Top Highest Paying Retail Jobs

Are you searching for a job in retail that comes with a high salary?

Many retail jobs pay minimum wage or slightly above and are designed for entry-level candidates. However, it is still possible to earn a good salary if you know where to look.

Many retail jobs pay significantly more to employees who have extensive experience and specialist skills. Some also offer high commission rates, which can boost the basic salary significantly.

So, let’s take a look at the top highest paying retail jobs and how to get them.

Pharmacy Technician

This retail job involves knowledge of various medications so that pharmacy technicians can assist patients with their prescriptions. Pharmacy technicians are also responsible for ringing up purchases and dispensing medication advice. Required skills include attention to detail, strong communication skills, basic math, and excellent customer service skills.

Pharmacy technicians often work in the pharmacy department of a major store like Walgreens. This is an entry-level position that simply requires a high school diploma and the starting salary is $33,000 per year. However, with extensive training and experience, the salary can rise to $50,000 per year.

Beauty Consultant

Beauty consultants usually work in the makeup department of a large retail store. They help customers to choose the right skincare, haircare, and beauty products for their skin type and tone. They also teach customers how to use these products and provide them with test samples.

Beauty consultants should have a broad knowledge of cosmetics trends as well as excellent sales skills and retail experience. The average salary for a beauty consultant is $43,000 per year and simply requires a high school diploma. However, people who have earned their cosmetology license can expect to earn much more.

Cosmetics Manager

After working as a beauty consultant for a few years, it is possible to advance to become a cosmetics manager. This role mainly involves overseeing the beauty department, monitoring inventory, and leading a team. Cosmetics managers are also responsible for training beauty consultants in brand-approved techniques.

It is necessary to have strong leadership and communication skills to perform this role. The starting salary is usually $17 per hour, which can rise to $25 per hour with experience. On average, cosmetics managers make $52,000 per year.

Buyer

Buyers liaise with suppliers and manufacturers to acquire various products for their company. They need to have a good understanding of what customers are interested in and be able to negotiate supply contracts. The typical salary for a buyer is $65,000 per year, although there is plenty of scope to earn more.

Purchasing Agent

People who have a good eye for products and current trends are likely to excel in this role. Purchasing agents are mainly responsible for ordering new products for a particular store. They need to liaise with various vendors and negotiate contracts to get the best deals possible.

Purchasing agents also need to manage stock levels and review which products are selling and which are not. They need to have strong organizational skills and the ability to work well as part of a team. People who hold a business or technical bachelor’s degree can make $60,000 per year as a purchasing agent.

Purchasing Manager

After working as a purchasing agent for a few years, it is possible to advance to the role of a purchasing manager. This is one of the highest-paying retail jobs around and pays an average of $120,000 per year. Purchasing managers are responsible for managing whole chains of buyers or agents.

In many respects, the duties of this role are similar to those of a purchasing agent. The main difference is that purchasing managers work for large companies such as Amazon, Target, and Walmart. These corporations actively seek people who have the necessary skills and experience and reward them well for their talents.

Retail Account Manager

These retail professionals are employed directly by product brands. They are responsible for maintaining relationships with client stores and managing orders. It is important to make sure that the brand’s products are available to the stores at all times.

Retail account managers also need to promote and sell new product lines to the stores. This may involve giving demonstrations to the client to show what makes the product special. While the average salary for this role is $62,000 per year, it is possible to make more than $90,000 per year.

Store Manager

For people who have a retail background and good leadership skills, this is the first step on the managerial ladder. Store managers are mainly responsible for overseeing a single store and making sure it operates at the optimum level. Key duties include hiring and training staff, managing core activities, and handling budgets. The average salary for this role is $61,000 per year.

General Manager

This role usually involves overseeing numerous stores in a single location. General managers work closely with store managers and share many of the same duties. This role often involves a certain amount of travel between stores and typically pays around $90,000 per year.

Regional Manager

Regional managers are responsible for overseeing the operations at all the stores of a particular brand. Each time a new store opens, regional managers are responsible for helping to establish it. They also travel to each store regularly to make sure that it is operating at the optimum level.

General Managers need to have strong leadership skills and regularly need to hold meetings to introduce new company policies. This is one of the top managerial roles in the retail world and comes with a salary of around $147,000 per year. However, regional managers who are experienced and excel in their careers can easily make over $200,000 per year.

Retail Franchise Owner

People who have retail experience can go into business for themselves by becoming retail franchise owners. In the initial stages, it is necessary to invest money to open and establish a store as part of a popular brand. This allows retail franchise owners to use the name and products of the brand while working for themselves.

The earning potential of a retail franchise owner depends on the location of the store and the brand. The average salary is typically around $64,000 per year. However, people who own more than one store can earn a lot more.

Loss Prevention Manager

Loss prevention managers are responsible for minimizing losses in a particular store. This includes establishing special measures to help prevent thefts. They need to invent methods of preventing shoplifting, break-ins, lootings, and other elements that cause loss.

When these elements occur, loss prevention managers need to investigate and identify the causes. Associated duties include monitoring inventory, training security personnel, and liaising with store managers. People who hold a bachelor’s degree in a criminal-related field and a loss prevention certificate typically make $38,000 per year.

Regional Loss Prevention Manager

This is a step up from a loss prevention manager and involves being responsible for an entire region. It is necessary to regularly visit all of the stores in the region to oversee loss prevention methods. This role typically pays around $86,000 per year, although particularly talented people can make more than $112,000 per year.

Customer Service Supervisor

This is a managerial position that involves being in charge of a team of customer service representatives. It is necessary to train new team members and address a range of customer service issues. Associated skills include excellent communication and organization skills, problem-solving skills, and computer literacy.

This is one of the best entry-level retail roles around and simply requires two years of customer service experience. Customer service supervisors typically make around $64,000 per year. However, those who are especially talented and experienced can make more than $83,000 per year.

Customer Service Manager

Customer service supervisors who excel have the opportunity to advance to this role. While the required skills are similar, customer service managers are given a host of additional responsibilities. They are rewarded for their hard work with an average salary of $94,000 per year.

The Highest Paid Entry-Level Retail Jobs

To score one of the top highest paying retail jobs, you usually need to have retail experience. Even people with college degrees are still expected to have a certain amount of experience in the retail industry. Here are some jobs that will provide you with the skills and experience you need that also pay fairly well.

Amazon

It is possible to start working in retail for Amazon right out of high school and start earning $15 per hour. While this is double the federal minimum wage, there are also plenty of opportunities to earn more. Amazon employees undergo paid training courses, and those who excel are provided with regular promotional opportunities.

Costco

This membership-only warehouse chain offers employees a starting salary of $16 per hour. However, the company rewards employees who work hard and have impressive skills and experience. It is not unusual for people who work for Costco to earn at least $25 per hour.

Dollar General

Dollar General employs a large number of entry-level employees to work in a wide range of retail roles. Most entry-level employees start on $10 per hour and are provided with extensive paid training. There are also plenty of opportunities for talented employees to advance within the company and make more money.

Target

While no experience or skills are needed to work at Target, employees can still make a good wage. The starting salary for entry-level employees is typically $13 per hour, which can rise to $15 per hour.

Walmart

Working at Walmart is a good way to gain working experience while earning above minimum wage. Walmart employs around 165,000 entry-level staff members in the retail field. The starting salary for people who do not have any retail skills or experience is typically $11 per hour.

Looking For More Retail Info And Advice?

With so many options out there, I’m happy to help! I’ve got some great guides and options in different industries.

Let’s start with some of the positions mentioned above, such as my Pharmacy Technician Job Description, Pharmacy Manager Job Description, Buyer Job Description, Purchasing Agent Job Description, Store Manager Job Description, General Manager Job Description, District Manager Job Description, Customer Service Representative Job Description, and my Customer Service Manager Job Description in 2023.

And for applications across the board, check out our CVS Pharmacy Application, Long Drugs Application, and Rite Aid Application for pharmacies. In cosmetics, how about the Sephora Application and the Mary Kay Application.

Or if fashion retail is more your style, check out our TJ Maxx Application, and TJMaxx Interview Questions, Barneys New York Application, Five Below Application, and Five Below Interview Questions, Guess Application and Guess Jeans Interview Questions, our Levis Application, and Levis Strauss Interview Questions, Its Fashion Application, and our Forever 21 Application, and Forever 21 Interview Questions.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a highly paid job in retail, you need to bring certain skills to the role. They are essentially great customer service, organization, communication, active listening, and basic math skills. However, people with additional skills like conflict resolution are likely to excel in the world of retail.

These are the key skills that you need to highlight when you are applying for any role in retail. It is also important to bear in mind that some companies also have specific educational requirements. It is always important to read job descriptions carefully to make sure you meet the requirements for the job.

All the very best with your job hunting!