Store manager and buyer vs department manager

The differences between store managers and buyer and department managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a store manager and buyer, becoming a department manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a store manager and buyer has an average salary of $68,964, which is higher than the $67,160 average annual salary of a department manager.

The top three skills for a store manager and buyer include customer service, product knowledge and payroll. The most important skills for a department manager are inventory management, sales promotions, and cleanliness.

Store manager and buyer vs department manager overview

	Store Manager And Buyer	Department Manager
Yearly salary	$68,964	$67,160
Hourly rate	$33.16	$32.29
Growth rate	6%	5%
Number of jobs	154,677	330,327
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age	44	43
Years of experience	4	6

What does a store manager and buyer do?

A store manager is responsible for selecting and purchasing goods. They provide information on products, including prices and promotions. They are responsible for providing recommendations to clients, handling customer requires, and solving any issues. They also monitor sales.

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.

Store manager and buyer vs department manager salary

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

	Store Manager And Buyer	Department Manager
Average salary	$68,964	$67,160
Salary range	Between $43,000 And $110,000	Between $39,000 And $115,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Ralph Lauren
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between store manager and buyer and department manager education

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

	Store Manager And Buyer	Department Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Akron	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Store manager and buyer vs department manager demographics

Here are the differences between store managers and buyer' and department managers' demographics:

	Store Manager And Buyer	Department Manager
Average age	44	43
Gender ratio	Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%	Male, 51.8% Female, 48.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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 Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between store manager and buyer and department manager duties and responsibilities

Store manager and buyer example responsibilities.

Manage Instagram and Facebook page of the company.
Utilize QuickBooks software to manage inventory, sales orders, purchase orders, point of sale, etc.
Ensure maintenance of store including cleanliness and overall aesthetics and manage the load process and backroom activities/organization.
Maintain store operations by refreshing store visuals and inserting products into the POS system.
Create comprehensive social media campaigns that boost the company's presence through multiple outlets such as Instagram, Facebook and email.
Select and purchase appropriate seasonal ready-to-wear fashion merchandise from national and international clothing manufacturers for boutique retail sales.

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.

Store manager and buyer vs department manager skills

Common store manager and buyer skills

Customer Service, 23%
Product Knowledge, 7%
Payroll, 6%
Market Trends, 5%
Inventory Control, 5%
Trade Shows, 4%

Common department manager skills

Inventory Management, 38%
Sales Promotions, 17%
Cleanliness, 13%
Customer Service, 8%
Sales Floor, 3%
Product Knowledge, 2%

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Store Manager And Buyer
Store Manager And Buyer vs Department Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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