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

What is a shop manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

A shop manager, also known as a retail manager, supervises day-to-day activities in retail outlets. In other words, they run shops. They make sure sales are going well, the staff is well behaved and doing their job, that shelves are stocked, and inventory is in order. They stay on top of money coming in and out of the establishment and make sure clients are satisfied with the services.

Shop managers are responsible for hiring and training new employees as well. They keep track of records and statistics, deal with customer complaints, and make sure everything that happens inside the store complies with safety and health regulations.

The best career advancement opportunities for shop managers are in franchise manager positions, meaning you can become the manager of several retail locations of a retail chain, instead of just one.

ScoreShop ManagerUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $36,580

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 6.89%

Black or African American 9.30%

Hispanic or Latino 17.09%

Unknown 4.70%

White 61.35%

Gender

female 21.76%

male 78.24%

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

Newest jobs for Shop Manager in Columbus, OH

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Key steps to become a shop manager

Explore shop manager education requirements

Most common shop manager degrees

Bachelor's

37.9 %

Associate

24.3 %

High School Diploma

23.7 %

Start to develop specific shop manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	25.74%
Taking Care	9.76%
Work Ethic	7.66%
Team Training	5.80%
Product Knowledge	5.15%

Complete relevant shop manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New shop 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 shop manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real shop manager resumes.

Gain additional shop manager certifications

Shop 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 shop manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for shop managers include Automotive Sales Professional and OSHA Safety Certificate .

More About Certifications

Research shop manager duties and responsibilities

Manage inventory and payment to suppliers in addition to managing payroll and other administrative tasks.
Manage the units respirator control program.
Manage gift registry for 48 stores consisting of 13,000 annual registries, $9.8MM in sales.
Manage inventory and work orders, train new employees, frequent QA inspections for shipping and receiving.

Prepare your shop manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your shop 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 shop 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 Shop Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Shop 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 Shop Manager resume.

Apply for shop manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a shop 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 shop managers rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Shop Manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2021

Pros

I love the challenges that come with being a manager. My reward was seeing my employees flourish and succeed.

Cons

I don't like missing deadlines or someone who takes advantage of a situation.

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020