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About Retail
You'll become
Average Salaries
Retail workers may earn between $43,000 and $67,000 per year
Build in-demand professional skills for one of Australia’s biggest industries and start a career working with people by studying a retail course.
You’re organised, energetic and love working with people. Now, turn those abilities into an exciting new career by studying a retail course.
One of Australia’s largest employers, the retail industry is predicted to grow to employ nearly 100,000 new workers by the end of the decade, according to the Department of Employment. By studying a retail course, you’ll build the crucial knowledge, practical skills and personal insights required to thrive in a competitive and exciting sector.
If you want a job that provides more satisfaction, people engagement and opportunities for professional growth than a regular office environment, consider studying a retail course and gain the qualification to thrive in an exciting industry.
You’ll enjoy a dynamic and varied career working in the retail sector. You’ll work in a tight-knit team, using your skills with people to ensure customers have the best experience possible and managing time and scheduling to ensure your business runs effectively. You’ll solve problems, connect people with what they want, and provide solutions – and build professional skills in the process.
You may study a retail course at a range of different levels, including as a certificate or diploma course, as part of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or management, or as a short course. The Australian Government Department of Employment notes that while the majority of workers in the retail industry have completion of year 12 as their highest qualification level, approximately 20 percent of retail managers hold a certificate-level qualification, and a further 14 percent hold an advanced diploma.
After completing a retail course, you may work in a range of roles in the retail industry, including working as a store assistant, customer service assistant or sales manager at a range of different stores selling clothing, shoes, jewellery, make-up and other products.
If you thrive working with people, enjoy fast-paced environments and want more than just an office job, consider a switch to the dynamic and energising retail industry.
What do retail graduates do?
Graduates of retail courses may seek employment in a wide variety of operational, management and team member roles in the retail sector. As a retail store worker, you may perform tasks like:
- Assisting customers with queries and advising on product range, price, delivery, warranties, use and care;
- Handling customer complaints and issues;
- Demonstrating and explaining to customers goods and services;
- Selling products, such as clothing, shoes, jewellery, electronic goods, and other personal and household goods;
- Managing customer returns and refunds;
- Taking payment for goods, performing transactions and preparing invoices;
- Managing and rotating stock;
- Displaying and folding product and styling product displays; and
- Wrapping and packaging sold goods.
If you choose to work as a retail manager, you may also be responsible for tasks including:
- Performing customer service activities, including answering questions, providing advice and resolving conflict;
- Assessing and reviewing customer satisfaction with goods and services;
- Observing store compliance with relevant occupational health and safety regulations;
- Determining product mix, stock levels and service standards;
- Ordering, purchasing and managing stock levels;
- Setting prices and determining marketing and advertising strategies;
- Developing business budgets;
- Overseeing and reviewing purchasing and stock control activities;
- Managing, training, recruiting and leading other staff members;
- Managing staff scheduling and performing other administrative tasks.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
After completing a retail course, you may seek employment in a wide range of assistance, management and roles within the retail industry.
Roles you may choose to take on include working as a:
Is retail right for you?
You’ll thrive working in retail if you:
- Love working with people
- Thrive under pressure
- Enjoy dynamic and unexpected work
- Have excellent customer service skills
- Have excellent time management and organisational skills
- Are a natural leader
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Are highly motivated
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Are proactive and efficient
- Can think strategically and exercise sound judgment
- Can speak confidently in public
- Want a people-focused job
- Enjoy flexibility
- Want to get things done
Job opportunities
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook describes the retail industry as an extremely large and rapidly growing sector in Australia. Currently employing nearly 800,000 people all over Australia, the sector has been growing in size for the past decade and is likely to continue growing into the future.
Currently employing approximately 552,800 people as general sales assistants, the sector is likely to grow to employ approximately 618,600 sales assistants by 2020. Similarly, the 235,200 people employed as retail managers in Australia will be joined by a further 10,000 managers by 2020, with the sector growing to employ approximately 246,500 people in retail management roles by the end of the decade.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, a retail worker may expect to earn between $16 and $24 per hour, or an annual salary between $23,000 and $48,000, with an annual average salary of approximately $41,000. PayScale notes a low correlation between experience and earning capacity, and states that nearly 70 per of retail workers have less than five years of experience.
You may choose to progress to working in retail management. According to PayScale, a retail manager can expect to earn between $43,000 and $67,000 per year, with an annual average salary of approximately $50,000. While PayScale notes a similarly flat relationship between the work experience and earning capacity of retail managers, it observes that approximately 10 per cent of retail managers have been in their roles for 20 years or more, indicating that people choose to build their careers in retail management.