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The differences between associates and commissioned sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate has an average salary of $69,556, which is higher than the $36,949 average annual salary of a commissioned sales associate.
The top three skills for an associate include customer service, sales floor and patients. The most important skills for a commissioned sales associate are excellent organizational, customer service, and customer relationships.
| Associate | Commissioned Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $69,556 | $36,949 |
| Hourly rate | $33.44 | $17.76 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 569,041 | 377,430 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Associates are typically entry-level positions for employees who are taking on their first job or organizational role. They are assigned to teams or departments that are related to their skills or educational background. They usually start with smaller tasks that may not seem as impactful but are still essential to the department. Associates are trained by more tenured team members on the ins and outs of the department and the organization. As they grow with the organization, they are given more responsibilities that directly impact the results of the department's initiatives as they work towards their goals.
Commissioned sales associates are professionals who conduct sale transactions that can generate additional compensation by increasing selling operations. These associates are must collaborate successfully with fellow associates in regard to sales and commission distribution. They must provide excellent customer service so that they can establish long term relationships with customers and ensure high satisfaction. Commissioned sales associates must also assist the department managers with visual merchandising to arrange racks so that they can place and stock new merchandise.
Associates and commissioned sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate | Commissioned Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $69,556 | $36,949 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $140,000 | Between $23,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Newton, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an associate and a commissioned sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Associate | Commissioned Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between associates' and commissioned sales associates' demographics:
| Associate | Commissioned Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% | Male, 51.6% Female, 48.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |