How long does it take to become a Department Manager?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a department manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific department manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a department manager.

How To Become A Department Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a department manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A department manager oversees operations within a specific area of a company. They are accountable for ensuring that the department functions smoothly by managing staff, budgets, and resources effectively. Department managers are responsible for setting goals and objectives, creating work schedules, and ensuring that they are met. They must possess strong leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously while keeping their team motivated.

ScoreDepartment ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.2

Avg. Salary $67,160

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.4

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 6.96%

Black or African American 9.28%

Hispanic or Latino 16.76%

Unknown 4.70%

White 61.64%

Gender

female 48.22%

male 51.78%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.2

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Department Manager?

Pros

Authority and decision-making power
Higher salary and benefits compared to entry-level positions
Exposure to different areas of the business
Ability to shape and implement departmental strategies
Opportunity to make a positive impact on the business

Cons

Pressure to meet deadlines and targets
Dealing with difficult or underperforming team members
Balancing multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously
Stressful work environment and high workload
Meeting expectations of upper management while keeping team members motivated

Key steps to become a department manager

Explore department manager education requirements

Most common department manager degrees

Bachelor's

45.5 %

Associate

22.0 %

High School Diploma

20.2 %

Start to develop specific department manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Inventory Management	37.63%
Sales Promotions	17.21%
Cleanliness	12.55%
Customer Service	7.76%
Sales Floor	2.93%

Complete relevant department manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New department managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a department manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real department manager resumes.

Gain additional department manager certifications

Department manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific department manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for department managers include Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Manager Certification (CM).

More About Certifications

Research department manager duties and responsibilities

Participate in company's ISO certification program, successfully achieving ISO [] and AS9100 certification.
Manage and delegate over lumber-building materials department including millwork department.
Manage electronics, wireless connection center, layaway and online order/pickup departments.
Develop schedules; manage payroll; multitask extensively to ensure competing requirements are complete.

Prepare your department manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your department manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a department manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Department Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Department Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Department Manager resume.

Apply for department manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a department manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do department managers rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Department Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

Ability to resolve issues, timely delivery on goals and mantainance of inter personal relationship and organizing.

Cons

Insurbordination, failure to deliver on tasks and targets.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

The people that you meet! Interactive with a diverse group of individuals from every walk of life.

Cons

The employees with all no calls and no shows!!!!! Poor upper management not taking up for the staff. Also the rude individual’s that comes in gripping about everything

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

Its very rewarding, not only in money but also being able to pass on knowledge and being responsible for so much.

Cons

Sometimes it gets overwhelming. Everyone turns to you and you have to be able to help them

What is a department manager and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Department Manager?

Department Manager career paths

Key steps to become a department manager

Explore department manager education requirements

Most common department manager degrees

Start to develop specific department manager skills

Complete relevant department manager training and internships

Gain additional department manager certifications

Research department manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your department manager resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Department Manager Resume templates

Apply for department manager jobs

How Did You Land Your First Department Manager Job

Average department manager salary

How do department managers rate their job?

Department Manager reviews

Department Manager FAQs

How long does it take to become a Department Manager?

Search for department manager jobs

Department Manager jobs by state