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The differences between sales associate/managers and dept 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 sales associate/manager and a dept manager. Additionally, a dept manager has an average salary of $50,222, which is higher than the $41,412 average annual salary of a sales associate/manager.
The top three skills for a sales associate/manager include customer service, sales floor and strong customer service. The most important skills for a dept manager are customer service, sales floor, and pallet jack.
| Sales Associate/Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $41,412 | $50,222 |
| Hourly rate | $19.91 | $24.15 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 318,977 | 221,313 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A department manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the assigned department, ensuring the maximum productivity and optimal performance of the staff. Department managers also coordinate with business partners, clients, and customers, as well as identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and increase profitability. They handle department budgets and maintain the proper allocation of resources to support project management and deliverables. A department manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, managing the staff's needs, and providing excellent support.
Sales associate/managers and dept managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sales Associate/Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Average salary | $41,412 | $50,222 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $55,000 | Between $28,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salem, VA | Bay Shore, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | UPMC | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a sales associate/manager and a dept manager in terms of educational background:
| Sales Associate/Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| 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 sales associate/managers' and dept managers' demographics:
| Sales Associate/Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.2% Female, 55.8% | Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |