Retail Management Degree Program: Consumer-minded Career

If you looking for an online degree program that is grounded in the burgeoning commercial industry, a retail management degree program deserves your consideration. Retail management combines leadership responsibilities in a virtually recession-proof business category.

Career Options in Retail Management

Retail management describes the position that handles supervision of cashiers, retail salespersons, stock clerks and order fillers, customer service representatives, and wholesale sales representatives.

• Jack-of-All-Trades. Some retail managers are small business owners and have their hands in virtually all daily operations.
• From Generalist to Specialist. Other professionals who work for larger corporations are specialists in such categories as hiring and termination, performance evaluation, or arbitration.

Retail Management: Employment Outlook and Salary Potential

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of retail management supervisors is projected to increase by 4 percent over the coming decade. And while that growth is slower than the national average for all occupations, opportunities will be best for graduates of an online degree program.
PayScale reports that graduates of an online education in retail management can potentially earn an even $40,000 in median annual salary their first year out of college. Those with twenty or more years of experience can expect to earn $49,851.

Online Degree Program Coursework for Retail Managers

The retail management online degree program is business-based. That means courses in micro and macroeconomics, finance, human resources, and strategic management. Available degrees range from an associate's to a master's. Those wishing to enhance their resume might consider combining the retail management degree with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Sales Worker Supervisors
PayScale

Kelly Richardson has over fifteen years of creative and technical writing experience. He teaches secondary Honors-level English and writes ad copy for a variety of clients in industries such as medicine, technology, and education.