Sales
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Also called: Bakery Manager, Delicatessen Manager, Department Manager, Department Supervisor
US median pay
$48,520
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-3.7%
declining
Openings a year (US)
113,500
1,419,800 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
What they do day to day
- Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
- Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
- Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
- Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
- Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
- Assign employees to specific duties.
- Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.
- Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.
- Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards.
- Review inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Service Orientation3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Persuasion3.2/5
- Negotiation3.2/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.2/5
- Instructing3.2/5
- Time Management3.1/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.8/5
- Administration and Management4.5/5
- Sales and Marketing3.9/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Education and Training3.6/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.3/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma52%
- Associate's degree19%
- Less than high school14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.