CareerFacts

All careers › First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

Department manager: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$48,520median pay per year, or $23.33 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,120lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,59025th percentile
  3. $48,520median
  4. $62,13075th percentile
  5. $77,080top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A department manager, officially a first-line supervisor of retail sales workers, had a median pay of $48,520 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to fall 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.7%[2]
Openings per year
113,500[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do department managers make?

The median pay for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers was $48,520 a year, or $23.33 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was $53,380 a year, or $25.66 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,120 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,080[4]. The 25th percentile was $38,590 and the 75th was $62,130[4]. A percentile is a boundary line. BLS publishes these boundaries, not a starting salary[9].

Hourly, the 10th percentile was $15.92 and the 90th was $37.06[10].

These figures cover about 1,121,800 wage and salary workers[11]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest state median at $60,750 a year, followed by Rhode Island at $58,570 and the District of Columbia at $58,470[13]. California had the most jobs at 109,180, followed by Texas with 103,410 and Florida with 80,470[14]. California's median was $54,870[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA had the highest median at $62,170, followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $61,710[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs at 52,270, with a median of $58,930[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA came next with 36,580 jobs[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[13]$60,75027,640
Rhode Island$58,5703,880
District of Columbia$58,4701,470
New York$58,30050,830
Colorado$58,20026,390
Massachusetts$57,49020,240
New Jersey$57,32031,160
Alaska$57,0803,030
South Dakota$56,6803,660
Connecticut$56,51013,910
Hawaii$55,8506,580
Vermont$55,7602,310
Delaware$55,7104,200
California$54,870109,180
Maine$53,5805,760
New Hampshire$51,6506,610
Oregon$50,66013,940
Wisconsin$49,55017,750
North Dakota$49,3502,640
Montana$49,3005,830
Minnesota$48,77021,530
Florida$48,41080,470
Arizona$48,01020,260
Illinois$47,99036,940
Virginia$47,99032,250
Tennessee$47,88026,470
Indiana$47,79022,090
South Carolina$47,77019,390
North Carolina$47,76039,890
Utah$47,47010,270
Maryland$47,00023,080
Kansas$46,9509,250
Nevada$46,90010,500
Missouri$46,86019,160
Pennsylvania$46,69040,970
Iowa$46,6109,970
New Mexico$46,5507,660
Michigan$46,43030,750
Texas$46,280103,410
Georgia$46,15036,900
Idaho$46,1407,330
Wyoming$45,9803,060
Mississippi$45,76013,020
Ohio$45,68039,110
Oklahoma$45,43015,340
Nebraska$45,2807,010
Alabama$44,86025,020
Louisiana$43,86016,910
Kentucky$40,08018,290
West Virginia$39,7407,420
Arkansas$36,95011,050

How to become a department manager

In an ONET survey of 30 workers, 52% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 19% said an associate's degree and 14% said less than a high school diploma[17]. ONET places the job in a zone where very little to some preparation is needed[18].

What department managers do

Department managers directly supervise and coordinate retail sales workers in a store or department[19]. They may also handle purchasing, budgeting, accounting and personnel work[19]. Tasks reported to O*NET include:

Job titles in the field include department manager, grocery manager and bakery manager[21].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,419,800 to 1,367,400 jobs, a change of 52,500 fewer jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. Those counts include self-employed workers, who made up 21.1% of the group in 2025[2][22].

Even with fewer jobs, BLS expects about 113,500 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

Median pay of $48,520 is slightly below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][5]. The path is open: BLS lists a high school diploma and less than 5 years of related experience[7]. Employment is projected to shrink 3.7%, yet openings remain large at about 113,500 a year[2][6]. The group is big, with about 1,121,800 wage and salary jobs, so the pay and openings figures describe a very large workforce[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a department manager make an hour?
The median was $23.33 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.66[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $15.92 and the 90th was $37.06[10].
What education do you need to be a department manager?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related experience[7].
Which state pays retail supervisors the most?
Washington had the highest median at $60,750 a year[13]. California had the most jobs at 109,180[14].
Is the retail supervisor job in demand?
BLS projects a 3.7% decline from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% growth for all occupations, but about 113,500 openings a year[2][3][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers in the US was $48,520 per year and $23.33 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers is projected to decline 3.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,419,800 to 1,367,400 jobs (a change of -52,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: 10th percentile $33,120, 25th percentile $38,590, 75th percentile $62,130, 90th percentile $77,080. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 113,500 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers was $53,380 per year and $25.66 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: 10th percentile $15.92, 25th percentile $18.55, 75th percentile $29.87, 90th percentile $37.06. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,121,800 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers jobs: California 109,180; Texas 103,410; Florida 80,470; New York 50,830; Pennsylvania 40,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $62,170; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $61,710; Boulder, CO $60,530; Longview-Kelso, WA $59,980; Fairbanks-College, AK $59,660; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $59,420; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $59,110; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $59,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 52,270 (median $58,930); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 36,580 (median $51,390); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 28,540 (median $47,320); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 26,770 (median $48,900); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 22,730 (median $46,970); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 22,220 (median $50,250). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 41-1011.00 survey of workers (30 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 52%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 19%, Less than a High School Diploma 14%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 41-1011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 41-1011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bakery Manager, Delicatessen Manager, Department Manager, Department Supervisor, Grocery Manager, Key Carrier, Meat Department Manager, Parts Sales Manager. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections: 21.1% of First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.