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The differences between retail supervisors and sales associate/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 a sales associate/manager. Additionally, a sales associate/manager has an average salary of $41,412, 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 a sales associate/manager are customer service, sales floor, and strong customer service.
| Retail Supervisor | Sales Associate/Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $34,740 | $41,412 |
| Hourly rate | $16.70 | $19.91 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 240,666 | 318,977 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| 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.
As the name entails, sales associates or associate managers are responsible for helping the store manager organize and run the retail stores. Their roles and responsibilities include ensuring that the store's goals are met by the sales team, hiring and training sales staff, and monitoring inventory. They are also expected to analyze consumer behavior, look for competitive products in the market, and communicate and evaluate clients' needs. To be qualified for this position, you should have experience as an assistant manager, organizational and leadership skills, and proficiency in MS Office.
Retail supervisors and sales associate/managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Supervisor | Sales Associate/Manager | |
| Average salary | $34,740 | $41,412 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $43,000 | Between $30,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Peabody, MA | Salem, VA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Live Nation Entertainment | |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a retail supervisor and a sales associate/manager in terms of educational background:
| Retail Supervisor | Sales Associate/Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between retail supervisors' and sales associate/managers' demographics:
| Retail Supervisor | Sales Associate/Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% | Male, 44.2% Female, 55.8% |
| 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, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |