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The differences between backroom associates and 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 $31,395 average annual salary of a backroom associate.
The top three skills for a backroom associate include groceries, customer service and cleanliness. The most important skills for an associate are customer service, sales floor, and patients.
| Backroom Associate | Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $31,395 | $69,556 |
| Hourly rate | $15.09 | $33.44 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 228,218 | 569,041 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
In retail establishments, a backroom associate processes merchandise from stockrooms to the sales floor. Their other responsibilities include loading and unloading deliveries, inspecting merchandise to ensure its quantity and quality, labeling and tagging items, keeping records of all transactions, and monitoring the inventory of goods. There can also be instances where they must assist clients by answering inquiries and obtaining their orders. Moreover, a backroom associate must maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating every step of the way for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Backroom associates and associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Backroom Associate | Associate | |
| Average salary | $31,395 | $69,556 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $38,000 | Between $34,000 And $140,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a backroom associate and an associate in terms of educational background:
| Backroom Associate | Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 46% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between backroom associates' and associates' demographics:
| Backroom Associate | Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3% | Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 6.9% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |