Quick Facts
Median Salary$45,892
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-6.98%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
A Department Manager manages a department in a large retail store. Reviews and monitors merchandise sales, inventory and prices, and directs advertising and promotions. Supervises sales, warehouse, cleaning, maintenance and security staff and prepares work schedules. Responsible for resolving customer complaints.
Core Tasks:
- 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.
- Inventory stock and reorder when inventory drops to a specified level.
- 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.
- Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures for the department.
- Enforce safety, health, and security rules.
- Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.
- Estimate consumer demand and determine the types and amounts of goods to be sold.
- Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business.
What to expect as a Department Manager
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
36% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Department Manager related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
5066 openings for Department Managers
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
The career progression is an interactive way to explore careers related to Department Manager. Click on each career to see its associated salary, job availability, skills, and more.



