The retail industry will always be a mainstay in the American economy, and with it, comes a vast amount of career opportunities for those who enjoy sales and customer interaction. With many specialized boutiques, retailers, and products, the possibilities only grow from there when job seekers enjoy being immersed professionally with the products or company they favor. If you plan to work in the retail field, you need to look at these top 10 highest paying retail jobs in 2023 to give you an idea of where you can take root.
10. Retail Store Manager – $55k to $120,000/yr
Starting off this list of the highest paying retail jobs is the retail store manager. Managers of retail stores not only oversee day-to-day operations but also provide a bespoke shopping experience for their customers. They must lead their team of employees well and uphold their company’s brand identity along with customer service standards.
There are endless ventures in this career that usually start by working as a retail sales associate to gain experience and prove your performance capabilities. Everything from mom-and-pop shops to indie-stores, and brand-name retailers are game here and determine your salary. Luxury or high-end stores often offer salaries that match their clientele’s spending habits.
9. Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality Retail Specialist – $58,000/yr
An augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) retail specialist designs and implements immersive shopping experiences for customers using AR or VR technology. This growing technology is paving the way for the future of customer retail shopping and interaction making it deserving of being on this list. And with the way that technology constantly evolves, this role could see a rise in importance as well as moving higher on the list of the highest paying retail jobs. They collaborate with designers and developers to create interactive 3D product models and virtual store environments.
The specialist also analyzes user data to improve virtual interfaces, ensuring intuitive navigation and a positive user experience. Additionally, they provide training and support to retail staff, ensuring the effective integration of AR/VR technologies into the retail landscape. The integration of AR/VR in the retail space has opened up a whole new world of shopping experiences. Specialists in this field design and implement AR/VR shopping experiences, enhancing the way customers interact with products.
8. Private Label Development Manager – $56k to $128k/yr
A private label development manager oversees the creation and growth of a retailer’s or distributor’s own brand of products, distinct from nationally recognized brands. Their responsibilities encompass product ideation, sourcing, packaging design, and quality control to ensure that the private label items not only meet but exceed consumer expectations. Collaborating closely with suppliers, manufacturers, and internal teams, they fine-tune product specifications, negotiate costs, and strategize the brand’s positioning within the market.
Through their efforts, the private label development manager aims to bolster a retailer’s brand identity, drive profitability, and create a loyal consumer base. As companies and stores continue to differentiate themselves and seek more profit, this will continue to be one of the growing highest paying retail jobs.
7. Customer Experience (CX) Manager – $86k to $112k/yr
A Customer Experience (CX) Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping and overseeing the interactions and experiences customers have with a company, product, or service. Their primary objective is to understand the customer journey from inception to end and to identify touchpoints where the customer experience can be enhanced. Therefore, this will always be one of the highest paying retail jobs and almost works in tandem with the merging role of AR and VR retail specialists.
Leveraging tools like feedback surveys, analytics, and direct customer interactions, they diagnose areas of improvement and implement strategies to boost satisfaction. Collaborating with multiple departments, from sales to IT, the CX Manager ensures that the company’s values are consistently presented and that every interaction a customer has is seamless, pleasant, and representative of the brand’s promise. Their continuous efforts not only enhance brand loyalty but also drive business growth through improved customer retention and referrals.
6. Sustainability Manager – $78k to $129k/yr
As consumers become more eco-conscious, retailers are being pushed to adopt sustainable practices. Sustainability Managers are one of the highest paying retail jobs because they ensure that a company’s operations are eco-friendly, from sourcing to disposal in order to minimize its negative impact on the environment and society. They develop, implement, and monitor eco-friendly policies and practices, ensuring the company’s operations are in alignment with sustainable principles.
Drawing from a broad understanding of environmental science, social responsibility, and business strategies, they collaborate with various departments to reduce waste, optimize resource use, and promote environmentally conscious decision-making. Beyond internal operations, sustainability managers also engage with external stakeholders, suppliers, and the broader community to champion sustainable practices, ensuring the organization not only meets regulatory standards but also positions itself as a responsible corporate citizen in the eyes of consumers and investors.
5. Brand Manager – $95,554/yr
Responsible for guiding the strategic direction of a specific brand or product line, Brand Managers handle everything from market research to advertising campaigns, ensuring the brand remains consistent and profitable. They also orchestrate the image, voice, and positioning of a product or service within the marketplace.
Brand managers are the custodians of a brand’s identity, ensuring that all marketing and promotional efforts align cohesively with the brand’s values and messaging. Drawing from market research, consumer insights, and trends, they devise strategies to enhance brand awareness, drive consumer loyalty, and ultimately, increase sales. Collaborating with teams across advertising, design, PR, and sales, brand managers play a pivotal role in shaping how the public perceives and interacts with the brand, ensuring its longevity and relevance in an ever-evolving market.
4. Supply Chain Manager – $108,283/yr
Efficiency in the supply chain translates to higher profit margins, which is why this role is one of the highest paying retail jobs. Supply Chain Managers oversee the end-to-end process, from sourcing products to ensuring they reach the store shelves or the customer’s doorstep. A supply chain manager also oversees and coordinates all facets of the process that transform raw materials into finished goods and ensure these products reach the end consumer efficiently.
This role involves orchestrating a series of interconnected tasks – from procurement of raw materials, manufacturing, inventory management, to logistics and distribution. They constantly analyze operational processes for potential improvements, ensuring timely delivery, cost-effectiveness, and quality standards. By collaborating with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors, the supply chain manager ensures that each step of the process is streamlined and free of bottlenecks, facilitating the smooth flow of goods and minimizing disruptions. Their role is pivotal in guaranteeing that businesses meet customer demands while optimizing costs and resources.
3. Digital Marketing Manager – $104k to $138k/yr
A digital marketing manager is one of the highest paying retail jobs because this role helps steer a company’s online promotional efforts to connect with its target audience, enhance brand presence, and drive sales or engagement. Leveraging various digital channels such as social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and pay-per-click advertising, they craft and execute comprehensive marketing strategies tailored to the digital landscape.
Continually monitoring and analyzing key performance indicators, they fine-tune campaigns in real-time to optimize reach and conversion rates. By staying abreast of emerging digital trends and technologies, digital marketing managers ensure that the brand remains at the forefront of the digital space, resonating with its audience and outpacing competitors. Their role blends creativity with data-driven decision-making, providing both innovative outreach and measurable results.
2. Retail Data Scientist – $152,262/yr
A scientist in any field makes a high income, which is no surprise why this role is one of the highest paying retail jobs. A retail data scientist delves deep into the vast volumes of data generated in the retail environment to unearth actionable insights that drive business decisions. Harnessing a blend of statistical, machine learning, and analytical techniques, they scrutinize customer purchasing behaviors, inventory levels, sales trends, and more.
Their analyses can predict future sales patterns, optimize pricing strategies, enhance inventory management, and even personalize marketing to individual consumer preferences. By transforming raw data into comprehensible and actionable insights, retail data scientists play a crucial role in refining the shopping experience for customers while maximizing profitability and efficiency for retailers. Their work forms the backbone of many strategic decisions in the modern retail landscape, where data-driven approaches often dictate success.
1. E-commerce Director – $319,336/yr
An e-commerce director oversees an organization’s online sales and digital retail operations, ensuring that the online platform not only delivers a seamless shopping experience but also drives consistent revenue growth. They craft and execute strategies to boost online traffic, optimize conversion rates, and enhance customer retention. Their role entails a deep understanding of the digital landscape, from website design, user experience, and search engine optimization to digital advertising and analytics.
Collaborating with IT, marketing, customer service, and supply chain teams, the e-commerce director ensures the platform’s technical functionality meets marketing goals and customer needs. In a rapidly evolving digital world, they are charged with staying ahead of e-commerce trends, adapting to changing consumer behaviors, and implementing innovative technologies that position the company at the forefront of online retail. With such a consistent high paying salary, this is easily number one out of these highest paying retail jobs.
Highest Paying Retail Jobs – Conclusion
The retail landscape of 2023 offers an exciting blend of traditional and cutting-edge roles and some the most interesting highest paying retail jobs. As the industry continues to adapt and innovate in response to technological advances and shifting consumer demands, the potential for lucrative and fulfilling careers in retail has never been greater. If you are looking for a job in the retail industry, it would also prove invaluable for you to read our blog about the top 10 companies with the highest employee retention.
All of the salary data for the highest paying retail jobs presented here has been sourced from Glassdoor and Salary.com and should serve as the perfect jumping off point if you’re looking to calculate what your retail salary might be. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or have a flair for branding, there’s a high-paying retail job out there for you!
