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Job outlook for retail supervisors in the United States
Retail supervisor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected retail supervisor job growth rate is 6% from 2018-2028.
About 189,200 new jobs for retail supervisors are projected over the next decade.
Retail supervisor salaries have increased 7% for retail supervisors in the last 5 years.
There are over 26,945 retail supervisors currently employed in the United States.
There are 240,666 active retail supervisor job openings in the US.
The average retail supervisor salary is $34,740.
Are retail supervisor jobs in demand?
Retail supervisor job and salary trends over time
Retail supervisor jobs over time
Retail supervisor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,945 | 0.01% |
| 2020 | 25,056 | 0.01% |
| 2019 | 27,620 | 0.01% |
| 2018 | 27,847 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | 28,286 | 0.01% |
Average retail supervisor salary over time
Retail supervisor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,740 | $16.70 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $33,712 | $16.21 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $33,110 | $15.92 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $32,208 | $15.48 | --1.3% |
| 2021 | $32,617 | $15.68 | +1.9% |
Retail supervisor jobs by state
Most common states for retail supervisors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 764 | 57% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 310 | 50% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 597 | 45% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,027 | 44% |
| 5 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 1,316 | 44% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,359 | 43% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 411 | 43% |
| 8 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 2,480 | 41% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 2,317 | 41% |
| 10 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 1,842 | 41% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 238 | 41% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,381 | 40% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,656 | 40% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 300 | 40% |
| 15 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,103 | 38% |
| 16 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,928 | 38% |
| 17 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 394 | 38% |
| 18 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,492 | 37% |
| 19 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 2,486 | 37% |
| 20 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 3,743 | 36% |
Most common cities for retail supervisors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlington | 5 | 12% | $42,538 |
| 2 | Barnstable Town | 4 | 9% | $46,125 |
| 3 | Schaumburg | 5 | 7% | $38,880 |
| 4 | Alpharetta | 4 | 6% | $33,594 |
| 5 | Columbia | 4 | 4% | $34,001 |
| 6 | Grand Rapids | 5 | 3% | $30,728 |
| 7 | Glendale | 4 | 2% | $33,548 |
| 8 | Boston | 8 | 1% | $46,415 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 6 | 1% | $33,524 |
| 10 | Chicago | 6 | 0% | $38,866 |
Retail Supervisor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of retail supervisor experts
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Manhattan College
Sacred Heart University
Dedman College of Hospitality
University of Indianapolis
Centenary College of Louisiana
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
What will help Retail Supervisors increase their earning potential?
Jaunelle Celaire: 2. Leadership - the world needs more of these; the ability to lead, craft and grow. Digital literacy - this world is definitely turning digital and virtual is the new trend. Emotional intelligence - there is a vast number of personalities in our world today; individuals grow and it is our job to stay emotionally connected, so we can operate more effectively.
What technical skills for a Retail Supervisor stand out to employers?
Dr. John Leylegian Ph.D.: I think almost any graduate will finish school with the same skill set in terms of technical knowledge. What can stand out is an ability to code and use various professional-grade software packages - the actual programming languages and software packages are secondary. If you can code in VBA, moving to Matlab or Python is not a big deal - it's just a matter of syntax. If you can use one CFD code or one FEA code, others will be much easier to learn. The foundation will be attractive to employers. Of course, the non-technical skills are SO important as well, most notably communication (speaking and writing).
What technical skills for a Retail Supervisor stand out to employers?
Keith Hassell: Employers are increasingly looking for applied skillsets and additional certifications to set a candidate apart. Sacred Heart University has recently launched a remote work certification, which houses three modules - focusing on the remote worker, the remote team and the remote leader, providing the tools and resources to comfortably leverage and utilize virtual platforms at various organizations. Additional specialized training, certifications and more are great selling tools pending on the specific area of interest. Certifications are common in areas such as project management, sales, IT/network/software, Google application and more. The candidate needs to think, "What can I do that is beyond my coursework to show I am passionate about my field? How do I make myself stand out?" Certifications is an attainable way to do this.
In addition, soft skills continue to be equally important in today's job market. NACE (the National Association of Colleges and Employers) identified seven core competencies that employers seek from entry level candidates which include critical thinking/problem solving, oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, digital technology, leadership, professionalism/work ethic, career management and global/intercultural fluency.
What's a good job out of college for Retail Supervisors?
Alishia Piotrowski Ed.D.: I think in today's market, students have to think less about the actual job, and think more about the company that they want to work for. I encourage students to look into different companies in their area of hospitality and assess how they feel they would "fit" into that company. What are the company's values? What type of culture has that company created? What are your opportunities for advancement, or for movement? These are the types of questions that a student should be asking. Unfortunately, in today's market, a great student may not get their "dream job" right out of college. But, if they target a company that they see themselves growing with, they should focus on finding any job within that company that would allow them to gain experience and to grow. If they do this, and they work hard, they will be much more likely to get that dream job once the industry has recovered and positions are available.
Dr. Gaoming Zhang
Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Leadership & Educational StudiesUniversity of Indianapolis
Department of Leadership & Educational Studies, School of Education
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Supervisor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Gaoming Zhang: Teacher shortage. We have heard the term of teacher shortage for a while. But this year the pandemic has intensified this long standing shortage to crisis levels. Thousands of teachers are needed during the pandemic, to keep schools open (in-person and virtual learning).
- An increasing need for people with experiences/knowledge of online/hybrid/virtual learning. For decades technology has been viewed as a supplemental tool (or in some people's mind a disruption) in teaching and learning. Not any more. How to design content/curriculum that can be delivered online? How to accommodate learners with special needs in an online environment? How to promote learners' engagement in an online/hybrid environment? These are all great opportunities and challenges unfolded for beginning teachers in such a highly changing environment nowadays.
Dr. Barbara Davis
William J. Atkins DeanCentenary College of Louisiana
Frost School of Business
What experience really stands out on Retail Supervisor resumes?
Dr. Barbara Davis: Graduates participating in internships related to their areas of interest. Internships spanning more than one semester at the same firm stand out as well.
What skills stand out on Retail Supervisor resumes?
Dr. Timothy Edwards: Writing and research skills. Analytical and critical thinking skills. Technical skills such as web design, graphic design, audio and video production skills. Employers are interested in potential employees knowledge, intelligence and skills.