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The differences between assistant managers/sales associate and retail sales managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an assistant manager/sales associate, becoming a retail sales manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a retail sales manager has an average salary of $48,678, which is higher than the $48,145 average annual salary of an assistant manager/sales associate.
The top three skills for an assistant manager/sales associate include customer service, cleanliness and product knowledge. The most important skills for a retail sales manager are retail sales, store operations, and store sales.
| Assistant Manager/Sales Associate | Retail Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $48,145 | $48,678 |
| Hourly rate | $23.15 | $23.40 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 286,876 | 353,765 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 43 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
An assistant manager/sales associate assists the sales managers in performing tasks such as supervising sales staff and managing their company's sales performance. Other responsibilities of an assistant manager/sales associate include sorting out customer complaints and assisting in the recruitment and training of staff. The position requires good analytical, communication, and leadership skills. The education requirements to qualify for the job include obtaining a high school diploma or a bachelor's degree.
A retail sales manager is responsible for managing the retail sales department's operations, ensuring the highest customer satisfaction with the staff's efficiency and performance. Retail sales managers develop sales strategies and marketing campaigns to boost revenues, increasing the company's profitability. They also conduct training and programs for staff to maximize their productivity and provide the best customer service for their clients. A retail sales manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns, and resolve their complaints.
Assistant managers/sales associate and retail sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant Manager/Sales Associate | Retail Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $48,145 | $48,678 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $56,000 | Between $35,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Reno, NV |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Tradehome Shoes | Talbots |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an assistant manager/sales associate and a retail sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Assistant Manager/Sales Associate | Retail Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between assistant managers/sales associate' and retail sales managers' demographics:
| Assistant Manager/Sales Associate | Retail Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.7% Female, 62.3% | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |