How to hire a retail sales manager

How to hire a retail sales manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step retail sales 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 retail sales manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new retail sales manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a retail sales manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the retail sales manager you need to hire. Certain retail sales manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A retail sales manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, retail sales 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.

   This list presents retail sales manager salaries for various positions.

   Type of Retail Sales Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Retail Sales Manager	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.	$16-31
   Director Of Sales	A sales director is responsible for managing the sales operation of the team, ensuring that members comply with the sales strategies and procedures in meeting sales goals. Sales directors' duties include maintaining consistency of sales targets, providing reports and important updates for sales improvement, managing customers' inquiries and resolving complaints, launching new services to expand product offers, researching the current market trends, and improving sales plans... Show more	$35-80
   Sales Supervisor	A sales supervisor is a professional who is responsible for the daily activities of sales representatives in promoting and selling a product by phone or email. He/She needs to track the weekly and monthly performances of his/her sales representatives... Show more	$14-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Retail Sales
   • Store Operations
   • Store Sales
   • Retail Store
   • Product Knowledge
   • Sales Associates
   • POS
   • Loss Prevention
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • Standard Operating Procedure
   • Payroll
   • Sales Performance
   • Retail Environment
   • Customer Service

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create and lead staff development sessions on solution selling techniques/running effective promotions/POS execution/trade math.
   • Receive and count new products, reconcile delivery invoices, tickets, and enter new products into POS system.
   • Complete customer transactions using POS register system.
   • Deliver consistently strong results in identifying and capitalizing on cross-selling opportunities to advance corporate-define marketing campaigns and effectively increase revenue streams.
   • Oversee floor day to day operations by obtaining the acquisition of customer accounts and provide superior leadership to team members.
   • Provide leadership training and coaching with a proven record of accountability

   More retail sales manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your retail sales manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A retail sales manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a retail sales manager in Missouri may be lower than in Pennsylvania, and an entry-level retail sales manager usually earns less than a senior-level retail sales manager. Additionally, a retail sales manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average retail sales manager salary

   $48,678yearly

   $23.40 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level retail sales manager salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average retail sales manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Nevada	$60,224	$29
   2	New York	$59,335	$29
   3	Pennsylvania	$59,186	$28
   4	California	$58,181	$28
   5	Maryland	$57,972	$28
   6	Texas	$54,905	$26
   7	Florida	$53,868	$26
   8	South Carolina	$52,715	$25
   9	Washington	$52,168	$25
   10	Georgia	$52,119	$25
   11	Maine	$52,000	$25
   12	Tennessee	$50,658	$24
   13	Illinois	$50,072	$24
   14	Oregon	$48,731	$23
   15	Ohio	$47,125	$23
   16	Arizona	$47,017	$23
   17	Massachusetts	$46,680	$22
   18	Rhode Island	$45,160	$22
   19	Indiana	$44,790	$22
   20	North Carolina	$44,786	$22

   Average retail sales manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Talbots	$75,149	$36.13
   2	Intel	$73,563	$35.37
   3	Marzetti	$71,647	$34.45
   4	Anastasia Beverly Hills	$67,329	$32.37	5
   5	American Residential Services	$63,385	$30.47	100
   6	Neiman Marcus Group	$62,752	$30.17	43
   7	McKesson	$62,083	$29.85	3
   8	Roberts Hawaii	$58,557	$28.15
   9	City Of Providence	$56,932	$27.37
   10	Western Alliance Bank	$56,198	$27.02	10
   11	Schweid & Sons	$55,708	$26.78
   12	Armstrong World Industries	$54,912	$26.40	5
   13	Clarins	$54,620	$26.26	37
   14	Clover Food Lab	$54,586	$26.24
   15	Great Southern Homes	$54,552	$26.23
   16	Teachers Federal Credit Union	$52,620	$25.30
   17	Chobani	$52,373	$25.18	1
   18	Public Service Credit Union	$52,046	$25.02
   19	Cardinal Financial	$50,475	$24.27
   20	RS Medical	$50,283	$24.17	1

4. Writing a retail sales manager job description

   A retail sales 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a retail sales manager job description:

   Retail sales manager job description example

   If you're passionate about a great guest experience and true hospitality, this is the role for you! Whether you're helping a guest find the perfect birthday gift or showing off your favorite items from the new collection, you'll make sure every guest feels at home.
   Responsibilities:
   In this role, you will run the roost when it comes to the retail shop - from the cash stand to the product displays and everything in between, you'll keep the shelves stocked while displaying world-class guest service. As a Retail Sales team member, you will have flexible hours (full or part time) and the opportunity for promotion and continued development!
   Qualifications:
   You will need to be able to stand for long periods, work in a variety of environments, be expected to lift, load and carry up to 40 pounds, and work with hot and cold food items. You must be able to understand and carry out instructions while working effectively with co-workers and managers to please our guests.
   
   We'd love to get to know you! Text " CBJOBS " to 97211 to start your application or click "Apply for the job online" above.
   
   NOTE: Racism, either overt or perpetuated through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and both our Mission and People Promise are firmly rooted in the principle of valuing what everyone brings to the table. Our employees work hard to ensure that our brand, which is grounded in genuine hospitality and nostalgia, represents only what is good about those things. While our d cor and food may harken back to earlier times, our inclusive culture and beliefs about equality and diversity do not.
   
   Come for the biscuits and stay for the perks- Cracker Barrel offers our employees:
   Culture of Belonging: We believe in Family. We care about your wellbeing and your success. We foster an atmosphere where employees care for each other like family. Our employees are encouraged to be themselves, and this means we accept and celebrate our differences. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Top Notch Training: PAR Training program: our hourly employee training program is built to help you grow and succeed. Earn your stars and be rewarded with pay increases We have a unique role of the Employee Training Coordinator at each location and their purpose is to help you be successful in your role Cross Training- If you thrive in an environment where no day is the same, you can cross train and work in a variety of roles for your store Diverse Career Paths: Cracker Barrel values internal development- whether you want to become an Employee Training Coordinator, a Shift Leader, a Restaurant or Retail Manager, or come join us at our Home Office in Lebanon, TN to work in corporate support for our stores; we are committed to helping you reach your personal career goals. Competitive Pay and Benefits: Competitive pay based on your experience with opportunities to earn additional pay increases with the PAR Training program Paychecks weekly or daily - You can access the pay you have earned throughout the week! Flexible Schedules Health, Vision, and Dental Benefits starting on day 1 401K with company matching starting at 90 days Vacation Time 35% off restaurant and retail items Employee Stock Purchasing Program

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find retail sales managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your retail sales manager job on Zippia to find and recruit retail sales manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit retail sales managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 retail sales manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the retail sales manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new retail sales manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 retail sales manager?