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The differences between associates and merchandising 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 $33,201 average annual salary of a merchandising associate.
The top three skills for an associate include customer service, sales floor and patients. The most important skills for a merchandising associate are cleanliness, sales floor, and customer service.
| Associate | Merchandising Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $69,556 | $33,201 |
| Hourly rate | $33.44 | $15.96 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 569,041 | 370,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| 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.
Merchandise associates ensure that customers get a complete shopping experience. They pleasantly arrange and stock merchandise on shelves for customers to purchase. Also, they assemble product displays and make sure popular and on-sale products are visible to customers. Part of their duty is to place the appropriate sales tag on items and record new developments in the store's inventory. Skills required for the job include excellent customer service, being detail-oriented, and relevant experience in sales.
Associates and merchandising associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate | Merchandising Associate | |
| Average salary | $69,556 | $33,201 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $140,000 | Between $26,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Uline |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an associate and a merchandising associate in terms of educational background:
| Associate | Merchandising Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between associates' and merchandising associates' demographics:
| Associate | Merchandising Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% | Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2% |
| 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, 10.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 7.0% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |