10 Top Manager Salaries in Retail That May Surprise You

Are you stuck in a job with low pay and little opportunity to move up? One way to get ahead financially is to embark on a new career in retail.

Many companies offer manager salaries in the six-figure range. The types of companies offering high-paying manager roles range from fast-food restaurants to big-box stores. Here are the top manager salaries in retail that may surprise you.

1. McDonald’s

Managers at McDonald’s can make up to $64,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. Some employees on Reddit say it’s possible to move up through the ranks at McDonald’s pretty quickly — some report less than three months.

A good candidate for a manager would have experience working all stations during peak hours and lead others by example.

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2. Chipotle

Chipotle recently added an employment track for managers to earn $100,000 in as little as three and a half years.

You don’t need to have any specific education to qualify, but you will need knowledge like P&L management, food safety, sales forecasting, and staffing, along with the ability to lead. Current Chipotle employees can receive referral bonuses.

3. Home Depot

Store managers at Home Depot can make up to $178,000 per year. This also isn’t a normal 9-to-5 position though. You are expected to work 55 hours per week as a store manager.

You don’t need a formal degree, but you will need two to three years of retail and business experience. Employees have shared on Reddit that it’s common to be promoted from within, especially if you prove yourself to the current management.

4. Walmart

Walmart has a training program dedicated to bringing up new store managers. As a Walmart store manager, you could make up to $170,000 per year. When applying, you should have at least four years of experience managing 50 or more employees.

A bachelor’s degree in business management is preferred but additional retail and/or management experience also counts.

5. Lowe’s

According to Glassdoor, Lowe’s store managers can make up to $187,000 per year. However, those in the position are required to work a minimum of 48 hours per week — more when needed. You’ll need at least four to five years of experience working and leading in large retail environments.

A bachelor’s degree isn’t necessary, but it is highly recommended. Lowe's encourages employees to move up through the ranks. One Redditor shared that there is an internal training program for store managers that you must be accepted into before being eligible.

6. Apple

An Apple store manager (or “store leader,” as Apple calls it) can make up to $190,000 annually. Apple has a list of qualities it wants in a lead, but formal education isn’t on the list.

It looks for five years of customer-facing sales experience and a proven track record of leadership qualities.

7. Kroger

At the Kroger family of grocery stores, store managers can make up to $161,000 per year. Kroger encourages employees to pursue a career path with the company.

There is a clear job map showing how employees can start as clerks and advance to store managers. Comments on Reddit noted that the expectation for this position is 50 hours per week at minimum.

8. Target

Target refers to its store managers as " store directors.” Individuals in this position can make up to $142,000 each year.

Target wants someone who has experience in all facets of retail — sales, communication skills, conflict resolution, and a positive attitude. The expectations are that you can perform all the skills of the team you lead should you need to jump on a register or mitigate a customer complaint.

9. Petsmart

For animal lovers, Petsmart pays its store managers up to $126,000 annually. Store managers are expected to have four to six years of retail leadership experience and a passion for pets.

A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but comparable work experience is also acceptable. The store manager needs to be knowledgeable about all jobs in the store in case they need to step in when an employee calls out, or things get busy.

10. Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware store managers can earn up to $116,000 per year and are not required to have any level of higher education.

However, according to past employees, it’s common to cross-train in multiple departments until you know how to run the entire store — even for lower-level employees. Store managers should be prepared to handle all the daily tasks while keeping positive customer interactions as their top priority.

Bottom line

Working in retail can mean long hours, especially during weekends and holidays. However, many companies offer management paths and internal training to help promote employees within the company.

If you like a fast-paced environment and doing something different every day, retail may be your path to stop living paycheck to paycheck .

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