How to hire a counter associate

How to hire a counter associate, step by step

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

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

What does a counter associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The counter associate hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a counter associate to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a counter associate that fits the bill.

   This list presents counter associate salaries for various positions.

   Type of Counter Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Counter Associate		$11-20
   Cashier	A cashier is one of the most visible positions in the retail industry. Cashiers are the last direct point of contact with customers and play a key role in service, retail, and wholesale establishments... Show more	$10-17
   Services Clerk	The main role of service clerks is to provide excellent service to customers. They are responsible for varied tasks, which include handling complaints from customers, processing register transactions, and promoting the company's services and products... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Floor
   • Bank Deposits
   • Customer Service
   • Phone Calls
   • Parts Counter
   • Cash Drawers
   • Work Ethic
   • Basic Math
   • Cleanliness
   • Math
   • Customer Orders
   • POS
   • Computer System
   • Safety Standards

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Assist walk-in and call-in customers and contractors with plumbing and electrical equipment and materials ensuring a high level of customer service.
   • Follow exceptional standards for food preparation and facility cleanliness.
   • Clean fryers and dispose trash.
   • General knowledge of ADP operating system.
   • Cashier, clean lobby and bathrooms, drive-thru service
   • sell hvac parts and equipment to phone and walk in customers

   More counter associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your counter associate job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A counter associate can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, counter associates' average salary in louisiana is 35% less than in connecticut.
   • Seniority. Entry-level counter associates 44% less than senior-level counter associates.
   • Certifications. A counter associate with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a counter associate's salary.

   Average counter associate salary

   $15.92hourly

   $33,115 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level counter associate salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 28, 2025

   Average counter associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maine	$39,153	$19
   2	New York	$38,221	$18
   3	New Jersey	$37,734	$18
   4	Colorado	$37,074	$18
   5	Indiana	$36,643	$18
   6	Arizona	$35,857	$17
   7	California	$35,751	$17
   8	Illinois	$33,515	$16
   9	Kansas	$33,052	$16
   10	Minnesota	$32,935	$16
   11	New Mexico	$32,462	$16
   12	Utah	$32,051	$15
   13	Oregon	$31,659	$15
   14	Texas	$31,547	$15
   15	Ohio	$31,097	$15
   16	North Carolina	$30,067	$14
   17	South Dakota	$29,298	$14
   18	Georgia	$28,760	$14
   19	Tennessee	$28,495	$14
   20	South Carolina	$27,748	$13

   Average counter associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UPS	$37,925	$18.23	147
   2	Progressive Auto Group	$37,224	$17.90	1
   3	Asbury Automotive Group	$36,325	$17.46	19
   4	Mattel	$35,951	$17.28	5
   5	JENNMAR	$35,126	$16.89
   6	Cherokee Nation Businesses	$34,936	$16.80	2
   7	Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply	$34,574	$16.62
   8	Pete's RV Center	$34,433	$16.55
   9	Carrier	$34,219	$16.45	31
   10	Legends Hospitality	$33,926	$16.31
   11	TD Bank	$33,762	$16.23	6
   12	Nj.com	$33,659	$16.18
   13	Miller Motorcars	$33,001	$15.87
   14	Trophy Nissan	$32,945	$15.84	4
   15	Ken Garff Automotive Group	$32,935	$15.83	20
   16	White Cap Construction Supply Inc	$32,769	$15.75	74
   17	Napleton Automotive Group	$32,769	$15.75	22
   18	indiGO Auto Group	$32,725	$15.73
   19	TravelCenters of America	$32,722	$15.73	443
   20	Kelly Services	$32,498	$15.62	6

4. Writing a counter associate job description

   A good counter associate job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a counter associate job description:

   Counter associate job description example

   Considering a career with Ken Garff Automotive Group means you are in for a great ride (excuse the car metaphor)! We're not your standard dealership or group of dealerships and we are pretty darn proud of that. We are out to do things differently and want to consistently change, grow, and progress. For that reason, our employees are proud of where they work!
   
   Ken Garff Honda of Riverdale is currently looking for a talented Parts Counter Associate that aligns with our core values and acts with respect, integrity, growth, humility and teamwork.
   
   As a group, we aim to become the most esteemed automotive group by treating people R.I.G.H.T and creating lifetime customers!
   Here's why you'll want to work here:
   Paid training and real career growth Competitive compensation package Great people with a great culture Paid Time Off and 401k with Company match Medical, Dental, Vision, Short and Long-term disability, AD&D and Life InsuranceYear-end bonus program for all employees (Garff Giveback) Compensation range $35K-45K annually Employee discounts on Vehicle Purchase, Parts, Service and More!
   
   Here's what you'll be doing:
   Ensure that customer complaints are handled tactfully, promptly, with genuine concern, and according to the dealership's guidelines; deals directly with customer complaints stemming from parts issues.Encourage the sale of branded parts.Schedule regular efforts to improve the efficiency of customer/Parts Department interactions and transactions Establish processes to ensure accuracy between inventory and computer records.Refresh accessory displays and coordinate with Sales Manager in ensuring an accessory vehicle is available.Monitor the workflow in the parts department and intervene as needed to ensure the work is completed on time and technician needs are met.Make warranty and billing adjustments.Monitor backorders daily ensuring deliveries are shipped and received as quickly as possible Ensure that all dealership purchases are properly accounted for before payment is made.Assure that all parts are properly tagged to ensure that the dealership recovers full credit from the factory.Assist in collecting on overdue accounts.Notify all special-order customers upon arrival of parts.Work Schedule: Full Time, Days - 1 Saturday per month required
   
   Here's what you'll need:
   Experience in an automotive parts department strongly preferred Reynolds & Reynolds Experience PreferredWholesale Sales Experience preferred Ability to read and comprehend job-related instructions and information whether electronic or paper-based Deals creatively and logically with any problems that arise, while expressing empathy for customers and their problems High School diploma or equivalent required Must have the ability to move about the parts department and have computer skills Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role (i.e. lift over 50lbs.) A valid in-state driver's license and a good driving record, per company standards require
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer
   (( We Hear You ))

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find counter associates for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your counter associate job on Zippia to find and recruit counter associate 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

   To successfully recruit counter associates, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   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 counter associate

   Once you have selected a candidate for the counter associate position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is 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 a counter associate?