The Ultimate 2024 Guide to Burlington Stores Salary: What...

For ambitious professionals and aspiring retail leaders, the off-price retail sector represents a dynamic and resilient corner of the modern economy. It’s a world where savvy merchandising, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of consumer value converge. Among the giants of this industry stands Burlington Stores, a powerhouse known for its "wow" deals and a vast network of over 1,000 stores. If you're considering building a career here, one of the most pressing questions on your mind is undoubtedly: "What can I expect from a Burlington Stores salary?"

The answer is as varied and multifaceted as the company itself. A career at Burlington can range from an entry-level hourly position paying a competitive local wage to a six-figure corporate role shaping the company's strategic direction. On average, salaries at Burlington can span from approximately $25,000 per year for part-time associates to well over $150,000 for senior corporate leaders and district managers. This guide is designed to demystify that entire spectrum.

I recall a conversation with a seasoned District Manager for a major retail chain years ago. She told me, "Retail isn't just about folding sweaters; it's about building a multi-million-dollar business one store at a time. The numbers, the people, the logistics—it's an MBA in real-time." That sentiment perfectly captures the potential that lies within a company like Burlington. This isn't just a job; it's a potential career trajectory with significant financial and professional rewards for those who are driven, strategic, and passionate about the business of retail.

This comprehensive article will serve as your definitive resource. We will dissect salary data from authoritative sources, explore the critical factors that influence your earning potential, analyze the long-term career outlook, and provide a step-by-step roadmap to getting started.

### Table of Contents

[Understanding the Career Landscape at Burlington: What Roles Drive the Business?](#what-roles-drive-the-business)
[Average Burlington Stores Salary: A Deep Dive](#average-burlington-stores-salary-a-deep-dive)
[Key Factors That Influence Your Burlington Salary](#key-factors-that-influence-your-burlington-salary)
[Job Outlook and Career Growth in Retail](#job-outlook-and-career-growth)
[How to Launch Your Career at Burlington](#how-to-launch-your-career-at-burlington)
[Conclusion: Is a Career at Burlington Right for You?](#conclusion)

Understanding the Career Landscape at Burlington: What Roles Drive the Business?

Before we can talk specifics about a Burlington Stores salary, it's crucial to understand that "a job at Burlington" can mean many different things. Burlington is a massive operation with a diverse ecosystem of roles that keep its stores stocked, its customers happy, and its business profitable. These roles can be broadly categorized into three main areas: In-Store Operations, Distribution and Logistics, and Corporate Headquarters.

1. In-Store Operations: This is the heart of the customer experience and the most visible part of the company. These roles are essential for the day-to-day running of over 1,000 retail locations.

Retail Sales Associate / Cashier: The frontline ambassadors of the brand. Responsibilities include assisting customers, operating the point-of-sale (POS) system, maintaining store cleanliness, and helping with merchandise presentation.
Customer Service Lead / Supervisor: A step up from an associate, these individuals handle more complex customer issues, oversee cashiers, and assist management with opening/closing procedures.
Assistant Store Manager (ASM): A key leadership role focused on a specific area of the store (e.g., merchandising, operations). ASMs are responsible for training and developing associates, driving sales, managing inventory, and ensuring store standards are met. This is often a salaried position.
Store Manager: The CEO of their own multi-million-dollar store. They have full accountability for the store's profitability, staffing, team development, operational excellence, loss prevention, and overall performance.

2. Distribution & Logistics: The unsung heroes who ensure the right products get to the right stores at the right time. Burlington's off-price model depends on an incredibly efficient and responsive supply chain.

Warehouse Associate: Responsible for receiving, sorting, picking, packing, and shipping merchandise within a massive distribution center.
Logistics Coordinator / Analyst: These professionals track shipments, manage transportation schedules, and analyze data to optimize the flow of goods from vendors to distribution centers and finally to stores.

3. Corporate Headquarters: Located in Burlington, New Jersey, this is the strategic brain of the company. These professionals work across various departments to support the entire organization.

Buying & Merchandising: Buyers are the treasure hunters who find the incredible deals Burlington is famous for. Planners and Allocators then use data to decide which products go to which stores.
Finance & Accounting: Roles range from Financial Analysts who forecast sales and budgets to Accountants who manage the company's books.
Information Technology (IT): These teams manage everything from the POS systems in stores to the complex data analytics platforms and cybersecurity that protect the company.
Marketing & E-commerce: Professionals who build the Burlington brand, manage digital advertising, and run the company's online presence.
Human Resources (HR): Teams responsible for recruiting, training, benefits, and employee relations for tens of thousands of associates.
Loss Prevention: Specialists who develop strategies and use technology to minimize theft and protect company assets.

### A Day in the Life of a Burlington Store Manager

To make this more concrete, let's imagine a Tuesday in the life of a Store Manager:

8:00 AM: Arrive at the store. Review the previous day's sales reports, checking key metrics like sales volume, transaction size, and conversion rates. Walk the floor to ensure opening standards are perfect.
9:00 AM: Hold a brief "huddle" with the morning team. Discuss daily sales goals, highlight new merchandise arrivals, and assign specific tasks for the day.
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: "Managing by walking around." Spend time on the sales floor, coaching associates on customer engagement, ensuring recovery standards are being met, and speaking directly with customers to get feedback. Address any operational issues that arise.
1:00 PM: Lunch and a quick check-in call with the District Manager to discuss weekly performance and any challenges.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Administrative time. Work on the weekly schedule, approve payroll, review applications for open positions, and analyze merchandise performance reports to plan upcoming floor sets.
4:00 PM: Connect with the closing Assistant Manager to ensure a smooth transition. Review evening goals and priorities.
5:00 PM: Do one last walkthrough of the store, providing final coaching notes to the team before heading home.

This example illustrates that a management role at Burlington is a dynamic mix of leadership, data analysis, customer service, and operational management.

Average Burlington Stores Salary: A Deep Dive

Now, let's get to the core of the query: the numbers. The salary you can earn at Burlington is directly tied to the role, your experience, and your location. We've aggregated data from authoritative sources like Payscale, Glassdoor, Salary.com, and Indeed to provide a comprehensive picture. All data is based on figures reported in late 2023 and early 2024.

*Disclaimer: These figures are national averages and can vary significantly. They are intended to provide a general benchmark.*

### National Average Salary Ranges by Role Tier

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

### Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Salary growth at Burlington, as in any company, is closely tied to your tenure and the increasing responsibility you take on. Here’s a look at how compensation evolves.

#### In-Store Career Path:

Entry-Level (0-2 Years Experience):
Retail Sales Associate: Typically earns an hourly wage. Annually, this can equate to $25,000 - $32,000, highly dependent on hours worked and state minimum wage laws.
Assistant Store Manager (in training or new): Salaried positions often start in the $50,000 - $60,000 range.

Mid-Career (3-8 Years Experience):
Experienced Assistant Store Manager: With a proven track record, ASMs can see their salaries climb to $60,000 - $75,000.
Store Manager: A Store Manager with a few years of experience typically earns between $70,000 and $90,000. According to Salary.com, the median salary for a Retail Store Manager in the U.S. is around $81,600 as of early 2024, which aligns with industry reports for Burlington.

Senior/Executive (8+ Years Experience):
Senior Store Manager (High-Volume Store): Managers of top-performing, high-volume stores can earn $90,000 - $110,000+ when including bonuses.
District Manager: Overseeing 10-20 stores, District Managers are senior leaders. Their base salaries often start around $115,000 and can easily exceed $150,000 with bonuses and experience. Glassdoor data shows an average total pay for a District Manager at Burlington around $148,000 per year.

### Beyond the Paycheck: Total Compensation at Burlington

A salary figure alone doesn't tell the whole story. Total compensation includes your base pay plus benefits and bonuses, which add significant value. While specific offerings can change, Burlington typically provides a competitive benefits package for eligible full-time and even some part-time employees.

Bonuses: This is a significant component, especially for management. Store Managers and District Managers have bonus structures tied directly to the performance of their stores (e.g., sales targets, profit goals, inventory control). These bonuses can add 10-25% or more to their base salary in a good year.
Health and Wellness: This typically includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
Retirement Savings: Burlington offers a 401(k) plan, often with a company match component, which is essentially free money towards your retirement.
Paid Time Off (PTO): This includes vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays.
Employee Discount: A significant perk for many, offering a substantial discount on merchandise purchased in-store.
Life and Disability Insurance: Providing a safety net for employees and their families.
Tuition Reimbursement/Assistance: For eligible employees, this can be a valuable benefit for continuing education to advance their careers.

When evaluating a job offer from Burlington, it's critical to consider the value of this entire package, not just the base salary number.

Key Factors That Influence Your Burlington Salary

Your final salary offer is not a fixed number; it's the result of a complex equation with several key variables. Understanding these factors will empower you to negotiate effectively and maximize your earning potential throughout your career. This is the most critical section for anyone looking to strategically build a high-paying career.

### Level of Education

While hands-on retail experience is paramount, your educational background often sets the floor and ceiling for certain roles, particularly on the management and corporate tracks.

High School Diploma or GED: This is the standard requirement for most entry-level hourly positions like Sales Associate, Cashier, and Stock Associate. It's the essential ticket to get in the door.
Associate's Degree: An associate's degree, especially in business or retail management, can make you a more competitive candidate for supervisory roles or an Assistant Store Manager position. It shows a foundational commitment to the business field and may allow you to start at a slightly higher salary than a candidate with no college education.
Bachelor's Degree: For salaried management and nearly all corporate roles, a bachelor's degree is often a minimum requirement.
For Store Management: Degrees in Business Administration, Management, Marketing, or a related field are highly valued. They signal that you have a theoretical understanding of the principles (P&L statements, marketing strategies, human resource management) you'll be applying daily. A candidate with a relevant bachelor's degree may command a starting salary for an ASM role that is 5-10% higher than one without.
For Corporate Roles: A bachelor's degree is non-negotiable. For a Financial Analyst role, a degree in Finance or Accounting is required. For a Merchandise Planner, a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Business, or Analytics is standard.
Master's Degree (MBA, etc.): An advanced degree like a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is most impactful for senior corporate leadership roles (e.g., Director, Vice President) or specialized high-level positions in finance, data science, or supply chain strategy. An MBA can significantly accelerate a career path and lead to starting salaries at the senior level that are $30,000-$50,000+ higher than for candidates with only a bachelor's degree.

### Years of Experience

Experience is arguably the single most important factor in determining your salary in the retail industry. Burlington, like its competitors, rewards a proven track record of success.

Entry-Level (0-2 years): At this stage, you are learning the fundamentals. Your salary reflects your position as a trainee. The focus is on mastering core competencies: customer service, operational procedures, and product knowledge. Pay is typically hourly and close to the local market rate.
Developing Professional (2-5 years): After a few years, you may have been promoted to a Lead or an Assistant Store Manager. You've demonstrated reliability and leadership potential. Your salary sees its first significant jump as you move from hourly to salaried pay. An ASM with 3 years of experience might earn $65,000, while a brand new ASM might start at $55,000.
Mid-Career/Established Manager (5-10 years): By now, you are likely a successful Store Manager or a senior corporate professional. You have a quantifiable history of driving results—increasing sales, managing payroll effectively, and developing talent. This is where your salary can reach the $75,000 - $95,000 range for a Store Manager. Your experience is a valuable asset, and your compensation reflects that.
Senior/Expert Level (10+ years): With a decade or more of experience, you are a seasoned expert. You might be a high-performing Store Manager in a flagship location, a District Manager responsible for a $100M+ portfolio of stores, or a Senior Analyst or Manager at corporate. At this stage, experience in different market conditions (growth, recession), with store openings, and in turning around underperforming locations is highly valued. Salaries for District Managers can push past $150,000 with total compensation. A Senior Financial Analyst at corporate could command $110,000+.

### Geographic Location

Where you work has a massive impact on your paycheck. This is largely driven by the local cost of living and the competitiveness of the job market. A Store Manager in San Francisco, CA will earn significantly more than a Store Manager in Springfield, MO, because the cost of housing, food, and transportation is dramatically higher.

Companies like Burlington use geographic pay differentials to adjust salaries to the local market.

Illustrative Salary Variation for a Store Manager Role:

| Metropolitan Area | Estimated Average Base Salary | Why the Difference? |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| New York, NY / San Francisco, CA | $90,000 - $110,000+ | Extremely high cost of living, competitive market for talent. |

| Chicago, IL / Washington, D.C. | $80,000 - $95,000 | High cost of living, major urban center. |

| Dallas, TX / Atlanta, GA | $75,000 - $88,000 | Major business hubs with moderate cost of living. |

| Phoenix, AZ / Orlando, FL | $70,000 - $82,000 | Growing cities with a more average cost of living. |

| Rural Midwest/South | $65,000 - $75,000 | Lower cost of living and less competition for roles. |

*(Note: These are estimates for illustrative purposes based on general market data from salary aggregators.)*

When considering a role at Burlington, use a cost of living calculator to understand how far your potential salary will actually go in that specific city.

### Company Type & Size (Burlington vs. Competitors)

While this guide focuses on Burlington, it's insightful to see how their compensation stacks up against direct and indirect competitors. Burlington is a Fortune 500 company and a leader in the off-price sector.

Direct Off-Price Competitors (TJX Companies, Ross Stores): Compensation within the off-price sector is generally very competitive. Salaries for roles like Store Manager and District Manager at Burlington, T.J. Maxx, and Ross are often in a similar range. The deciding factor for a candidate might come down to the specifics of the bonus structure, benefits, or company culture.
Big-Box Retailers (Target, Walmart): These companies are much larger in scale and revenue. For senior management and corporate roles, they may sometimes offer slightly higher base salaries. However, Burlington's robust bonus structure for high-performing managers can often close this gap. For instance, a Target Executive Team Leader (a role similar to an ASM) may have a salary range that overlaps significantly with a Burlington ASM.
Specialty Retail (e.g., Gap, Lululemon): Specialty retailers can sometimes pay more, particularly for roles that require specific brand or product expertise. However, the operational scale and complexity at a company like Burlington can offer a different, and for many, more compelling, career path.

Burlington's position as a major, publicly-traded national retailer means it must offer competitive compensation to attract and retain the talent needed to compete with these other giants.

### Area of Specialization

Within the corporate structure, what you *do* matters immensely. Certain departments and skill sets are in higher demand and command a premium salary.

Technology & Data Analytics: This is a high-growth, high-salary area. A Data Scientist or Cybersecurity Analyst at Burlington's corporate office will command a much higher salary than a role in a different department with a similar number of years of experience. A mid-level analyst in this field could earn $90,000 - $125,000+ due to the technical expertise required.
Merchandising & Buying: This is the lifeblood of an off-price retailer. Experienced Buyers who have strong vendor relationships and a knack for finding profitable deals are highly compensated. Senior Buyers can easily earn six-figure salaries. Merchandise Planners and Allocators, who use analytics to optimize inventory, are also critical and well-paid roles, with salaries for experienced planners often reaching $85,000 - $110,000.
Finance: Strong financial acumen is always in demand. A Senior Financial Analyst responsible for corporate planning and analysis (FP&A) is a high-value role, often earning $95,000 - $120,000+.
Human Resources & Marketing: While essential, these roles sometimes have a slightly lower salary ceiling compared to the highly technical or core merchandising roles. An experienced HR Generalist might earn $70,000 - $85,000, while a Marketing Manager could earn $80,000 - $105,000.

### In-Demand Skills

Beyond your job title, the specific skills you possess can add thousands to your salary. These are the abilities that make you more efficient, more effective, and more valuable.

Hard Skills:

Advanced Data Analysis: Proficiency in tools beyond basic Excel. Knowing SQL to query databases, or using data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI, can make you invaluable in a planning, finance, or logistics role. This skill alone can boost your value by 10-15%.
Inventory Management Systems: Deep knowledge of retail inventory software (like Oracle Retail, JDA, or Manhattan Associates) is a huge plus for supply chain, planning, and store operations leadership roles.
P&L Management: For any manager, the ability to read, understand, and influence a Profit and Loss statement is non-negotiable. Demonstrating how you've actively managed payroll, reduced shrink (loss), and controlled expenses to boost profitability is the fastest way to prove your financial value.
Project Management: Certifications like PMP (Project Management Professional) or skills in Agile methodologies are highly sought after for corporate roles involved in launching new initiatives.

Soft Skills:

Leadership and Talent Development: The ability to not just manage, but to lead and develop others is what separates good managers from great ones. A leader who can reduce employee turnover and build a strong bench of future leaders is immensely valuable.
Commercial Acumen/Business Acumen: This is the "feel" for the business—understanding what the customer wants, what the competition is doing, and how to connect merchandise to sales. It's about thinking like a business owner, not just an employee.
Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Retail is unpredictable. The ability to think on your feet, handle a sudden crisis (a system outage, a major customer complaint), and adapt to changing business priorities is a premium skill.
Communication and Influence: Whether you're presenting to senior leadership, coaching an associate, or negotiating with a vendor, the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively is key to advancing into higher-paying leadership positions.

Job Outlook and Career Growth

Investing your time and energy into a career path requires a clear understanding of its future. While headlines often talk about the "retail apocalypse," the reality is more nuanced, especially for the off-price sector where Burlington thrives.

### The Outlook for Retail and the Off-Price Advantage

The Ultimate 2024 Guide to Burlington Stores Salary: What to Expect and How to Maximize Your Earnings

Table of Contents

Understanding the Career Landscape at Burlington: What Roles Drive the Business?

Average Burlington Stores Salary: A Deep Dive

Key Factors That Influence Your Burlington Salary

Job Outlook and Career Growth