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.
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
SOC: 41-1011 O*NET: 41-1011.00
Median Salary
$48,520
per year
Job Growth
📉 -3.7%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
113.5
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
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 does a First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$33,120
10th percentile
Early Career
$38,590
25th percentile
Median
$48,520
50th percentile
Experienced
$62,130
75th percentile
Top Earners
$77,080
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$33,120
25th
$38,590
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$48,520
Mean: $53,380
75th
$62,130
90th
$77,080
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $43,960 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $38,590 and $62,130
- •Salary spread is 48.5% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 1,121,800 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:1,419,800
Top Industries
Retail Trade88.9%
General Merchandise Retailers18.5%
Food and Beverage Retailers17%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-3.7%
Annual Openings:113,500
Employment Projections
2025 (Current)1,419,800
Current
2035 (Projected)1,367,400
-3.7%
-52,500
Employment Change
-3.7%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
109,180 jobs$54,8700.83x
Texas
103,410 jobs$46,2801.02x
Florida
80,470 jobs$48,4101.12x
New York
50,830 jobs$58,3000.73x
Pennsylvania
40,970 jobs$46,6900.94x
North Carolina
39,890 jobs$47,7601.12x
Ohio
39,110 jobs$45,6800.98x
Illinois
36,940 jobs$47,9900.84x
Georgia
36,900 jobs$46,1501.05x
Virginia
32,250 jobs$47,9901.09x
New Jersey
31,160 jobs$57,3201.01x
Michigan
30,750 jobs$46,4300.97x
Washington
27,640 jobs$60,7501.08x
Tennessee
26,470 jobs$47,8801.12x
Colorado
26,390 jobs$58,2001.27x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Customer and Personal Service
100%
#3
Oral Expression
100%
#4
Service Orientation
94%
#5
Administration and Management
94%
#6
Oral Comprehension
92%
#7
Speaking
86%
#8
Sales and Marketing
86%
#9
Speech Clarity
82%
#10
Social Perceptiveness
80%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Customer and Personal Service
advanced5.0
100%
Oral Expression
advanced5.0
100%
Service Orientation
advanced4.7
94%
Administration and Management
advanced4.7
94%
Oral Comprehension
advanced4.6
92%
Speaking
intermediate4.3
86%
Sales and Marketing
intermediate4.3
86%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Customer and Personal Service
advancedImportance100%
knowledge
5.0/5.0
Oral Expression
advancedImportance100%
abilities
5.0/5.0
Service Orientation
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Administration and Management
advancedImportance94%
knowledge
4.7/5.0
Oral Comprehension
advancedImportance92%
abilities
4.6/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Sales and Marketing
intermediateImportance86%
knowledge
4.3/5.0
Speech Clarity
intermediateImportance82%
abilities
4.1/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance80%
skills
4.0/5.0
English Language
intermediateImportance80%
knowledge
4.0/5.0
Coordination
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers82%
5 shared skills
Personal Care Aides73%
5 shared skills
Bartenders67%
5 shared skills
Wind Energy Operations Managers67%
5 shared skills
Chefs and Head Cooks67%
5 shared skills
Nannies67%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Persuasion
- →Personnel and Human Resources
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Customer and Personal Service
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Service Orientation
- ★Speaking
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Customer and Personal Service
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
IBM SPSS Statistics
🔥 Hot TechSAS
🔥 Hot TechTableau
🔥 Hot TechAutodesk Revit
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Dynamics
🔥 Hot TechSalesforce software
🔥 Hot TechTeradata Database
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechOracle Database
🔥 Hot TechYardi software
🔥 Hot TechGoogle Analytics
🔥 Hot TechAdobe InDesign
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
IBM SPSS Statistics
SAS
Tableau
Autodesk Revit
Microsoft Dynamics
Salesforce software
Teradata Database
Microsoft Access
Oracle Database
Yardi software
Google Analytics
Adobe InDesign
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (10)Management & Supervision (2)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)Analysis & Evaluation (2)Operations & Execution (1)Training & Development (1)Planning & Development (4)
1
Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Assign employees to specific duties.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision91% perform94%
5
Inventory stock and reorder when inventory drops to a specified level.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Enforce safety, health, and security rules.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation79% perform86%
9
Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing establishments, promoting or firing workers when appropriate.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation76% perform84%
10
Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Operations & Execution73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers professionals typically have a ECS Holland code and highly value independence
EEnterprising
CConventional
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.87
Stress Tolerance
CriticalStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.82
Leadership
CriticalLeadership
Importance Level4.77
Cooperation
CriticalCooperation
Importance Level4.75
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.71
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.69
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.9
Stress Tolerance
4.8
Leadership
4.8
Cooperation
4.8
Dependability
4.7
Self-Control
4.7
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.7
Attention to Detail
4.5
Concern for Others
4.4
Social Orientation
4.3
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Explore educational programs that can help you become a First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers.
Browse Training Programs →The Apprenticeship Route: Earn While You Learn
You don't necessarily need to pay for school to enter this field. There are 50 registered apprenticeship sponsors for this occupation in the U.S. DOL system. Apprentices earn a wage from day one, typically starting at 40–50% of the journeyman rate, and finish with no tuition debt.
Most sponsors: TX (7) , GU (6) , GA (4) , IL (4) , SC (4)
How apprenticeships work →Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship sponsors (apprenticeship.gov)
Trade Colleges That Train for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Top trade colleges by completions in fields that prepare students for this career.
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN
5.3k program completions/year
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
2.6k program completions/year
Eastern Gateway Community College
Steubenville, OH
2.5k program completions/year
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC
1.9k program completions/year
Lee College
Baytown, TX
1.9k program completions/year
Connecticut State Community College
New Britain, CT
1.4k program completions/year
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA
1.3k program completions/year
Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA
1.3k program completions/year
Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA
1.1k program completions/year
Los Angeles Valley College
Valley Glen, CA
1.0k program completions/year
Long Beach City College
Long Beach, CA
974 program completions/year
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, GA
844 program completions/year
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