First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: Job Description
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.
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What Tasks Do First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Take On?
The core tasks performed by first-line supervisors of retail sales workers include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective first-line supervisors of retail sales workers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Art Gallery Director
- Auto Leasing Manager
- Auto Parts Manager
- Auto Rental Supervisor
- Automobile Leasing Supervisor
- Bakery Manager
- Branch Manager
- Branch Store Manager
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 789,250 first-line supervisors of retail sales workers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +5.3% over the projection horizon.
Salary for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $53,224 |
| Hourly median | $25.59 |
| 10th percentile | $37,407 |
| 25th percentile | $45,316 |
| 75th percentile | $61,133 |
| 90th percentile | $69,041 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $58,460 |
| Rhode Island | $58,030 |
| New York | $57,410 |
| Colorado | $55,780 |
| Hawaii | $55,380 |
| District of Columbia | $55,350 |
| Massachusetts | $53,050 |
| New Jersey | $52,450 |
| Vermont | $52,000 |
| Connecticut | $51,790 |
| Alaska | $51,660 |
| Delaware | $51,330 |
| New Hampshire | $50,500 |
| California | $50,240 |
| South Dakota | $50,180 |
| Maine | $49,440 |
| Wisconsin | $48,410 |
| Oregon | $48,010 |
| Virginia | $47,980 |
| Montana | $47,970 |
| Minnesota | $47,310 |
| Illinois | $47,240 |
| Florida | $47,100 |
| North Carolina | $47,020 |
| Utah | $46,900 |
| Indiana | $46,880 |
| North Dakota | $46,770 |
| Michigan | $46,640 |
| Arizona | $46,450 |
| South Carolina | $46,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,160 |
| Kansas | $46,080 |
| Maryland | $46,060 |
| Wyoming | $45,600 |
| New Mexico | $45,600 |
| Missouri | $45,580 |
| Iowa | $45,390 |
| Texas | $45,270 |
| Idaho | $44,990 |
| Nevada | $44,780 |
| Tennessee | $44,720 |
| Nebraska | $44,680 |
| Ohio | $44,320 |
| Georgia | $43,580 |
| Virgin Islands | $43,520 |
| Mississippi | $43,110 |
| Louisiana | $42,700 |
| Alabama | $42,670 |
| Oklahoma | $39,900 |
| Kentucky | $38,530 |
| Arkansas | $37,550 |
| West Virginia | $37,080 |
| Guam | $30,550 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,690 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $52,352 | 4.8% | 1.04 |
| Middle Atlantic | $51,419 | 13.6% | 0.93 |
| Far Western US | $51,191 | 15.0% | 0.92 |
| Rocky Mountains | $51,186 | 4.4% | 1.16 |
| Great Lakes | $46,386 | 12.9% | 0.92 |
| Plains States | $46,316 | 6.4% | 0.93 |
| Southwest | $44,910 | 12.9% | 1.04 |
| Southeast | $44,781 | 28.7% | 1.19 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $60,320 | 14,440 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $60,260 | 4,610 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | HI | $59,620 | 940 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $58,320 | 52,310 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $57,990 | 1,570 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $57,830 | 2,930 |
| Napa, CA | CA | $57,790 | 630 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $57,440 | 12,420 |
Top Industries Employing First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Most first-line supervisors of retail sales workers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 984,680 | $47,050 |
| Wholesale Trade | 24,480 | $61,150 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 21,970 | $56,870 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 11,740 | $42,910 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 11,590 | $45,990 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 9,590 | $46,800 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 8,900 | $49,680 |
| Manufacturing | 6,630 | $50,360 |
Below are examples of industries where first-line supervisors of retail sales workers work:
Software First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk Revit (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data mining software: Google Analytics (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Time accounting software: Kronos Workforce Timekeeper (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Telephone Conversations
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
Typical first-line supervisors of retail sales workers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services (Primary-Short)
- First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers (Primary-Long)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (Primary-Short)
- Cashiers (Supplemental)
- Counter and Rental Clerks (Supplemental)
- Retail Salespersons (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future first-line supervisors of retail sales workers often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
6 programs across 3 majors
Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 41-1011.00 (First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers).
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