15 Best High Paying Retail Jobs

The retail industry is one of the highest-paying industries in the world. As of 2017, the entire industry is said to be worth north of 5 trillion Dollars with projections showing this figure would balloon further. Retail can be defined as the sale of goods in smaller quantities to final consumers, it is the very opposite of wholesale. Retail is a massive industry that relies on workers working in different sectors including shipping, warehousing, marketing, and other related fields. In this article, we will focus on core retailing jobs and leave any jobs that are outside the scope of direct retailing. 

If you are looking to go into retail and want to know the best paying positions you should target then this article will answer your questions. We have curated 15 of the best high-paying retail jobs available today. As the retail industry grows, there is a need for more workers who can fill up these roles and ensure that the massive behemoth that is retail can continue to serve its customers. You should also note that the pay scale in retail varies depending on the department or sector you work as some workers attract hours pays while others are more comprehensive. 

What Are Retail Jobs?

A retail job is any job that entails the organizing, selling, stocking, and marketing of products and services to final consumers. This could either be in person or you could do this over the phone or internet. To put it simply, retail jobs are those required to successfully run a store where customers shop for goods and services.  To work in the retail industry, you would need a variety of skills including communication, sales, marketing, and multitasking. It is important to note that these skills aren't mandatory but having them will give you an edge over other employees. 

Working in retail can be somewhat challenging as there are manyobing parts that are required to come together to make things work. Retail encompasses both workers who work out in front and interface with customers directly and those who work in the backroom/storerooms and ensure that the shelves are always stocked. These jobs require you to work within set hours and if there is overtime, you would be paid for your effort. Now that we understand the scope of jobs that will be covered in this article, here are 15 of the top highest paying jobs in retail:

Purchasing Agent 

Ever wondered how all your favorite goods seem to find a way to sit on the shelves of the store when you walk in? That is the job of a purchasing agent. It is the duty and responsibility of a purchasing agent to purchase goods on behalf of the store. They would also manage the relationships between vendors, track deliveries, and ensure that goods running out of stock are replaced in record time. They also keep track of what products are selling and use that data to restock the shelves. Purchasing agents would also keep track of hot products and ensure that their store gets those products on its shelves for customers. The average expected yearly salary for a purchasing agent is around $60,000.

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Beauty Consultant

Beauty consultants help customers while they shop for beauty products. They also teach the customers how to use these products and advise them on the best products that would suit them. Beauty consultants help shoppers with a range of products including cosmetics, hair products, makeup, and skincare products. As they have direct contact with shoppers they also help answer questions, provide samples, and offer consultation services. This job will require you to have a broad knowledge of beauty products and have strong sales skills that would help you when dealing with customers. The annual yearly salary for this position is around $43,000. 

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Pharmacy Technician 

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists during their shifts and ensure that all processes run smoothly. It is one of the most highly paid positions available in retail and some of the roles you would be required to perform on the job include filling prescriptions, handling operations such as the cash register, operating equipment, processing insurance claims, handling paperwork, and answering telephone calls from customers and staff. As a Pharmacy Technician, you would be expected to be support staff to other pharmacists and ensure that all operations run smoothly. The expected salary range for this role is around $33,000 a year. 

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Regional Loss Prevention Manager

Regional loss prevention managers are in charge of overseeing the loss prevention efforts in multiple retail outlets. They oversee the efforts of loss prevention managers and they ensure that the company-wide policies that have been implemented are showing results. They also use data to update their security measures and improve the existing security systems already in place. As these managers oversee regions it is one of the highest paying jobs you can find in retail today. These managers need to be detail-oriented and have great communication skills that would ensure that they can properly manage the operators under them. The average annual salary for regional loss prevention managers is around $86,000.

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Cosmetic Manager

Cosmetic managers are tasked with managing the beauty section of a retail outlet. These managers are in charge of stocking and organizing inventory, managing cosmetic consultants, and helping customers while they shop. As the cosmetic manager, you would need solid communication skills to manage the employees under you and you would also need to keep a keen eye on the cash inflow and how products move in and out of the shelves. They would also need to take account of the products available and ensure that the products are replaced once they have expired or are no longer fit for use. The average annual salary for cosmetic managers is around $52,000. 

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Loss Prevention Manager

There are many reasons why a retail outlet would experience loss of goods and these include shoplifting, looting, break-ins, and robberies. Loss managers are expected to manage and prevent these losses by investigating the cause of these losses and implementing measures to prevent these losses. They are also in charge of liaising with government bodies to ensure that the appropriate security measures are put in place to safeguard the outlet from further loss. Loss prevention managers would also oversee the training of security personnel and monitor inventory to ensure loss prevention mechanisms are working. The estimated yearly salary for this role is around $38,000. 

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Purchasing Manager

Any managerial job in a large organization is sure to attract a hefty salary due to the responsibilities attached to the job. The same is true for purchasing managers as they are directly uncharged of purchasing agents. Purchasing managers ensure that the goods in the shop are stocked and they also ensure that the inventory is properly monitored. They manage the outlet's relationship between vendors and retail outlets to ensure that goods come in when they are due. Another key difference between purchasing managers and purchasing agents is that managers are usually found in larger companies while agents are usually found in smaller establishments. The annual expected salary of a purchasing manager is around $120,000. 

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Customer Service Manager

The customer service manager is the highest role in the customer service department of a retail brand. They control the entire customer service department and oversee the workings of the customer service supervisor. They also make key decisions in the hiring of new employees and they also create processes that ensure customers are always satisfied when they shop at the store. The average annual salary of the customer service manager is around $94,000. 

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Customer Service Supervisor

Serving customers properly is important if any retail bread hopes to grow its market share. Customer service supervisors are in charge of the customer support staff. They hire and train new employees, check the team's performance to ensure that they are hitting targets, and also resolve customer and staff complaints. Customer service supervisors are always in charge of teams and they ensure that these teams cater to the needs of customers efficiently. Having listening and problem-solving skills is also a plus as you would have to mediate between customers and staff on a frequent basis. The annual average salary for this job is around $47,000. 

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Store Manager

A store manager is in charge of managing a retail store and ensuring that all processes within run smoothly. They are in charge of keeping records, hiring staff, maintaining the store, ensuring customers are treated properly, generating ideas to push sales, and reporting monthly to upper management. As a store manager, you would be in charge of the daily running of the retail store which would require a hands-on dedication from you. You will require skills in customer management, people skills, and excellent communication skills. The annual expected salary from this job is around $48,000.

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Regional Manager

The regional manager of a retail organization is in charge of a large area where the company operates. This job requires them to be in charge of many stores, hence, they would need to perform multiple functions that ensure the organization runs smoothly at the regional level. Some of the required responsibilities as regional manager include building relationships with clients, keeping financial records, organizing coordination between various branches, and keeping operational costs low. The average annual salary for a regional manager is around $77,000.

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General Manager

The general manager is in charge of managing multiple retail stores under the same company. General managers are tasked with various responsibilities including increasing incoming revenue, improving customer satisfaction, hiring and training new employees, supervising daily operations, and training store managers. This job is a hands-on job that requires you to be detail-oriented and have the ability to coordinate multiple parts to work towards the same goal. You would also need to have a working knowledge of how retail stores function and have excellent communication skills. The average expected salary for a general manager is around $54,000 per year. 

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Retail Franchise Owner

This is the cream of the crop when retail jobs are discussed and there is no salary cap on how much you can earn with a successful retail franchise. This requires you to open a retail store using the franchise of a bigger brand. You can decide to be actively involved in the daily workings of the store or you could decide to outsource the process by hiring competent hands. 

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Sales Associate

The most important metric that ensures a retail outlet is sales which is why the job of sales associates is important. They perform a host of tasks in a retail organization including building trust with customers, helping customers make good buying choices using their knowledge, managing the cash register, and aiding customers where necessary. To succeed as a sales associate, you would need to have good people skills and the ability to perform well under pressure. The average expected annual salary for a sales associate is around $46,000. 

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Retail Account Manager

Retail shops buy inventory from suppliers and this is done through a lesson known as the retail account manager. Retail account managers help suppliers sell on behalf of the supplier. Retail account managers are in charge of tracking purchases, keeping stock of inventory, creating new business opportunities where possible, tracking account metrics, and maintaining a good working relationship with customers. To succeed at this job, you would need good communication and people skills. You would also need to have a decent working knowledge of how the supply business interacts with retail. The average annual salary for this position is around $48,000. 

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Conclusion

As the retail industry grows, there will be more and more jobs available to people. If you are looking to snag a good job in retail, then you must go for the best available jobs. In this article, we have highlighted the best available jobs and you can pick the one most suitable for you. If you want, you could also consult a career expert on the best job that's most suitable for you.