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What is a store team leader and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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A store team leader holds a middle-management or supervisory position in a retail facility. The team leader serves as a go-between for management and hourly employees, and they generally report either to a department manager (generally in larger stores) or the store general manager. Their main role is to improve the individual salespeople employed beneath them. Every other role is an extension of this basic function.

Their main duties include instructing and training staff, motivating, praising, criticizing, and rewarding the staff according to their performance, leading by example, and effectively communicating with the staff as well as people coming into the store with problems and queries.

A high school diploma or a G.E.D may suffice along with sufficient proven work experience in sales, marketing, or related field, although a bachelor's degree may be given preference. A leadership role comes with rewards attached. A store team leader can make $114,158 a year. The job is projected to experience growth in the coming years.

ScoreStore Team LeaderUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,200

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 7.01%

Black or African American 8.70%

Hispanic or Latino 17.02%

Unknown 4.66%

White 61.96%

Gender

female 47.34%

male 52.66%

Age - 42
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 - 42
Stress level
9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.2

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Store team leader career paths

Key steps to become a store team leader

  1. Explore store team leader education requirements

    Most common store team leader degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.6 %

    Associate

    16.9 %

    High School Diploma

    13.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific store team leader skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Logistics14.68%
    Customer Satisfaction12.06%
    Inventory Control11.42%
    Store Leadership10.65%
    Sales Floor5.75%
  3. Complete relevant store team leader training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New store team leaders 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 store team leader based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real store team leader resumes.
  4. Research store team leader duties and responsibilities

    • Manage POS, payroll and scheduling systems to control store expenses and manage resources.
    • Assist store leadership in effectively leading, managing and developing store and/or department operations and associates to maximize sales and profitability.
    • Conduct monthly audits to ensure OSHA compliance.
    • Complete OSHA work injury forms and logs.
  5. Get store team leader experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a store team leader. The most common roles before becoming a store team leader include store manager, executive team leader team lead and assistant manager.
  6. Prepare your store team leader resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your store team leader 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 store team leader resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable store team leader resume templates

    Build a professional store team leader 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 store team leader resume.
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
    Store Team Leader Resume
  7. Apply for store team leader jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a store team leader job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first store team leader job

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Average store team leader salary

The average store team leader salary in the United States is $37,200 per year or $18 per hour. Store team leader salaries range between $27,000 and $49,000 per year.

Average store team leader salary
$37,200 Yearly
$17.88 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do store team leaders rate their job?

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Store team leader reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

Insurbordination, failure to deliver on tasks and targets.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

The people that you meet! Interactive with a diverse group of individuals from every walk of life.

Cons

The employees with all no calls and no shows!!!!! Poor upper management not taking up for the staff. Also the rude individual’s that comes in gripping about everything


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Safety of the employees and opportunities to learn and leadership

Cons

Not to be listened by the employees


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.