Non-Retail Sales Supervisors

Non-retail sales supervisors oversee salespersons and sometimes related employees including customer service representatives, wholesale salespersons, sales engineers, stock clerks and order fillers. They often oversee the activities of salespersons who sell industrial items or services such as financial or advertising. Some of these supervisors have titles such as department manager or sales manager.

Some sales worker supervisors prepare budgets, create sales-incentive programs and approve sales contracts. Many non-retail sales supervisors interview, hire and train employees. Also, in small companies, non-retail sales supervisors may oversee the operation of the entire business.

Responsibilities

  • Prepare work schedules
  • Assign specific tasks to employees
  • Resolve customer complaints
  • Work with managers to create strategies for increasing sales
  • Monitor sales staff to see if sales goals have been reached
  • Assist staff with complicated tasks
  • Attend company meetings
  • Create sales and inventory reports for management and budget departments

Job Characteristics

Sales supervisors typically work at least 40 hours per week. Evening and weekend work is sometimes required. Work schedules can change on a weekly basis. Sometimes they are asked to show up at work on short notice, particularly when an employee is absent.

First-line non-retail sales supervisors need to have good communications skills and get along well with all types of people. Good judgement, initiative, motivational skills, organizational skills, patience and decisiveness are important assets for the occupation.

Employment Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2006 and 2016 employment of sale workers supervisors is projected to grow by 4 percent, which is slower than the average for all occupations. However, faster than average employment growth is projected for supervisors of service providing companies. The job growth for non-retail sales supervisors is connected to the employment growth in particular industries.

Strong competition is forecasted for sales supervisor jobs in non-retail businesses, especially for jobs with above average earnings and attractive work environments.

In 2006 the median earnings for supervisors of non-retail sales employees, including commissions, was $65,510. The highest 10 percent earned over $135,270. The lowest 10 percent earned $34,840. Many sales supervisors receive a salary and commissions.

Due to the increase of the use of the Internet, some companies hire Internet sales supervisors who are responsible for overseeing and maintaining a web site.

Post secondary degrees may help supervisors obtain assistant manager or manager positions. Supervisors who display team-building skills, leadership qualities and motivation skills improve their chances of advancing into management positions.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Non-retail sales supervisors have various educational backgrounds. Those with post secondary education typically have a bachelor or an associate degree in management, marketing, business or in the social sciences. Computer skills are also important in the occupation.

Valuable college courses include marketing, accounting, management, sales, psychology and communications. Classroom learning in inventory management, customer service and employee relations is beneficial. Those with college degrees can typically enter management training programs without having a lot of experience.

Major Employers

Some of the major industries hiring non-retail sales supervisors are wholesale electronic markets; professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers; business support services, insurance, finance, and machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers.

Schools for Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers Skills

Below are the skills needed to be supervisors of non retail sales workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Active Listening44
Judgment and Decision Making43.75
Management of Personnel Resources44
Monitoring44.25
Speaking44

Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be supervisors of non retail sales workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Oral Comprehension44
Oral Expression44.12
Speech Recognition44
Speech Clarity3.883.75
Written Comprehension3.884

Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be supervisors of non retail sales workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
English Language4.214.51
Sales and Marketing4.064.62
Administration and Management3.864.81
Customer and Personal Service3.714.98
Personnel and Human Resources3.584.38

Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being supervisors of non retail sales workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.86.14
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.775.59
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization4.735.86
Selling or Influencing Others4.715.59
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others4.75.81

Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being supervisors of non retail sales workers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Leadership4.66
Initiative4.65
Integrity4.61
Persistence4.51
Adaptability/Flexibility4.44

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim9,600$75,270
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington7,940$88,010
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land6,410$92,970
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach5,740$81,640
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood4,480$103,270
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn4,410$87,210
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell4,230$75,410
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward3,930$77,590
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue3,810$94,280
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale3,610$69,820

Compare Total Employment & Salaries for Non Retail Sales Supervisors

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Total employment and salary for professions similar to non retail sales supervisors

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Supervisors Of Non Retail Sales Workers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.