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Shop manager vs department manager

The differences between shop managers and department 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 shop manager and a department manager. Additionally, a department manager has an average salary of $67,160, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a shop manager.

The top three skills for a shop manager include customer service, taking care and work ethic. The most important skills for a department manager are inventory management, sales promotions, and cleanliness.

Shop manager vs department manager overview

Shop ManagerDepartment Manager
Yearly salary$36,580$67,160
Hourly rate$17.59$32.29
Growth rate-5%
Number of jobs83,627330,327
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4343
Years of experience66

What does a shop manager do?

As the name entails, shop managers manage an establishment's day-to-day operations, ensuring it runs effectively and smoothly. Their responsibilities include making business strategies, developing promotional materials, and ensuring that sales teams are motivated. As the shop manager, you will also oversee the store's organizational and operational standards, undertake administrative tasks, and monitor inventory levels. The requirements to become a store manager include having a high school diploma, at least three years of work experience in the retail industry, and leadership skills.

What does a department manager do?

Department managers oversee the operations of the department they are assigned to. They manage all aspects of the operation, including finance, sales, quality control, and human resources. They set department goals and the steps the team needs to take to ensure that the goals are met. Department managers are also in charge of training team members so that these team members will be able to work together harmoniously. They should also be able to keep the team's goal in sight and adjust their strategy as needed.

Shop manager vs department manager salary

Shop managers and department managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Shop ManagerDepartment Manager
Average salary$36,580$67,160
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $52,000Between $39,000 And $115,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew Jersey
Best paying companyRivianRalph Lauren
Best paying industryRetailManufacturing

Differences between shop manager and department manager education

There are a few differences between a shop manager and a department manager in terms of educational background:

Shop ManagerDepartment Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiSUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Shop manager vs department manager demographics

Here are the differences between shop managers' and department managers' demographics:

Shop ManagerDepartment Manager
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 78.2% Female, 21.8%Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between shop manager and department manager duties and responsibilities

Shop manager example 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.
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Department manager example responsibilities.

  • Participate in company's ISO certification program, successfully achieving ISO [] and AS9100 certification.
  • Manage and delegate over lumber-building materials department including millwork department.
  • Manage electronics, wireless connection center, layaway and online order/pickup departments.
  • Develop schedules; manage payroll; multitask extensively to ensure competing requirements are complete.
  • Monitor and maximize sales and payroll by identifying sales opportunities and managing controllable expenses.
  • Manage geotechnical aspects of an EIR/EIS for a coastal development in an environmentally sensitive lagoon.
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Shop manager vs department manager skills

Common shop manager skills
  • Customer Service, 26%
  • Taking Care, 10%
  • Work Ethic, 8%
  • Team Training, 6%
  • Product Knowledge, 5%
  • Payroll, 3%
Common department manager skills
  • Inventory Management, 38%
  • Sales Promotions, 17%
  • Cleanliness, 13%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Sales Floor, 3%
  • Product Knowledge, 2%