Retail
Dive into the data and learn what it takes to move up the Retail Sales career ladder!
Each career level contains information about hourly wages, job descriptions, main job duties, examples of job titles, general skills, and links to educational courses or training opportunities.
If you have further questions about local labour market information, contact us here: [email protected].
SECTION 1
Retail Salesperson
Median hourly wage:
$15.50/hr
What you do:
Sell, rent or lease a range of goods and services directly to consumers.
Main job duties:
- Greet customers, advise on use and care of merchandise, provide advice concerning specialized products or services
- Prepare merchandise for purchase, rental or lease
- Operate computerized inventory record keeping and re-ordering systems
- May conduct sales transactions through internet-based electronic commerce
Skills:
Problem-solving
Organization
Customer Service
Point of Sale
Digital Literacy
Retail Math
Job title examples:
Clothing Salesperson
Retail Sales Clerk
Automobile Salesperson
Hourly wages:
$15.50 low
$15.50 median
$17.61 high
Education & Training:
| Cashier | Tri-County Literacy Council |
| Retail Associate | Tri-County Literacy Council |
| Hospitality & Tourism: Remarkable Customer Service | St.Lawrence College |
| Hospitality & Tourism: Post COVID-19 Standards | St.Lawrence College |
| Customer Service (french) | Moi j’Apprends |
| Customer Service (french) | Moi j’Apprends |
| WHMIS | Moi j’Apprends |
SECTION 2
Retail Sales Supervisor
Median hourly wage:
$18.71/hr
What you do:
Supervise and coordinate the activities of sales staff and cashiers.
Main job duties:
- Supervise and coordinate sales staff and cashiers
- Assign workers to duties, prepare work schedules, maintain specified inventory and order merchandise
- Hire and train or arrange the training of new staff and monitor and report on performance
- Prepare reports regarding sales volume, merchandising and personnel matters
Skills:
Customer service
Leadership
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Time management
Job title examples:
Retail Store Supervisor
Retail Trainer
Key Holder
Hourly wages:
$15.50 low
$18.71 median
$23.57 high
Education & Training:
| WHMIS | Moi j’Apprends |
| Hospitality & Tourism: Post COVID-19 Standards | St.Lawrence College |
| Office Clerk | Carrefour de Fourmation pour adultes inc. |
| Leadership Development Series | St.Lawrence College |
| Business Fundamentals | St.Lawrence College |
SECTION 3
Retail & Wholesale Buyer
Median hourly wage:
$22.98/hr
What you do:
Buy merchandise for resale by retail or wholesale establishments and are usually responsible for the merchandising operations of retail or wholesale establishements.
Main job duties:
- Purchase merchandise for resale by retail or wholesale establishments
- Review requirements of establishment and determine quantity and type of merchandise to purchase
- Interview suppliers and negotiate prices, discounts, credit terms and transportation arrangements
- Oversee distribution of merchandise to outlets and maintain adequate stock levels
Skills:
Attention to detail
Customer service
Teamwork
Work independently
Written communication
Organization
Job title examples:
Food Buyer
Wholesale Buyer
Appliance Buyer
Hourly wages:
$19.35 low
$22.98 median
$27.58 high
Education & Training:
| Hospitality & Tourism: Post COVID-19 Standards | St.Lawrence College |
| Supply Chain Mangement | St.Lawrence College |
| Business Administration | St.Lawrence College |
SECTION 4
Visual Merchandiser
Median hourly wage:
$24.19/hr
What you do:
Plan and develop permanent and temporary exhibits and displays.
Main job duties:
- Conceptualize and produce designs for displays and exhibits for retail establishments
Skills:
Problem-solving
Planning
Customer service
Time management
Work independently
Job title examples:
Display Designer
Exhibit Designer
Facilities Designer
Hourly wages:
$18.18 low
$24.19 median
$39.09 high
Education & Training:
| Business Administration | St.Lawrence College |
SECTION 5
Retail & Wholesale Trade Manager
Median hourly wage:
$38.07/hr
What you do:
Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of establishments that sell merchandise or services on a retail or wholesale basis.
Main job duties:
- Manage staff and duties
- Develop and implement marketing strategies
- Plan budgets, authorize expenditures and monitor revenues
- Evaluate and improve customer service and respond to customer requests and issues
- Address staffing requirements, including the hiring, development and retention of staff
Skills:
Customer service
Leadership
Teamwork
Planning
Time management
Job title examples:
Car Dealership Manager
Clothing Store Manager
Hardware Store Manager
Hourly wages:
$25.69 low
$38.07 median
$52.34 high
Education & Training:
| Leadership Development Series | St.Lawrence College |
| Supply Chain Management | St.Lawrence College |
| Business Administration | St.Lawrence College |
SECTION 6
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Median hourly wage:
$--/hr
What you do:
Organize and operate a business, taking on greater than normal financial risks to do so.
Main job duties:
- Creating and managing a business plan, ongoing research and planning, hiring staff, creating policies, and forecasting
- Maintaining business bank accounts, payments processing, taxes and general bookkeeping
- Develop marketing campaigns, manage social media and conduct other marketing activities
- Respond to customer service inquiries, including answering phone calls and emails to build a positive reputation for the business
Skills:
Customer service
Leadership
Teamwork
Planning
Time management
Job title examples:
Small Business Owner
Franchisee
Hourly wages:
$-- low
$-- median
$-- high
Education & Training:
| Business Managment/Entrepeneaurial | St.Lawrence College |
| Supply Chain Management | St.Lawrence College |
| Business Administration | St.Lawrence College |
| Leadership Development Series | St.Lawrence College |
