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Occupation Description

Directly supervise sales workers in a retail 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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State and National Wages

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

Location	Pay Period	2009
		10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$10.43	$13.00	$16.78	$21.95	$29.04
	Yearly	$21,700	$27,000	$34,900	$45,700	$60,400
Iowa	Hourly	$9.92	$12.22	$15.60	$20.32	$27.54
	Yearly	$20,600	$25,400	$32,400	$42,300	$57,300

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

• High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
• Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
• Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
Compare Wages by Occupation and Local Area
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Iowa Wages and Income

State and National Trends

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
Compare Employment Trends by Occupation
Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation

National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Iowa Workforce Development

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers.

Knowledge:

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills:

• Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Abilities:

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Source: Occupational Information Network: First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

• Assign employees to specific duties.
• Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business.
• Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or in performing services for customers.
• Enforce safety, health, and security rules.
• Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures for their department.
• Establish credit policies and operating procedures.
• Estimate consumer demand and determine the types and amounts of goods to be sold.
• Examine merchandise to ensure that it is correctly priced and displayed and that it functions as advertised.
• Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to assess the condition of each product or item.
• Formulate pricing policies for merchandise, according to profitability requirements.
• Hire, train, and evaluate personnel in sales or marketing establishments, promoting or firing workers when appropriate.
• Instruct staff on how to handle difficult and complicated sales.
• Inventory stock and reorder when inventory drops to a specified level.
• Keep records of purchases, sales, and requisitions.
• Monitor sales activities to ensure that customers receive satisfactory service and quality goods.
• Perform work activities of subordinates, such as cleaning and organizing shelves and displays and selling merchandise.
• Plan and coordinate advertising campaigns and sales promotions, and prepare merchandise displays and advertising copy.
• Plan and prepare work schedules and keep records of employees' work schedules and time cards.
• Plan budgets and authorize payments and merchandise returns.
• Provide customer service by greeting and assisting customers, and responding to customer inquiries and complaints.
• Review inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.

Generalized Work Activities:

• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Detailed Work Activities:

• access media advertising services
• analyze sales activities or trends
• answer customer or public inquiries
• arrange merchandise display
• assign work to staff or employees
• conduct or attend staff meetings
• conduct sales presentations
• conduct training for personnel
• consult with managerial or supervisory personnel
• develop advertising strategy
• develop budgets
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• dictate correspondence
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• establish employee performance standards
• estimate product demand
• evaluate information from employment interviews
• evaluate performance of employees or contract personnel
• examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• greet customers, guests, visitors, or passengers
• hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
• inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
• investigate customer complaints
• maintain production or work records
• make presentations
• monitor worker performance
• order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
• oversee sales programs
• oversee work progress to verify safety or conformance to standards
• plan or organize work
• prepare or maintain employee records
• prepare rental or lease agreement
• prepare reports
• provide customer service
• publicize job openings
• purchase office equipment or furniture
• recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
• recommend personnel actions, such as promotions, transfers, and dismissals
• recommend purchase or repair of furnishings or equipment
• requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
• resolve customer or public complaints
• resolve or assist workers to resolve work problems
• schedule employee work hours
• select software for clerical activities
• sell merchandise
• use knowledge of written communication in sales work
• write advertising copy

Source: Occupational Information Network: First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers.

Tools and Technology

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers  View Detailed Report

Tools:

• Adjustable widemouth pliers - Hammer pliers, Pliers
• Adjustable wrenches - Wrenches
• Magnetic card readers - Magnetic card readers, PC magnetic card readers
• Point of sale credit or debit verification kits - Credit card processing terminals, Telecheck processing terminals
• Security cameras - Security cameras, Security monitors

Technology:

• Calendar and scheduling software - Qualitech Solutions Dynamic Scheduling, Scheduling software, TimeTrak Systems SchedTrak
• Data base user interface and query software - Database software, Gift registry software
• Human resources software - Exact software, Time card software
• Point of sale POS software - ASI Complete software, American Precision Instruments Regit, Attitude POS itive AccuPOS Retail, Bibase 4POS Retail, CAP Automation SellWise
• Time accounting software - Hagel Unitime Systems, Kronos Workforce Timekeeper, Lathem Time PayClock EZ, Payroll software, TimeTrak Systems ClocTrack

Source: Occupational Information Network: First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers.

Education and Training

Occupation: First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Work experience in a related occupation
Related Instructional Programs:

• Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
• Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
• E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
• Floriculture/Floristry Operations and Management
• Retailing and Retail Operations
• Selling Skills and Sales Operations
• Special Products Marketing Operations
• Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing Operations, Other

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www2.iwd.state.ia.us/wiaproviders/index.html

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

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Web Resources

Other Sales and Related Workers
Retail Sales Workers
Sales Representatives, Services
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing
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• Wedding Consultant, Princeton Review

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• Travel Counsellors, Job Futures

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• Retail Sales Supervisors, California Occupational Guide
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