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What does an assistant manager/sales associate do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

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.

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Assistant manager/sales associate responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant manager/sales associate resumes:

  • Manage bi-weekly payroll process, monitor associate attendance.
  • Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
  • Supervise, train, and assist sales associates with customer service, stocking, and the POS system.
  • Implement iPad POS software set up, data/product entry and functions as well as trained employees on proper use.
  • Enter various information into database including payroll.
  • Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
  • Solicit customers by upselling, advertising company-base credit accounts, and offering customize options.

Assistant manager/sales associate skills and personality traits

We calculated that 22% of Assistant Managers/Sales Associate are proficient in Customer Service, Cleanliness, and Product Knowledge. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Leadership skills.

We break down the percentage of Assistant Managers/Sales Associate that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 22%

    Edited photographs in-house for quick turn-around customer service, created, edited and printed composition photographs for commercial use/customers.

  • Cleanliness, 11%

    Maintain Facilities Standards of Cleanliness and General Maintenance while Enforcing Company Policy.

  • Product Knowledge, 9%

    Identified merchandising opportunities that enhanced store profitability through in-store themes, product placement and product knowledge.

  • Cash Handling, 9%

    Cash handling under secured environment.

  • Loss Prevention, 7%

    Monitored store production, inventory and loss prevention to reduce theft and ensure accurate product availability.

  • Leadership, 7%

    Provided enthusiastic leadership to all employees and offered a personal example of superior selling techniques

"customer service," "cleanliness," and "product knowledge" are among the most common skills that assistant managers/sales associate use at work. You can find even more assistant manager/sales associate responsibilities below, including:

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for an assistant manager/sales associate to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies." Additionally, an assistant manager/sales associate resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "assist with store operations and profitability, including staff selection, training and supervision, inventory control and sales ledger analysis. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling assistant manager/sales associate duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." According to an assistant manager/sales associate resume, here's how assistant managers/sales associate can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "provided telecommunications services and account management. "

Leadership skills. This is an important skill for assistant managers/sales associate to perform their duties. For an example of how assistant manager/sales associate responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an assistant manager/sales associate: "skilled at decision making, working cross-functionally and communicating effectively with all levels of staff and leadership. ".

Customer-service skills. assistant manager/sales associate responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This resume example shows what assistant managers/sales associate do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "recommend, select, and help locate merchandise and spas based on customer needs and desires by utilizing sales techniques. "

Most common assistant manager/sales associate skills

Compare different assistant managers/sales associate

Assistant manager/sales associate vs. Sales assistant

Sales assistants are usually entry-level or junior employees who are assigned to help out in the sales department. They are responsible for any administrative or clerical activities needed in the department. They may also work on the operations floor to assist with the selling of company products or services. They help complete company sales by approaching potential buyers and answering any questions about items. They should be familiar with what the company offers to identify the products that would best fit the needs of the customer.

We looked at the average assistant manager/sales associate salary and compared it with the wages of a sales assistant. Generally speaking, sales assistants are paid $12,887 lower than assistant managers/sales associate per year.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both assistant manager/sales associate and sales assistant positions are skilled in customer service, product knowledge, and sales floor.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an assistant manager/sales associate are more likely to require skills like "cleanliness," "cash handling," "loss prevention," and "leadership." On the other hand, a job as a sales assistant requires skills like "account executives," "sales support," "order entry," and "sales process." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Sales assistants tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,489. In contrast, assistant managers/sales associate make the biggest average salary, $46,333, in the construction industry.The education levels that sales assistants earn slightly differ from assistant managers/sales associate. In particular, sales assistants are 1.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an assistant manager/sales associate. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant manager/sales associate vs. Store assistant

As the name entails, a store assistant helps the store supervisor or manager. You will typically perform various tasks that include processing inventory and replenishing items when they get low, assisting stock clerks in receiving and processing shipments, and performing tasks related to store opening and closing. Additionally, you are expected to provide customer service, including handling customer complaints and facilitating transactions utilizing point of sale software. A store assistant also checks for any product breakage or damage.

Store assistant positions earn lower pay than assistant manager/sales associate roles. They earn a $15,773 lower salary than assistant managers/sales associate per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Assistant managers/sales associate and store assistants both require similar skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," and "loss prevention" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, assistant manager/sales associate responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cleanliness," "cash handling," "leadership," and "management." Meanwhile, a store assistant has duties that require skills in areas such as "gas pumps," "pet," "food handling," and "store associates." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, store assistants earn a lower salary than assistant managers/sales associate. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, store assistants earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $32,808. Whereas assistant managers/sales associate have higher pay in the construction industry, with an average salary of $46,333.store assistants earn similar levels of education than assistant managers/sales associate in general. They're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant manager/sales associate vs. Retail sales manager

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.

An average retail sales manager eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of assistant managers/sales associate. The difference in salaries amounts to retail sales managers earning a $533 higher average salary than assistant managers/sales associate.By looking over several assistant managers/sales associate and retail sales managers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "product knowledge," and "cash handling." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, assistant managers/sales associate are more likely to have skills like "cleanliness," "leadership," "store policies," and "management." But a retail sales manager is more likely to have skills like "excellent interpersonal," "standard operating procedure," "sales performance," and "retail environment."

Retail sales managers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $53,209. Assistant managers/sales associate earn the highest pay from the construction industry, with an average salary of $46,333.retail sales managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to assistant managers/sales associate. Specifically, they're 2.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant manager/sales associate vs. Sales associate and cashier

A sales associate and cashier is an employee who takes on the dual role of helping customers with their product inquiries and facilitating the purchase of the customer. As a sales associate, the employee must be familiar with the different products offered by the company and should be able to direct customers to the product that best suits their needs. As a cashier, the employee must be familiar with the cash register and the system that the company uses to manage sales and facilitate payment. He/She or she must be able to work the equipment needed for a smooth checkout process.

Sales associate and cashiers typically earn lower pay than assistant managers/sales associate. On average, sales associate and cashiers earn a $22,006 lower salary per year.While both assistant managers/sales associate and sales associate and cashiers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, product knowledge, and loss prevention, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. An assistant manager/sales associate uses "cleanliness," "cash handling," "leadership," and "management." Sales associate and cashiers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "basic math," "mathematics," "front end," and "credit card payments. "The retail industry tends to pay the highest salaries for sales associate and cashiers, with average annual pay of $27,492. Comparatively, the highest assistant manager/sales associate annual salary comes from the construction industry.The average resume of sales associate and cashiers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to assistant managers/sales associate. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.