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Bookseller : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
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  • Range of typical starting salaries: £12,000 - £17,000.
  • Range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience (e.g. after 10-15 years in the role): £20,000 - £40,000. The upper end of the scale is only achieved by those who have progressed to managing a large bookshop or the large branch of a chain.
  • Salaries vary and depend on the location and size of the shop, but tend to be modest. There may be more scope for increased pay in the larger bookshop chains. Many shops offer staff discounts and some offer other incentives.
  • Working hours typically include regular unsocial hours. Shops are increasingly open for longer hours during the week and at least part of the weekend.
  • Compared to other areas of retailing, bookselling may offer more responsibility at an earlier stage, for example a bookseller may be given responsibility for managing a section in a bookshop early on in their career.
  • Retail environments vary greatly in terms of size and style. In particular, larger retail outlets and smaller independent stores may offer quite different working environments.
  • The job is largely based on the shop floor with some behind-the-scenes work.
  • The work can be very busy and physically demanding. Standing for long periods and moving books can be tiring.
  • Opportunities for part-time work are good. Career breaks are also possible.
  • Self-employment is unlikely at an early stage of a bookselling career, although it is a longer-term possibility. There are a large number of independent bookshops throughout the country but the competition from larger stores and chains, who are able to offer substantial discounts and internet selling, is strong. Self-employment tends to require good contacts in the publishing and book supply world and a thorough understanding of the current market and trends in bookselling.
  • There are slightly more women than men within the occupation.
  • There are opportunities throughout the country, though branches of chains are concentrated in towns and cities.
  • Travel during the working day, absence from home at night and overseas work or travel are all unlikely, but may increase if in a senior management role.
 
AGCAS
Written by Rosie Alexander, AGCAS
Date: 
November 2010
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