How to hire a shop manager

How to hire a shop manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step shop manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a shop manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new shop manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a shop manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a shop manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect shop manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of shop managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Shop Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Shop Manager	A Shop Manager is responsible for overall store management. They are in charge of the general operations of a store and ensuring that it runs smoothly, cleanly, and meets any budget or sales goals.	$12-25
   Cosmetic Counter Manager	A cosmetic counter manager is responsible for overseeing a cosmetic counter's daily operations, ensuring optimal service, and ensuring client satisfaction. They set priorities and objectives, recruit and train staff, develop strategies to improve productivity, monitor operations, and maintain a high level of productivity and service... Show more	$14-24
   Team Lead/Manager	A team lead or manager is a professional who is responsible for guiding and directing employees so that they can achieve efficient operations within the organization. Team leads manage all the activities of their employees and distribute information to them as well as stakeholders... Show more	$25-69

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Taking Care
   • Work Ethic
   • Team Training
   • Product Knowledge
   • Payroll
   • Shop Operations
   • Shop Safety
   • POS
   • Sales Floor
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Inventory Control
   • Inventory Management
   • Loss Prevention

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage inventory and payment to suppliers in addition to managing payroll and other administrative tasks.
   • Manage the units respirator control program.
   • Manage gift registry for 48 stores consisting of 13,000 annual registries, $9.8MM in sales.
   • Manage inventory and work orders, train new employees, frequent QA inspections for shipping and receiving.
   • Conduct employee training that encompass all require OSHA and company safety guidelines to achieve a safe and productive work environment.
   • Manage data on POS system, mainly items being sell in the shop have to be written down and organize accordingly.

   More shop manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your shop manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A shop manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, shop managers' average salary in west virginia is 50% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level shop managers earn 52% less than senior-level shop managers.
   • Certifications. A shop manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a shop manager's salary.

   Average shop manager salary

   $36,580yearly

   $17.59 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level shop manager salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average shop manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$44,107	$21
   2	New York	$43,549	$21
   3	Colorado	$42,926	$21
   4	Minnesota	$40,695	$20
   5	Wisconsin	$36,819	$18
   6	Florida	$36,264	$17
   7	Arizona	$35,780	$17
   8	Texas	$35,683	$17
   9	Georgia	$35,426	$17
   10	Virginia	$34,956	$17
   11	North Carolina	$34,503	$17
   12	Nevada	$34,433	$17
   13	Alabama	$34,328	$17
   14	Illinois	$34,138	$16
   15	Kansas	$33,242	$16
   16	Ohio	$33,227	$16
   17	Indiana	$33,169	$16
   18	Louisiana	$33,083	$16
   19	Michigan	$32,910	$16
   20	Oklahoma	$31,797	$15

   Average shop manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Rivian	$71,637	$34.44	2
   2	MDU Resources	$66,103	$31.78
   3	Michael Kors	$59,075	$28.40	6
   4	Navistar	$53,295	$25.62
   5	The Nueva School	$49,939	$24.01
   6	Abercrombie & Fitch Co	$46,464	$22.34	331
   7	Tesla	$46,223	$22.22	7
   8	Winston Retail	$45,351	$21.80
   9	Ralph Lauren	$44,487	$21.39	5
   10	International Trucks	$43,858	$21.09
   11	Crown Equipment	$42,331	$20.35	11
   12	Turner Construction	$42,301	$20.34	2
   13	NBCUniversal	$41,508	$19.96	16
   14	ATI Physical Therapy	$41,459	$19.93
   15	Covenant	$41,293	$19.85	12
   16	UNTUCKit	$40,845	$19.64	9
   17	Medical Billing	$40,824	$19.63
   18	Nucor	$40,348	$19.40
   19	XPO Logistics	$39,614	$19.05
   20	Nordstrom	$39,495	$18.99	149

4. Writing a shop manager job description

   A shop manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a shop manager job description:

   Shop manager job description example

   Our company, Closet Factory, has storage solutions to organize every area throughout the home. We design, make and install custom closets, home offices, garages, pantries and built-in cabinets. We purchase the best wood sheet material and hardware to make all of our systems. Our woodworking shop in Plymouth was established 22 years ago and our business is growing. We are adding employees in our shop to produce our systems
   
   Our factory makes all of the wood parts to our complete product line using the 32-millimeter system. Shop employees cut every job on a sliding table saw, edge material on a commercial machine, assemble drawer boxes, drill for handles, and various other tasks to prepare each job. The Installers check every project for accuracy and quality before loading Company Vans.
   Job Benefits:
   
   Full-time, permanent positions
   Year round work
   Variety of Projects
   Best Training and Support in the Industry
   We have never had a lay-off in our entire history!
   Hourly wage between $20 and $24 and hours (we do not offer medical benefits, we do provide paid holidays and earned vacation days)
   
   Specific requirements:
   
   Experience with basic hand tools
   Some woodworking, table saw, and other machinery experience
   Good at measuring material and math calculations
   Organize and prioritize work for the day
   Accurate and good with detailed work
   Able to squarely assemble drawers
   We will train you to read Designs and plans
   Careful with tools and equipment
   Valid drivers license and insurable
   
   We have a small group working in the shop and installing systems. You would be interacting with our Designers, front office, and Installers. Shop employees are critical to our business at Closet Factory and we will train you to excel in your position. We are looking for someone who will fit in with our group of hardworking employees and do a great job for our customers.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right shop manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your shop manager job on Zippia to find and recruit shop manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit shop managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new shop manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the shop manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new shop manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a shop manager?