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The differences between visual merchandising managers and dept 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 visual merchandising manager and a dept manager. Additionally, a visual merchandising manager has an average salary of $97,250, which is higher than the $50,222 average annual salary of a dept manager.
The top three skills for a visual merchandising manager include customer service, POS and store operations. The most important skills for a dept manager are customer service, sales floor, and pallet jack.
| Visual Merchandising Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $97,250 | $50,222 |
| Hourly rate | $46.75 | $24.15 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 23,486 | 221,313 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A visual merchandising manager is responsible for facilitating the arrangement of visual displays to attract customers to purchase the products. Visual merchandising managers monitor the sales performance of the store and develop effective merchandise strategies to boost revenues and increase profitability. They also assist in creating promotional events and discount offers, as well as designing the store's layout during special occasions. A visual merchandising manager must have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially on guiding the staff's performance and implementing techniques to maximize productivity.
A department manager is responsible for monitoring the operations of the assigned department, ensuring the maximum productivity and optimal performance of the staff. Department managers also coordinate with business partners, clients, and customers, as well as identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and increase profitability. They handle department budgets and maintain the proper allocation of resources to support project management and deliverables. A department manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, managing the staff's needs, and providing excellent support.
Visual merchandising managers and dept managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Visual Merchandising Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Average salary | $97,250 | $50,222 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $139,000 | Between $28,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bridgeport, CT | Bay Shore, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Meta | UPMC |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Retail |
There are a few differences between a visual merchandising manager and a dept manager in terms of educational background:
| Visual Merchandising Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 32% |
| Most common major | Specialized Sales And Merchandising | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between visual merchandising managers' and dept managers' demographics:
| Visual Merchandising Manager | Dept Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3% | Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |