How To Become A Shop Supervisor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a shop supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A shop supervisor oversees the daily operations of a retail store or shop. They manage a team of employees, ensuring that they meet customer service standards and sales goals. Shop supervisors schedule staff, handle inventory, and maintain cleanliness and organization. They also make decisions on pricing, promotions, and product displays. In addition, they handle customer complaints and resolve issues to maintain satisfaction. Shop supervisors need to have excellent communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

ScoreShop SupervisorUS Average

Salary

4.0

Avg. Salary $50,689

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.58%

Black or African American 12.18%

Hispanic or Latino 17.35%

Unknown 4.08%

White 61.11%

Gender

female 10.85%

male 89.15%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a shop supervisor?

Pros

Opportunity for career advancement within the company
Possibility for bonuses or incentives based on team performance
Chance to work with a variety of people and personalities
Ability to train and mentor employees
Job security in a stable industry

Cons

High levels of stress and pressure to meet performance targets
Responsibility for the overall success or failure of the team
High expectations from upper management or corporate office
Limited control over budget or financial decisions
Limited opportunities for creative expression or innovation in some industries

Key steps to become a shop supervisor

Explore shop supervisor education requirements

Most common shop supervisor degrees

Bachelor's

31.0 %

High School Diploma

28.4 %

Associate

25.3 %

Start to develop specific shop supervisor skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	25.52%
Safety Procedures	10.43%
Preventative Maintenance	6.43%
Parts Inventory	6.19%
OSHA	4.05%

Complete relevant shop supervisor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New shop supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a shop supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real shop supervisor resumes.

Gain additional shop supervisor certifications

Shop supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific shop supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for shop supervisors include OSHA Safety Certificate and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

More About Certifications

Research shop supervisor duties and responsibilities

Manage and supervise CNC operators.
Supervise and work in a fabrication shop, fabricate conveyors, MIG and TIG welding, and operate end mill.
Procure aerospace alloys and materials as well as all consumables.
Design medical, kitchen, and woodworking products using SolidWorks.

Prepare your shop supervisor resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your shop supervisor resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a shop supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable shop supervisor resume templates

Build a professional shop supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your shop supervisor resume.