Image that illustrates Supervisor, shop (specialist shop)

Supervisor, shop (specialist shop)

37 800 kr

Sales-oriented store managers and department managers in stores

34 600 - 41 000 kr / month

Women earn 101% of what men do.

Försäljning & inköp

What will be the salary after tax?

Salary progression Supervisor, shop (specialist shop)

Average salary 37 800 kr
Males 37 500 kr
Females 38 000 kr

What does a department manager in retail do? – Tasks and work environment

A department manager in retail is responsible for leading and distributing work in the store, ensuring efficient operations and creating a pleasant working environment for staff. The role includes daily staff planning, onboarding new employees, scheduling, and often recruitment. The manager also handles customer contacts, actively works with sales targets, and ensures the store follows company policies and routines. The work environment is dynamic and the pace can be high during campaigns and sales periods when customer flow increases.

Salary development over time

The salary for retail department managers has increased steadily over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 35,500 SEK per month, followed by an increase to 36 800 SEK in 2023 and further to 37 800 SEK in 2024. This corresponds to a total salary increase of approximately 6.5% during this period. The development reflects both an increased demand for competent managers and a general salary adjustment within retail. The trend indicates that the role is valued more highly, which can be linked to increased leadership and specialized sales skills required in stores with more advanced product ranges.

Retail department manager salary – complete overview

  • Average salary: 37 800 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 34,600 SEK/month (woman, private sector)
  • Highest salary: 41,000 SEK/month (woman, private sector)
  • Hourly wage (average): 227 SEK
  • Women earn: 101% of men's salary (38 000 SEK vs 37,500 SEK)
  • Regional differences: Salary levels may vary depending on the location, size, and turnover of the store, but top levels are often found in larger cities.

Education and qualifications

The path to becoming a retail department manager often goes through upper secondary education in commerce and several years of experience in retail. Internal leadership training or additional courses in sales and personnel management are often required. Formal university qualifications are uncommon but advantageous when recruiting for larger store chains with extensive responsibilities.

  • Upper secondary education: Commerce and administration program (3 years)
  • Internal leadership training: Often offered by the employer
  • Additional courses: Sales, store economics, employment law
  • Practical experience: Several years of retail experience is a basic requirement
  • Prerequisites: Good knowledge of customer service, organization, and administration

Many retail department managers get the opportunity to influence product range, campaigns, and the store's local profile – this can create a creative workday and open doors to new responsibilities within retail.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

In addition to the monthly salary, benefits such as staff discounts, bonus systems linked to sales targets, wellness allowances, and sometimes training support are often offered. Pension schemes, insurances, and flexible working hours are common, especially in larger store chains.

Competition and challenges

The competition for positions as retail department managers is intense, especially in attractive store chains and larger cities where salary levels are higher. The industry is characterized by rapid changes, digitalization, and shifting customer behaviors, which place high demands on flexibility and willingness to develop. Challenges include managing staff turnover, meeting high sales targets, and creating a positive work environment. Success requires the ability to quickly adapt to new routines and working methods, and to be a clear and present leader.

Tips for aspiring retail department managers

To succeed as a retail department manager, it is advantageous to demonstrate responsibility and the ability to motivate others. Good communication skills facilitate handling personnel and customer relations. Being solution-oriented helps in unforeseen situations in store operations, while a structured work approach eases scheduling and inventory management. Showing engagement in sales and store development is appreciated by employers and can lead to advancement opportunities. Social skills and the ability to build teams are crucial for creating a pleasant work environment. Finally, it is important to be flexible and ready to take on new tasks as the business evolves.

Key facts about Department Manager in retail (trade)

  • Education level: Upper secondary diploma (commerce/administration)
  • Work environment: Store environment with periods of high pace
  • Work form: Full-time, sometimes shift work
  • Demand: 549 available jobs in the profession during 2024
  • Special skills: Leadership, sales, staff planning

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years as a retail department manager, there are opportunities to advance to store manager, regional manager, or specialist roles in purchasing and product development. The demand for experienced managers remains high, according to the Swedish Public Employment Service, reflected by the 549 available positions identified during 2024. The industry is rapidly evolving, especially within digital commerce and omnichannel, which favors managers with digital skills. In addition to traditional career steps, experience in the role can open doors to other leadership positions within retail and wholesale trade.

Common questions about retail department managers

  • What does a Department Manager in retail earn?
    - The average salary is 37 800 SEK per month, with variations depending on experience and workplace.
  • Are there gender differences in salary?
    - Women earn on average 101% of men's salaries (38 000 SEK compared to 37,500 SEK).
  • What education is required to become a department manager in retail?
    - Typically upper secondary education in commerce and experience from retail, sometimes supplemented with internal leadership courses.
  • What are the future prospects for the profession?
    - The demand is good with 549 available jobs during 2024.
  • Are there regional salary differences?
    - Salaries are often higher in larger cities and stores with high turnover.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for retail department managers?
    - The highest salary is 41,000 SEK (woman, private sector), the lowest is 34,600 SEK (woman, private sector).

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Supervisor, shop (specialist shop) is 41000 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Privately employed officials with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 37500 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Supervisor, shop (specialist shop) is 34600 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed officials. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 37500 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 32000 kr 32700 kr
25-34 91% 38100 kr 39300 kr
35-44 93% 35800 kr 36100 kr
45-54 89% 36400 kr 36800 kr
55-64 37600 kr 0 kr
Snitt 101% 37000 kr 37800 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Supervisor, shop (specialist shop) has the SSYK code 5221, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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