Average Salary of Department Store Managers

© 2012 by Aurelio Locsin.

A department store is so named because it offers retail goods under several different departments such as shoes, women’s clothing, furniture and cosmetics. For the business to function efficiently and profitably, each department requires a manager who can coordinate staff and plan business strategy. Each of the major functions, such as human resources and administration, and the entire store also need someone in charge.

General managers set sales goals and plan strategy for all of the department store. They answer only to the owner or board of directors but are responsible for the salespeople, vendors and customers of the business. Many chief executive officers rise through the departmental ranks in positions of increasing responsibility. They may have master’s degrees in business or related fields. General managers must meet frequently with and delegate major tasks to other department store managers. As of May 2011, they earned a mean $40.77 per hour or $84,800 per year states the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

HR managers recruit, interview, train, hire, and handle the benefits and wages of department store staff. They meet frequently with department managers and top executives to ensure that staffing needs are met and that all regulations regarding employees are followed. In larger organizations, they may specialize in such functions as training or compensation. They usually need a bachelor’s degree in business administration or human resources. Voluntary certification can show expertise in their fields and can make jobs easier to find. Human resources managers earned a mean $43.38 per hour or $90,240 per year.

Department stores produce much information that needs to be organized and filed for easy access. They can store customer names and addresses, vendor contracts, employee wage figures and sales reports. The clerks and administrative assistants who handle this paperwork fall under the supervision of administration managers. These managers collect and distribute company-wide information such as sales schedules, buy and store supplies such as cash register receipts, and oversee maintenance of electrical systems such as ceiling lights. They received $37.27 per hour or $77,510 per year.

The heads of departments are generally sales managers, who may have risen to the position from sales clerks jobs. Though they may have started at their store with only a high school diploma, many employers require that their managers have a minimum bachelor’s degree. Their total compensation may combine a base salary, commissions and bonuses for meeting sales objectives. They are responsible for increasing profits in their departments, and must train and motivate the sales staff to meet performance goals. Sales managers were paid a mean $32.50 per hour or $67,600 per year.