How to hire an associate retailer

How to hire an associate retailer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step associate retailer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an associate retailer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new associate retailer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an associate retailer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the associate retailer you need to hire. Certain associate retailer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An associate retailer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, associate retailers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of associate retailer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Associate Retailer	Description	Hourly rate
   Associate Retailer	Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.	$11-16
   Retail Cashier	A retail cashier is an employee who scans products and processes cash payments between the retail store and its customers. Retail cashiers must provide excellent customer service that can include greeting customers, directing customer inquiries to the appropriate party, and informing customers about the services available... Show more	$11-16

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Ladders
   • Sales Floor
   • Loss Prevention
   • Customer Issues
   • PET
   • Retail Store
   • Customer Service
   • ROSS
   • Basic Math
   • Math
   • Work Ethic
   • Good Time Management
   • POS
   • Cleanliness

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish upselling goals to contribute to company's success.
   • Provide excellent retail customer service; manage stock and inventory; operate POS cash register
   • Provide excellent customer service while upselling promotional products
   • Promote the organization via Facebook, twitter, and blog.
   • Used Rf scanners to pull equipment from stockroom and place on the sales-floor.
   • Pull items from the queue for restocking, tracking inventory with an RF unit.

   More associate retailer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your associate retailer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An associate retailer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, associate retailers' average salary in new mexico is 33% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level associate retailers earn 34% less than senior-level associate retailers.
   • Certifications. An associate retailer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an associate retailer's salary.

   Average associate retailer salary

   $13.83hourly

   $28,763 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level associate retailer salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average associate retailer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$36,395	$18
   2	California	$34,421	$17
   3	Massachusetts	$34,313	$17
   4	New York	$34,049	$16
   5	Oregon	$33,690	$16
   6	Maine	$32,660	$16
   7	District of Columbia	$32,522	$16
   8	Colorado	$31,655	$15
   9	Minnesota	$31,158	$15
   10	Nevada	$30,924	$15
   11	Illinois	$30,501	$15
   12	Ohio	$29,508	$14
   13	Michigan	$29,352	$14
   14	Arizona	$28,642	$14
   15	Nebraska	$28,437	$14
   16	Tennessee	$27,974	$13
   17	Pennsylvania	$27,551	$13
   18	North Carolina	$26,385	$13
   19	Indiana	$26,323	$13
   20	South Carolina	$26,266	$13

   Average associate retailer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Mars	$35,565	$17.10
   2	CarMax	$33,886	$16.29	39
   3	Tractor Supply	$33,725	$16.21	4,135
   4	Wayfair	$33,627	$16.17	34
   5	Eaton	$33,492	$16.10	10
   6	Kohler Co.	$33,039	$15.88	1
   7	University of North Texas	$33,013	$15.87
   8	Hilton Grand Vacations	$32,911	$15.82	7
   9	Amazon	$32,747	$15.74	49
   10	Apollo Global Management	$32,563	$15.66	6
   11	Legends Hospitality	$32,440	$15.60
   12	Hyatt Hotels	$32,339	$15.55	1
   13	AT&T	$32,121	$15.44	21
   14	Uline	$31,882	$15.33
   15	Volt Systems LLC	$31,648	$15.22
   16	UC Health	$31,446	$15.12	1
   17	Office Depot	$31,433	$15.11	335
   18	T-Mobile	$31,337	$15.07	253
   19	Nothing Bundt Cakes	$31,199	$15.00	34
   20	Starkey Hearing Technologies	$31,135	$14.97

4. Writing an associate retailer job description

   An associate retailer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of an associate retailer job description:

   Associate retailer job description example

   We didn’t invent health and wellness retailing; we revolutionized it! We brought together the best products, and even created our own cutting-edge formulas. Now, with more than 70 years of industry experience, and an international network of over 5,000 stores, we’re on top of the heath, wellness and sports nutrition industry. Our unique approach to retail blends great people, product innovation, and technology so hot it sizzles - all on a global scale.
   But first, here's whats in it for you:
   Insurance: Dental Insurance Health Insurance Vision Insurance Life & Supplemental Insurance
   Schedule: Mixed/Variable (Mostly nights & weekends)
   Supplemental Pay: Paid Training (3 Weeks) Commissioned Sales Monthly Bonus Incentives
   Work Location: Single and Multi-location float opportunities available, up to 15 miles
   Pay frequency: Bi-Weekly Pay: $10.00 - $16.00+ per hour
   Shifts/Schedules announced: Weekly + Flexible!
   This Job Is: Open to applicants who do not have a college diploma Work Remotely: No
   Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
   Do you want to play on the team that’s leading the world in health and wellness? Are you up for a daily challenge and the chance to advance your career quickly? Then look no further!
   Whether you’re looking for a fantastic full-time career, or a great part-time job, the Sales Associate position at our GNC Franchise is an accommodating, highly-rewarding job for health and fitness enthusiasts. In this critical role, you are more than just a cashier – you are the face of our Family-Operated franchise! It will be your duty to educate, provide outstanding service, and build a robust, lasting relationship with our diverse clientele, while leaving a positive impact on each and every individual you welcome into our stores. To put it simply, you'll aim to make every customer feel like a part of our family! Requirements: Demonstrate superior product knowledge and customer service aptitudes Answer product based questions using knowledge from training, merchandising bulletins, and other company approved information Sell merchandise and interact with customers according to GNC standards Receive, check, and shelve merchandise Maintain store appearance Complete customer transactions using POS register system Perform regular opening and closing duties Cash handling and bank deposits Must be at least 18 years of age Basic math skills to count, add, and subtract Strong interpersonal skills, judgment, and ethical behavior to manage the company's assets Excellent customer service skills to develop a relationship-selling culture High School Diploma or GED
   Paid Training: You will receive 3 weeks of paid, in-depth training to become an expert in our industry, operations, and culture. Our team leaders will guide you every step of the way, and assist you in taking full control of maximizing your earnings and potential. Company Introduction GNC connects customers to their best selves by offering a premium assortment of heath, wellness and performance products, including protein, performance supplements, weight management supplements, vitamins, herbs and greens, wellness supplements, health and beauty, food and drink and other general merchandise. This assortment features proprietary GNC and nationally recognized third-party brands.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right associate retailer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your associate retailer job on Zippia to find and recruit associate retailer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit associate retailers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new associate retailer

   Once you've found the associate retailer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new associate retailer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an associate retailer?