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The differences between associates and technician/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 $35,654 average annual salary of a technician/sales associate.
The top three skills for an associate include customer service, sales floor and patients. The most important skills for a technician/sales associate are sales floor, retail environment, and ladders.
| Associate | Technician/Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $69,556 | $35,654 |
| Hourly rate | $33.44 | $17.14 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 569,041 | 322,748 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| 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.
A technician/sales associate is someone who promotes the products or services of an enterprise through customer service. Sales associates are in charge of greeting the customers and guiding them through the products. They are the ones who provide answers to questions from customers, ensuring a pleasant experience for the guests. It is also part of their job to process the payment of the customers and package their purchased goods. They need to develop skills in customer service, communication, and sales strategy.
Associates and technician/sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate | Technician/Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $69,556 | $35,654 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $140,000 | Between $18,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | Yahoo |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an associate and a technician/sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Associate | Technician/Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between associates' and technician/sales associates' demographics:
| Associate | Technician/Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% | Male, 73.1% Female, 26.9% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 7.7% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |