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The differences between retail supervisors and assistant 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 retail supervisor and an assistant manager. Additionally, an assistant manager has an average salary of $39,127, which is higher than the $34,740 average annual salary of a retail supervisor.
The top three skills for a retail supervisor include POS, cash handling and product knowledge. The most important skills for an assistant manager are paperwork, cleanliness, and customer service.
| Retail Supervisor | Assistant Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $34,740 | $39,127 |
| Hourly rate | $16.70 | $18.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 240,666 | 566,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
The retail supervisor's main job responsibility is to oversee the work of retail staff in a physical store environment. They check and monitor employee activity, coordinate the receiving and shipping of merchandise, and assist customers in their purchases, ensuring smooth day-to-day overall operation. They work for any type of retail store, whether it is clothing, home goods, or an electronics store. In addition, they typically work in a mixed environment that consists of both an office and a sales floor.
An assistant manager provides assistance and support to the direct manager in ensuring that the business runs smoothly with guaranteed satisfaction. An associate manager helps organize daily projects and manages employees to make sure that tasks are being done in a timely and accurate manner. Assistant managers are also expected to develop a good relationship with the whole workforce and clients to contribute to a successful and healthy workplace. An assistant manager is also required to present practical strategies for business growth, monitor daily operations, and communicate with clients for any possible suggestions and complaints.
Retail supervisors and assistant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Supervisor | Assistant Manager | |
| Average salary | $34,740 | $39,127 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $43,000 | Between $23,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Peabody, MA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Live Nation Entertainment | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Finance |
There are a few differences between a retail supervisor and an assistant manager in terms of educational background:
| Retail Supervisor | Assistant Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between retail supervisors' and assistant managers' demographics:
| Retail Supervisor | Assistant Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |