National Average

• As of May 2010, retail store managers across the nation earned an average $39,890 a year, or $19.18 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is significantly more than the retail workers under their supervision. For example, the average hourly wage for a retail store cashier was just $9.24, while retail salespersons made an average hourly wage of $10.17.
  
  

Average by Largest Retail Employer

• When it comes to specific types of retail outlets, clothing stores employed just over 10 percent of the total number of retail managers as of May 2010, where they earned an annual average of $40,080. Other industry sectors with high levels of employment of retail managers included building supply stores, with an average salary of $41,610 a year, and department stores, where the managers earned $33,150 on average.
  
  

Average by the Highest Paying Retail Employers

• Retail managers for agencies, brokerages, and other insurance-related activities had the highest annual average in the nation at $96,600, more than double the national average. Retail managers at automobile dealerships ranked second, earning an average of $72,290, and those at insurance carriers ranked third at $63,880.
  
  

Averages by Geographic Location

• The Golden State, California, employed a higher number of retail managers than any other state, and managers there earned $41,970 on average annually. Texas ranked second in number or retail managers employed, and had an annual average of $39,820. Florida had the third highest number of retail managers, earning an average of $42,690 a year. Rhode Island retail managers had the highest annual averages of any other state, at $46,140, with New Jersey second, at $46,120, and New York third, at $45,570.