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Job outlook for retail sales managers in the United States
Retail sales manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected retail sales manager job growth rate is 5% from 2018-2028.
About 23,800 new jobs for retail sales managers are projected over the next decade.
Retail sales manager salaries have increased 12% for retail sales managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 25,280 retail sales managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 353,765 active retail sales manager job openings in the US.
The average retail sales manager salary is $48,678.
Are retail sales manager jobs in demand?
Retail sales manager job and salary trends over time
Retail sales manager jobs over time
Retail sales manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,280 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 23,226 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 25,360 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 25,330 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 25,610 | 0.01% |
Average retail sales manager salary over time
Retail sales manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,678 | $23.40 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $46,599 | $22.40 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $45,709 | $21.98 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $44,546 | $21.42 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $43,405 | $20.87 | +3.6% |
Retail sales manager jobs by state
Most common states for retail sales managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 1,017 | 76% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 620 | 64% |
| 3 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 3,845 | 58% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,940 | 57% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 3,082 | 55% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 341 | 55% |
| 7 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 2,612 | 54% |
| 8 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 5,555 | 53% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,664 | 53% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,882 | 52% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 696 | 52% |
| 12 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 362 | 52% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 6,532 | 51% |
| 14 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 2,209 | 50% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 4,134 | 49% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,535 | 49% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 828 | 48% |
| 18 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 277 | 48% |
| 19 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 9,587 | 46% |
| 20 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 2,331 | 46% |
Most common cities for retail sales managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paramus | 4 | 15% | $52,463 |
| 2 | Natick | 3 | 9% | $46,826 |
| 3 | Lynnwood | 3 | 8% | $51,684 |
| 4 | Bethesda | 4 | 7% | $57,793 |
| 5 | Bradenton | 3 | 5% | $53,699 |
| 6 | Danbury | 3 | 4% | $48,310 |
| 7 | Boca Raton | 3 | 3% | $53,723 |
| 8 | Madison | 5 | 2% | $42,361 |
| 9 | Glendale | 4 | 2% | $47,041 |
| 10 | Portland | 7 | 1% | $48,731 |
| 11 | San Francisco | 7 | 1% | $58,374 |
| 12 | Denver | 6 | 1% | $41,507 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 3 | 1% | $52,119 |
| 14 | Modesto | 3 | 1% | $57,036 |
| 15 | New York | 10 | 0% | $59,335 |
| 16 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $49,906 |
| 17 | San Diego | 5 | 0% | $51,090 |
| 18 | Dallas | 4 | 0% | $52,885 |
| 19 | Los Angeles | 4 | 0% | $52,242 |
| 20 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $46,680 |
Retail Sales Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of retail sales manager experts
University of Maryland - College Park
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Northwestern Ohio
University of Maryland - College Park
North Dakota State University
Valparaiso University
Nazareth College of Rochester
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
University of Maryland
Florida State University
Baylor University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
St. John Fisher College
University of Vermont
Florida International University
Saint Xavier University - Chicago, IL
Brigham Young University-Idaho
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Maximizing your salary potential requires research, flexibility, and being your best advocate.
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: The world is changing rapidly and the Sales field is no exception.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: All things social media are important, and so writing skills still matter.
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: With this major, probably the best salaries are from sales jobs, which many people shy away from because they think only of hustling used cars, but sales can be very good work.
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Peter Weiss Ph.D., P.E.: Interpersonal skills and communication will become more important, but they have been very important for a very long time. Additionally, computer skills will also become more important. For example, learning CAD software or software specific to your area of work will become more important. In a combination of interpersonal skills and computer skills, learning how to stay connected with colleagues, your employer, and your superiors in this post-Covid time period will become more important. While it rarely occurred prior to Covid, it is common now for people to work remotely for at least some of the work week. It used to be that if you had a question you could walk down the hallway and ask a colleague but, with remote work occurring more frequently, this is becoming more difficult. So, it will be more important, especially for new graduates, to be able to maintain these lines of communication, build relationships, and communicate clearly while they and/or their colleagues are working remotely.
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Peter Weiss Ph.D., P.E.: There is a lot of advice I would share with a new graduate. This includes the following:
Never pass up an opportunity to learn something new. Every situation you find yourself in will provide learning opportunities.
Although it's important to learn when to say no, be very careful when turning down an opportunity. You never know what doors will open when you say yes to something.
Find and develop a unique skill set or ability to set yourself apart in the office.
Always behave in a professional manner and maintain good relationships with other engineers you work with or have encountered (even when switching jobs for any reason)
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Peter Weiss Ph.D., P.E.: There is a lot of advice I would share with a new graduate. This includes the following:
Never pass up an opportunity to learn something new. Every situation you find yourself in will provide learning opportunities.
Although it's important to learn when to say no, be very careful when turning down an opportunity. You never know what doors will open when you say yes to something.
Find and develop a unique skill set or ability to set yourself apart in the office.
Always behave in a professional manner and maintain good relationships with other engineers you work with or have encountered (even when switching jobs for any reason)
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Scott Lail PhD, MBA, CPA, CFE, CGMA, SPHR: There are some things you can do to help maximize your salary potential. Some of
these require more effort than others, but include:
Have professional-appearing resumes, cover letters, references, and other
requested documents that showcase your qualifications for each specific position
that you apply. The sooner you can convey your qualifications and make the
connection between your qualifications and a specific position’s needs, the better
positioned you are when you start the selection and salary offering/negotiation
process
Seek out external sources (such as salary guides) to get an understanding of the
salary ranges for the type of positions you are applying to have a comparison
point. Many salary guides can be adjusted for location to help account for
changes in cost of living
Examine job postings for similar positions from other organizations in the same
general area to get an idea of the salary and other benefits that are being offered
to have for comparison purposes
Review and/or inquire about how the current opening you may be applying for
typically progresses into other opportunities for growth and the timeline for that
growth. This could help in balancing an immediate salary offering for a first
position with what should be expected to be received after a 1-2 year period to
get more of a yearly average. The faster the opportunity for advancement, the
more impact this could have on maximizing overall salary potential
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Scott Lail PhD, MBA, CPA, CFE, CGMA, SPHR: Some skills that will become more important will be very specific to a certain role. However,
some of the more general skills that will impact most roles to at least some degree will
include:
Being proficient with technology and keeping updated with the latest technical tools
Knowing how to utilize and interpret data into useful and reliable information
Communicating in ways that are respectful, while also efficient and effective
Showing flexibility in regards to working with people and with processes
Developing self-management skills, which will help deal with stress and build up
resilience/determination to succeed
Respecting personal time
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Scott Lail PhD, MBA, CPA, CFE, CGMA, SPHR: I think, like many other things in life, it is important to treat beginning and maintaining a
professional career as a continuous process and not just having to find a job when one is
needed. This process should include many elements that include the following:
Prepare yourself that it takes a lot of effort to get into a career and to get a career
path started. Starting out, there will be more “no” than “yes” responses received.
Remember, the better careers will normally be more difficult to get into and receiving
a “no” is no reflection on your worth as a person. It just means it is not the right
opportunity at that specific time for you
Seek out opportunities to interact with individuals either in your desired field or
organization and see what information can be gained to help you have a clearer
understanding of what that industry/organization values and entails
Make connections with individuals as you meet them, even if knowing them does not
meet an immediate need, and try to be as helpful to the connections as you would
hope that the connection would be to you. Professional Social Media sites such as
LinkedIn are a great way to organize and maintain these connections
Focus on building relationships with individuals at all levels of your organization/field.
This is a great way to practice interpersonal skills and you may also be surprised at
what you can learn from individuals at multiple levels (not just the top level) of your
field/organization
Look for opportunities to continuously develop knowledge and skills within your field.
The key is to make sure these opportunities are being offered by reliable and
relevant sources. A lot of fields have organizations that help promote continuous
learning opportunities and where reputable sources can be located
Don’t take the “little things” for granted. Although some things are just expected, it is
important to make sure you are doing them. It is important to note most of these do
not require special skills at all. They include: be timely, be respectful, be honest
(including when you make mistakes), be positive/optimistic, be appreciative, be
focused, and be committed
Set goals and communicate those goals as appropriate with leadership in your
field/organization. “SMART” goals are a great way to help keep focused and
progressing. Having a Personal Development Plan in addition to one specifically for
your organization can guide you to your long-term goals
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hank Boyd: With the looming prospects of AI, soft skills will reign supreme in sales. While at
first blush it might seem counterintuitive in that product knowledge used to be cardinal
skill, today's salesforce relies heavily on networking. Numerous academic papers lend
credence to this idea. Great people skills often trump wonkish knowledge about the
product line.
As we wade further into the 21st Century, environmental scanning (or better yet
the innate ability to read prospects) will remain pivotal. Exceptional salespeople
instinctively scan a prospective client's office noticing all the trappings. They are trying to find something they can comment upon, by doing so they can establish common
ground. Once a connection is forged, salespeople move out of the box of being pesky
interlopers into becoming valued associates.
Lastly, if you decide to embark on a career in sales never forget the tried-and-
true axiom of ABC - always be closing. This phrase means having the gumption to ask
for the business. While sales recruits might have congenial and bubbly personalities, if
they cannot look the prospect in the eye and ask for the business, they ought to find
another profession.
Eric Gjerdevig
Lecturer in Marketing, Director for the Center for Professional Selling and Sales TechnologyNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Eric Gjerdevig: First, remember that what you get out of your first job is so much more than compensation. A great manager mentoring you is priceless: it will pay you back dividends for the rest of your career. That said, in sales our compensation is typically tied to our performance. That means we need to put yourself out there, pay attention to the actions of the most successful salesperson in the company, learn everything you can, and manage your time well.
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Meagan Glasco M.S., M.R.: As technology evolves rapidly, the significance of universal skills, not bound to particular platforms, will become more important. In particular, the ability and interest to engage in lifelong learning will become more important than ever before. Professionals will need to recognize areas within their industry that are undergoing transformation and proactively pursue new knowledge, integrating it into their work.
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Meagan Glasco M.S., M.R.: New graduates can optimize their salary potential by employing three key strategies. First, doing research into their value in the job market and the specific role they're pursuing enables informed negotiation. Second, possessing the ability to articulate their value through highlighting relevant skills and experiences enhances their bargaining position. Finally, integrating their research and communication skills into self-advocacy during the job search and when negotiating job offers will help new graduates optimize their salary potential.
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Meagan Glasco M.S., M.R.: I encourage graduates to connect with professionals in their field through LinkedIn, networking events, and/or alumni connections at their schools. Graduates can initiate conversations and schedule coffee or Zoom meetings to learn about roles in their industry of choice. Engaging with professionals currently working in graduates’ industry of choice will provide invaluable insight into essential skills, refine their career interests, and expand their network. The opportunity to hear real-life experiences shared by professionals is irreplaceable for graduates beginning their careers.
Jon-Paul McCool
Associate Professor of Geography; Environmental Science Program CoordinatorValparaiso University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Jon-Paul McCool: In terms of technical skills, the ability to utilize GIS for more than basic mapping. The ability to do more in depth analytical processes and to utilize the mobile components to the software. However, employers are stressing the need for new employees to have drive and individual initiative. Soft skills associated with independence, and the ability to learn on your own are going to be essential.
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jon-Paul McCool: It is important to remember that the only person who can push your career forward is you. You have to go to places and events to get exposure to opportunities and you have to be willing to potentially move and learn new things. You really have to want to move forward with your career and you have to take a vested interest in it by pursuing additional learning opportunities such as workshops, joining professional organizations and attending meetings, volunteering, etc. A degree alone only distinguishes you from those who didn't graduate. How are you going to stand out compared to the thousands of others graduating across the country with the same major?
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Jon-Paul McCool: Utilize your time as an undergraduate student to set yourself apart. Do some kind of research project that can show your ability to do more than only the assigned work in classes. Utilize your summers to gain additional experience by working relevant jobs and internships. To all extents possible, do not limit yourself spatially. Be willing to travel to far flung locations, at least for a few years, to gain relevant experience after graduating rather than being tied to one specific location or region. You are far more employable with a couple years experience rather than straight out of school.
Timothy Kneeland
Professor and Chair History, Politics, and LawNazareth College of Rochester
History
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Timothy Kneeland: Your resume should be as thorough as possible so that you can advocate for the highest salary in your range. Be sure to weed out things on your resume that do not fit the job you are seeking. Once you are hired, make yourself indispensable, and prepare for your biannual or annual review by preparing a list of accomplishments. Sometimes your supervisors are distracted and do not know about all your efforts. You need to remind them in a friendly and professional manner.
What Retail Sales Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Kneeland: Take every opportunity that you can to learn new skills and to take initiative in different situations. Do not shy away from taking on new tasks that could lead to a promotion or could be invaluable in a later career.
Try to remember that institutions change slowly and that if you are smart, personable, and persistent, you can be the one to make beneficial changes to the organization that hired you. You have to build trust and relationships first.
Network! Go out of your way to meet people in your organization. Spend time having lunch with people. Get to know them and, if possible, find a mentor in your new position.
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Timothy Kneeland: Your resume should be as thorough as possible so that you can advocate for the highest salary in your range. Be sure to weed out things on your resume that do not fit the job you are seeking. Once you are hired, make yourself indispensable, and prepare for your biannual or annual review by preparing a list of accomplishments. Sometimes your supervisors are distracted and do not know about all your efforts. You need to remind them in a friendly and professional manner.
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in MarketingTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Retail Sales Manager?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
Dr. Brandon Chicotsky
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing at the TCU Neeley School of BusinessTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What skills stand out on Retail Sales Manager resumes?
Dr. Brandon Chicotsky: Substantiated numbers such as sales pipeline efficiency, callbacks, meetings, and repeat purchasing are more important than listing responsibilities. Also, management-level personnel should have team growth numbers and coaching methodologies listed with substantiated returns from such efforts.
Roland Rust Ph.D.
Distinguished University Professor, David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Service, Ph.D., Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MarketingUniversity of Maryland
Robert H. Smith School of Business
What skills stand out on Retail Sales Manager resumes?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: One might think that a stellar sales record would be most important, but that would be most relevant only if the individual has prior sales manager experience. If promoting a salesperson to sales manager, the thing that may be missing is administrative and managerial skills. In addition, we are in a technological revolution, driven by AI, which means that prior knowledge and experience with AI-related analysis would also definitely stand out (although probably hard to find).
What soft skills should all Retail Sales Managers possess?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: We consider empathy the most important soft skill (see our 2021 book, "The Feeling Economy: How Artificial Intelligence Is Creating the Era of Empathy," authored with Ming-Hui Huang). This is central for both sales managers and salespeople. The sales manager can best manage a salesperson by being able to understand their emotions. Different salespeople require different approaches. Likewise, salespeople need to relate to the customer's feelings. In addition, because so much of business is now digital, and we're in a pandemic of unknown duration, skills on media such as Zoom are more important than ever, as is the capability of texting and other modes of electronic communication.
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chair and Executive Director, Center for Human Resource ManagementFlorida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Sales Manager job market given the pandemic?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: The positive is that many companies are recruiting and hiring. The most noticeable trend is the is the impact of remote work and more specifically, how this has changed the nature in which many companies are interviewing, onboarding of new employees, and employee mobility. In terms of interviewing, interacting with potential employers via web-enable platforms requires job applicants to be attuned to details such as lighting, sound volume, environmental distractions that are not common with in-person interviews. Additionally, many employment events such as job fairs are virtual resulting in a much different experience for both the applicant and the employer. Getting comfortable with communicating in a clear and cogent way remotely is a key skill to develop. In fact, our Career Center at Florida State offers job search and interviewing sessions to help students and alumni develop better virtual interviewing skills.
Onboarding is another area that has seen a change as a result of the pandemic. While onboarding new employees through online programs what is a more recent change is the lack of physical support during the onboarding process. We know that onboarding is a critical period for employees as they are getting to know the company, job expectations, culture, how work is done, etc. Managing the onboarding process in a remote environment requires more deliberate action on the part of HR, supervisors, and the employee. In other words, we cannot rely on an employee walking down the hall to ask questions about an assignment or who to contact to obtain essential job information. Planned, regularly schedule interactions during the first few months to ensure expectations are understood, that the employee feels a part of the organization, and job-related questions can be addressed can help to alleviate feelings of uncertainty, frustration, stress, and alienation.
Lastly, we have noticed employment mobility decreasing over the past four to five years. In fact, data on migration and geographic mobility monitored by the U.S. Census found that as recently as 2018 only 9.8 percent of adults reported relocating which is down 10.2 percent from 1985[1]. Based on my research and consulting work, there are numerous reasons for this trend. First, individuals are making family-based choices not to move based on family considerations such as being nearby to assist with an aging parent or having a desire to stay close to family. Second, work and family balance have emerged as a key factor when deciding to relocate for work. More specifically, the decision to relocate for a job is no longer driven solely by financial reasons. Stability in the home and the need to accommodate the needs of other family members is equally important, such as dual income earning households or the illness of an elderly parent. Consequently, this complicates the decision-making process of whether to move. Lastly, communication and networking technology have enabled work to be performed without necessitating physical presence at a particular location. Given the psychological and financial costs of relocating and the fact that many jobs are being performed remotely, individuals are more likely to make decisions not to relocate and disrupt their personal lives because of their ability to connect to work via technology.
This is not to say that people are unwilling to relocate for work. However, it does mean that, as a result of more organizations moving work remotely, employers may have more challenges in relocating talent in the foreseeable future. In some instances, it may require employers increase salaries or enhance benefits in order to attract employees to move. Another option is for employers to establish offices in secondary cities outside the home office location. This option may afford an employee the opportunity to be closer to their preferred geography. For example, an individual living in Birmingham, AL may not be willing to relocate to Chicago due to factors such as the higher cost of living, family considerations or the weather but would be willing to move to Atlanta, GA or Charlotte, NC. Having a secondary office in one of these cities may be an acceptable alternative. Lastly, being flexible to hybrid location alternatives. While this is generally applied to certain types of jobs, allowing an employee to work remotely two or three weeks out of the month at home, then one-week in the company office may offer an opportunity to balance the needs of both the employer and the employee.
[1] Agovino, T. (2020). Americans aren't moving: The decline in worker mobility presents a challenge for employers in a tight labor market. Retrieved on December 11, 2020, SHRM
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Retail Sales Managers?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: As jobs become more complex and require additional knowledge and skills, more advanced qualifications are becoming more the norm. However, this will largely be determined by the type of work a job prospect is seeking. Professional and technical positions often require advanced certifications, licenses, or degrees in certain areas such as a certified public accountant or a certified professional in human resources or a course in SQL. In order to be competitive in a post-pandemic job market, job seekers should research the field(s) of interest to understand what would be considered minimum requirements for a job to evaluate if they should invest in additional licensure or preparation.
What's a good job out of college for Retail Sales Managers?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: This is a subjective question based on an individual's occupational interests, however, from my perspective a good job is one that allows you to apply your knowledge, skills, and experiences and provides some fulfillment in your life. Of course, there are many factors that influence your job choices such as your skillset, experience, pay, and the needs of the market for your skills, etc. However, as employers adapt to the evolving market demands, fields that will see higher levels of growth and new job opportunities are in the areas of healthcare, financial services, information technology and data security, software development, energy, data science and mathematics, analysts, and management. Specifically, my research suggests job growth over the next 3 to 5 years in the fields of:
-Healthcare. We are seeing demand in this field for both clinical and administrative jobs. Interestingly, according to the BLS, the area of home health is one of the fastest growing career areas with approximately 1.2 million jobs being created between 2019-2029. Additionally, administrators in healthcare industries are project to see a 32 percent growth in job opportunities over the next decade.
-Technology. This is a broad area that contains everything from software development to information and data security to artificial intelligence. As technology continues to become integrated with all jobs, including lower skilled jobs, technology professionals will continue to be in demand.
-Financial Services. Given the importance of financial management for individuals and organizations, financial management jobs are anticipated to grow by 15 percent over the next decade.
-Management. Managers, human resource professionals, consultants, and management analysts will continue to grow as organizations need professionals to help lead and manage turbulent times and changes in consumer demand. The BLS estimates approximately 500,000 new jobs will be created in this area over the next decade.
-Data Science/Operational Research/Mathematics. There are numerous occupations within this category. As a field, the need for jobs that analyzing data to inform organizational decisions is projected to see an increase of 31 percent.
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021Baylor University
Hankamer School of Business
What skills stand out on Retail Sales Manager resumes?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: Like salespeople, sales managers must focus their resumes on tangible, objective performance results that are achieved by their teams.
Growth in revenue or quota attainment for the overall team are examples of the types of objective performance results that matter.
High-performing sales managers also highlight long-term performance indicators, which includes both long-term revenue growth by the unit
AND investment metrics that signal the sales manager is building company results for the long run. For example, a high-performance sales manager focuses on building and maintaining a high-performing unit. Such a manager looks to move low performers to other roles where they can be successful.
Another investment metric that a sales manager can signal is the percent of their unit promoted to managerial roles in the organization.
What soft skills should all Retail Sales Managers possess?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: Since sales professionals have a lot of information available to them today via customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the sales manager's "supervisory" role is less important (especially for experienced sellers). Consequently, the sales manager needs to be more of a coach and enabler of high performance. Having confidence balanced with humility allows the sales manager to engage more effectively with their salespeople.
One of the critical soft skills for sales managers going forward will be the ability to connect members of the sales team to others in the organization - in other words, the sales manager of the future needs to have strong skills in network building for others. Sellers have access to data which helps them build success.
They also need access to the right people to turn to when they need specific expertise or assistance.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Retail Sales Managers?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: One of the growing technical skill requirements for sales managers is in the area of data analytics. Our performance and customer systems provide a myriad of data, and the role of the sales manager is to be a sense-maker of that mound of data. What are the implications for changes in strategy or behavior evident in last quarter's activity? How can the sales manager help a specific seller "see" where the data suggest new approaches?
What skills will help Retail Sales Managers earn the most?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: People who can recognize patterns (in data, in people), build connections with and across others, create a focus on high-performance behaviors, and lead with a confident humility are those who will win today and in the future business environment.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Sales Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
What will help Retail Sales Managers increase their earning potential?
Clair Smith Ph.D.: St. John Fisher is at its core a liberal arts college, and I'm a firm believer that a grounding in how to reason and make sound independent judgments is critical. And in Economics, that's what we do. I believe that graduates who can effectively reason and think through the implications of important decisions, who have quantitative skills to analyze and interpret data to inform those decisions, and who can powerfully communicate those arguments to others through the written and spoken word will have the greatest professional success and financial remuneration.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Retail Sales Managers?
Madison Berry: The bachelor's degree is still the gold standard for employment out of college, but a specific degree isn't as necessary as we might think. We have UVM alumni come visit us to talk about their storied careers in Finance, and they graduated with Political Science, Engineering, and Sociology degrees. Some industries are more rigid than others - having a Masters of Accountancy and passing your CPA is key for working in many accounting areas, for example - but when it comes to wanting to work in business, being able to show transferrable and useful skills is most important. Critical thinking, problem solving, willingness to learn, and communication skills are key.
What's a day at work look like for a Retail Sales Manager?
John Tobon: In the near term the work day will look a lot like online learning. Everything, starting with onboarding of employees has transitioned online. Newly hired employees may not meet their supervisors and co-workers in person for several months, if ever. There will be more real time online collaboration and greater need for proficiency in the use of communication software. Graduates may not necessarily live in the city where their employer is located, this will provide greater freedom to employees but it will also increase the level of competition for some positions. In the long term, workplace will look different. As a cost savings measure, companies will maximize the amount of offsite work that can be performed by implementing hybrid models that incorporate maximum telework arrangements.
Margie Bernard MBA
Faculty - Graduate Healthcare AdministrationSaint Xavier University - Chicago, IL
Graham School of Management MBA Program
What's a good job out of college for Retail Sales Managers?
Margie Bernard MBA: A certificate on how to make Lean Process Improvements, which is something we offer to our graduate management students. This methodology teaches young graduates how to add value to every patient's experience while assuring that wasteful workflow actions or steps are driven out.
Team projects you have helped to complete look excellent on resumes. Make sure to emphasize why results achieved can enhance the lives of patients, family members or community residents this year.
Completed courses in accounting and finance show prospective employers that
you know how to save rather than spend organization resources on the job. Key principles covered
in such classes will also help to grow amounts you keep in your wallet and savings account as well.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Sales Manager job market given the pandemic?
Margie Bernard MBA: Because our COVID-19 pandemic is the worst challenge now facing Americans, our U.S. health care industry is transforming all systems and staff to better meet diverse patient population needs today. Across the U.S., students should expect that demand for qualified health care professionals and leaders will increase 17% to 24% yearly through 2030 since the supply of talented team members is shrinking due to retirements.
It's important to know that 30% of individuals now living in our country will be age 65 or older in the next seven years. This segment of our society will require truly compassionate teams of medical assistants, therapists, nurses, pharmacists, doctors, financial personnel and leaders who can seamlessly come together to deliver community-based care. Children and adults will need expedited team support to access timely appointments for wellness exams and treatment of pre-existing conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Across the U.S., we will see a 56% jump in patients newly diagnosed with all types of cancer in the next 10 years.
These demographic changes underscore why our U.S. health care industry offers many students excellent career paths when young graduates realize that delivering quality team outcomes begins with prioritizing a 'we' rather than 'me' philosophy.
Saint Xavier University's (SXU) mission of serving wisely and compassionately is critical within the work of our Graham School of Management (GSM) and School of and Health Science (SONHS) students studying healthcare administration, especially because their future careers involve giving excellent service to diverse patients every day.
What technical skills for a Retail Sales Manager stand out to employers?
Margie Bernard MBA: The most critical skillset relates to all aspects of communication, especially written and verbal. Understanding how to listen is vital since patients tell us about their needs through words and unspoken gestures, such as nods of agreement. Leaders under pressure to increase quality, reduce costs and eliminate errors want new hires who grasp work instructions quickly before medical emergencies happen. Teams reading your work should find correct spelling, grammar and words since poor messaging really does put patients' health in harm's way.
Respectfully collaborating with all team members by learning 24/7 is also essential to build career success in our health care industry. Since IT analytics, electronic medical records (EMRs) and financial dashboards are constantly displaying data notifying workers what tasks need attention, young graduates must be motivated to translate such information into meaningful action plans without constant supervision.
Such duties mean leaders must create a culture where communication across diverse work teams is encouraged around the clock so that timely decisions can be made. Coaching, counseling, strategic planning and budgeting skills are vital along with knowing of how to effectively resolve patient and staff conflicts that surface every day.
At Saint Xavier, our students focus on the most effective techniques to evaluate EMRS, patient surveys, quality measure reports and financial data, using health care analytic tools that will support making the best leadership decisions in leading high-performance care teams.
Perhaps most important are the skills gained from high-impact learning practices in the classroom. At SXU, our students believe that the topics covered in healthcare management courses provide them with a huge career advantage, especially when it comes to the new problem-solving skills they master each day, which rapidly translate into new action plans they implement with patients and colleagues. Students learn how to support geriatric patients who have changing emotional and physical needs, decrease the stigma individuals face when mental health conditions are diagnosed and gently support
family members who must make end-of-life care decisions.
Chad Newswander Ph.D.
Professor of Political ScienceBrigham Young University-Idaho
Department of Political Science
What technical skills for a Retail Sales Manager stand out to employers?
Chad Newswander Ph.D.: It is a combination of soft and hard skills. Young professionals need to be reliable, conscientious, hardworking, and be able to work well with others. They also need to show early signs of leadership, allowing them to grow within the organization. Above all, they need to be trusted to get the work done and be likeable. They also need to have a concrete skillset that allows them to contribute. Each young professional needs to think how they can add value to their organization (not just what the organization will do for them). Those skills can range from data/statistical analysis, writing, speaking, research, etc. In order to show that they have these skills, students should do multiple internships while in school from credible organizations.