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The differences between associate retailers and general sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general sales associate has an average salary of $29,328, which is higher than the $28,763 average annual salary of an associate retailer.
The top three skills for an associate retailer include ladders, sales floor and loss prevention. The most important skills for a general sales associate are POS, work ethic, and food preparation.
| Associate Retailer | General Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $28,763 | $29,328 |
| Hourly rate | $13.83 | $14.10 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 474,522 | 383,009 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An Associate Retailer is responsible for keeping the sales area up to standard and assisting customers while inside the store's premises. Most of the tasks revolve around keeping items on shelves clean and well-organized, greeting and offering assistance to customers, responding to inquiries and locating products, and even providing suggestions or recommendations when necessary and in adherence to the store's policies and regulations. In other stores and retail outlets, the Associate Retailer may also process payments and returns while still putting importance to customer satisfaction.
The job of a general sales associate is to provide great customer service and increase the revenue of a business. They sell products and services and help customers find the right product. Depending on the retail store, their responsibilities may involve organizing store shelves, answering customers' questions, ringing up purchases, operating the cash register, and greeting customers. They may also be expected to take full charge of the managing of all financial transactions and balancing drawers.
Associate retailers and general sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Retailer | General Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $28,763 | $29,328 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $35,000 | Between $21,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Mars | Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an associate retailer and a general sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Associate Retailer | General Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between associate retailers' and general sales associates' demographics:
| Associate Retailer | General Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% | Male, 60.2% Female, 39.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |