess?
Dr. Elizabeth Homan Ph.D.: Networking, networking, networking. And being a nice, friendly, honest human being. Flexibility and a level head in the face of persistent change. Resilience and an ability to work with the conditions in which you find yourself. Working with what you have, not what you wish you had.
Bernie Cerasaro
Assistant Teaching ProfessorPennsylvania State University - Greater Allegheny
Business Department
What skills stand out on Retail Business Manager resumes?
Bernie Cerasaro: Skills employers would be looking for would be functional skills and interpersonal skills. Functional skills should stand out on a resume and be aligned to the business job in question. For example, if focused on marketing positions, marketing skills such as data analytics, market research, consumer behavior, global marketing, and professional selling skills would be areas for which employers would be looking. If the job market is looking for someone in accounting, then functional skills that would stand out would be intermediate financial accounting skills and courses on taxation and auditing. For those seeking positions in project management or supply chain management, skills that would stand out would encompass subject matter such as project management, portfolio management, operations planning and control, purchasing and materials management, and knowledge of ERP type systems and other business processes.
Skill sets can be enhanced via various types of certification. For example, those interested in accounting might pursue a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license, which requires 150 credits. As most universities require 120 credits for a bachelor's degree in business, a CPA would require just an additional 30 credits, which students can start accumulating while still at college. Project management certification is also an opportunity to enhance the aforementioned skills and would certainly stand out on an applicant's resume. The Project Management Institute (PMI) promotes PMP certification, which validates that you are highly skilled in soft skills to lead project teams and have the required technical aspects of managing projects. Some universities are working with the PMI to have PMI-approved courses. Approved courses are used toward the PMP training hours required to sit for the exam. For example, Penn State University has received approval for two such courses, Portfolio Management and Organizations and Project Planning and Resource Management.
Due to the high rate of interaction with the global marketplace and the complexity of international business, managers are looking more closely at applicants who have some familiarity with global markets and international culture, such as applicants who may have study abroad experience, traveled internationally, speak a foreign language or have lived or worked in another country.
What skills stand out on Retail Business Manager resumes?
Dr. Jeanette Landin: Skills that stand out on contemporary business manager resumes are soft skills. Business managers indeed need insight and knowledge about the business and hard skills, including financial and other technical skills. What stands out on contemporary, successful business manager resumes are their soft skills. Interpersonal skills are atop the list because business is all about people working with other people to achieve a common goal: The business's mission. The people skills of communication, collaboration, and delegation are a vital part of the manager's ability to influence colleagues, delegate work, and achieve the company's mission.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Retail Business Managers?
Dr. Jeanette Landin: The most important hard skill is using current technology and the aptitude to learn innovative technology. Old-world technologies such as office technology skills are an absolute minimum for business managers. A business manager must be willing to learn and adapt to emerging electronic communication media to reach organizational goals. Managers can learn other hard or technical skills as needed to accomplish the company's objectives if the manager possesses the aptitude and disposition to be effective.
What skills will help Retail Business Managers earn the most?
Dr. Jeanette Landin: The skill that will help you earn the most is inspiring other people to increase company productivity and high employee morale. An engaged and productive employee is the most important product of an effective manager. Managers who possess the ability to inspire colleagues and drive company objectives are invaluable.
Thomas Gainey Ph.D.
Chair and ProfessorUniversity of West Georgia
Department of Management in the Richards College of Business
What skills will help Retail Business Managers earn the most?
Thomas Gainey Ph.D.: With such a growing reliance on technology and data analytics, skills related to these areas will likely command higher salaries. Individuals with training in areas such as software engineering, digital marketing, web design, and quantitative analysis should find well-paid opportunities in the job market.
Dr. Bonnie Tiell
Professor of Sport ManagementTiffin University
School of Business
What skills stand out on Retail Business Manager resumes?
Dr. Bonnie Tiell: Experience and proven record of accomplishments, achievements, and added value to an organization (e.g., demonstration of increasing market shares, sales quotas, membership acquisition, etc.).
Hagit Weihs Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Accounting in the Brandeis International Business School and the Undergraduate Advising Head to the Business ProgramBrandeis University
International Business School
What skills will help Retail Business Managers earn the most?
Hagit Weihs Ph.D.: Students who specialize in a certain discipline will earn a higher initial salary. Examples are accounting or finance, marketing, real estate - having a deeper understanding of the discipline and internship and/or field project experience in that discipline. Networking, drive, and creativity, as well as the willingness to continue to learn and grow, will all continue to increase salary down the road.
Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.
Professor, Program Director of the MBABrandeis University
Brandeis International Business School
What skills stand out on Retail Business Manager resumes?
Aldo Musacchio Ph.D.: I think experiences or experiential learning in which they worked in teams with real companies using the hard skills that the market values. Summer internships doing data analytics or business development at a startup stand out. But also working on field projects at your school with a company in which you can display that you used your data analytics or digital marketing skills goes far.
R. Scott Hengen
Technical Theatre Faculty/Production CoordinatorMontgomery College
Department of Performing Arts
What general advice would you give to a Retail Business Manager?
R. Scott Hengen: Your studies and time in school are a good base and support for your production in the industry. As you begin, please consider that you will still be learning and, even though you have learned the essentials, you will be asked to apply your skills and experience in new ways and in a more competitive and practical atmosphere. Deadlines must be met, and the economy of time and effort will be crucial. Work hard, but try to keep a balance between time in the industry and your home life.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Retail Business Managers?
Steven Bauer: The coronavirus has accelerated the transformation to a digital world, and this effect will continue after the pandemic is behind us. Graduates will need to be able to navigate a hybrid business environment, with in-person and virtual meetings, interactions and platforms. There will also be increased opportunities to be entrepreneurial and innovative in the digital area. In addition, graduates will have to become more skilled at navigating a global environment since greater digitization will draw countries closer to each other.
Carliss Miller Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ManagementSam Houston State University
Department of Management & Marketing
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Business Manager job market given the pandemic?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Flexible working arrangements were considered a perk or benefit, but given the pandemic more and more jobs will be designed with flexible work arrangements in mind. We will continue to see trends in the labor market with a push towards personal services (e.g. virtual assistants, professional organizers) and professional services. There will also continue to be a demand for knowledge work. More and more, employers are looking to hire applicants that can provide concrete evidence of being "Day 1" ready.
Employers will focus more on identifying prospects with certain "soft skills" which were a nice-to-have pre-pandemic, but are now critical for organizational survival. These skills include: critical thinking, agility, ability to adapt to change, resilience, virtual team effectiveness, crisis management, emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusive leadership. Additionally, data analysis and interpretation is a highly sought after skill even for jobs that historically did not require analytical ability.
What's a good job out of college for Retail Business Managers?
Carliss Miller Ph.D.: Good jobs out of college are those that offer structured training, development, and job rotation. While some college students identified their career at age 5 and never veered away, some are still figuring out what they want to do after college. A job opportunity that recognizes the potential of new talent, willing to invest in training and development, and provides opportunities for new employees to experience different job functions enables new graduates to gain a realistic job preview that pays and allows them to identify an opportunity within the company that best aligns with skills and interests. Positions that are for a specific job function but have an apprenticeship model, like a "sales trainee" position, are also great for career stepping stones right out of college.
Michael Kraten Ph.D.
Professor of Accounting, Chair, Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Program Coordinator, Accounting, BBAHouston Baptist University
Accounting, Economics and Finance Department
What's a good job out of college for Retail Business Managers?
Michael Kraten Ph.D.: Good jobs out of college place graduates on career paths to better future jobs. Graduates must train themselves to always think one job ahead, and not to be tempted by minor short-term wage or benefit differences.
Dr. Mary Kern Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorZicklin School of Business at Baruch College - City University of New York
Narendra P. Loomba Department of Management
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Business Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Mary Kern Ph.D.: - Internships are going to be far fewer in number, and so many new graduates may be have less work experience, making it both more difficult to obtain a strong position and making the initial learning curve much more steep when they do land a job.
- Employers are going to have to navigate the role of remote work going forward much more actively. For example, we have learned that a lot of work can be done from our living rooms, and many find a lot of value in not having to commute in to an office. Being able to work remotely is going to be a prominent issue in employment negotiations going forward. Both employers and employees will need to evaluate the value (vs. costs) of being able to work from home and consider trade-offs in other forms of compensation.
What technical skills for a Retail Business Manager stand out to employers?
Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.: The labor market is not so different than any market with demand and supply. The demand from employers will shift towards more technical (software, coding, computer language programming) and analytical (problem solving on your own) skills than social skills overall. Being capable of writing or/and understanding computer languages will be a must have skill in the very near future. Communication skills over online platforms or social media platforms will play a huge role when employers are making a hiring decision. The data supports that businesses are using more online platforms than ever. I am projecting that there won't be any business travels or on-site client meetings in the near future. Exceling in different types of software, and being able to learn a new one easily, will become more important than people skills in businesses. Employers will seek for candidates, who are capable of achieving tasks in a more off-site (outside the office) environment through a deadline, and who can utilize multiple different softwares at their hand to solve business problems. As far as how the hiring process would go, we might see employers using artificial intelligence to make hiring decisions over some online platform soon. Essentially, this means that the candidates will be assessed with a more quantitative measure than ever. An evaluation measure by the AI, which will take soft and digital skills more into account.My final words are: The pandemic is still a burden to the humankind but the world will prevail. This year could be the inception of a new era in terms of how businesses run.
Xu Zhang Ph.D.
ChairFarmingdale State College
Department of Economics
What skills stand out on Retail Business Manager resumes?
Xu Zhang Ph.D.: I believe the most important attributes employers seek on a resume remain the same-problem solving skills, team work skills, analytical/quantitative skills, verbal and written communication skills. However, given the pandemic or any other unexpected shock to work environment, how to quickly and efficiently adapt to new work modes can be a very valuable attribute standing out on resume.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Retail Business Managers to find work opportunities?
Karen Kus: Our graduates mostly stay within New York state, so it is a bit challenging for me to identify specific geographic areas that hire graduates with a degree in history. Larger metropolitan cities usually have more opportunities available, but candidate competition is likely higher. Since one can do so much with a degree in history, like work as a teacher, curator, researcher, etc., it's challenging to pinpoint a geographic area since the field of history can be open-ended. For instance, one might have luck landing a teaching position in New York or work as a researcher in Boston. I find if one is looking to find work that directly engages with history, it may be a good idea to explore opportunities in geographic areas that are known for or frequently celebrate history, like Washington, D.C. for instance.
What type of skills will young Retail Business Managers need?
Prabal Kumar De Ph.D.: I think the necessary skills remain the same. One modification that would stay is greater virtual engagement. Therefore, newly essential skills such as acing a virtual interview, making a mark during a Zoom meeting, or managing or being a valuable part of a remote working group would be useful long after the immediate threats from the COVID-19 crisis be gone.
Nina Woodard
Senior Career Development SpecialistBelmont University
Office of Career & Professional Development
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Business Manager job market given the pandemic?
Nina Woodard: The pandemic hasn't impacted all areas of the entertainment industry in the same way. Anything related to live events and touring has been placed on an extended pause, which has been very difficult for graduates hoping to work in those fields. On an encouraging note, consumers will always find a way back to live experiences, so that segment of the industry will absolutely recover; the timing is just still a bit unknown. Other areas such as record or publishing companies have held steady. And, digital marketing and content creation companies are as busy, if not busier, than they've ever been as artists seek alternative ways to stay connected to their fans. Technology has intersected with entertainment in exciting, creative ways that will continue even as some of the more traditional avenues become available again. For many companies, ideas that started as pivots are now vibrant components of their long-term strategies.
The way we work may have also permanently changed. Companies have realized that remote working is a truly viable option for most businesses. While maintaining company culture, and the social nature of an entertainment-based organization, may still require some level of in-person interaction, it seems likely that many organizations may continue with remote/hybrid office models.
What Retail Business Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nina Woodard: For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.