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How to hire a counter sales person

Counter sales person hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring counter sales people in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a counter sales person is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new counter sales person to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a counter sales person, step by step

To hire a counter sales person, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a counter sales person:

Here's a step-by-step counter sales person 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 sales person job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new counter sales person
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a counter sales person do?

A counter salesperson is an employee who meets customers when first entering a store or an organization and provides excellent customer service. Counter salespersons are responsible for answering customer queries and resolve all their queries professional to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. They execute the orders of customers and follow up their orders to prevent delays and frustrations. Counter salespersons should also possess excellent product knowledge and must regularly update the inventory of products.

Learn more about the specifics of what a counter sales person does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your counter sales person job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a counter sales person for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A counter sales person's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, counter sales people 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.

    The following list breaks down different types of counter sales people and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Counter Sales PersonDescriptionHourly rate
    Counter Sales Person$12-21
    Customer Service, WarehouseA customer service warehouse is primarily in charge of providing customer support, mainly through calls and correspondence. Their responsibilities typically revolve around answering inquiries, addressing and troubleshooting problems, processing refunds, maintaining records of all transactions, and referring them to other services when necessary... Show more$12-17
    Sales Service CoordinatorA sales service coordinator is responsible for leading and overseeing the progress of a company's sales team, ensuring efficiency and customer satisfaction. One of their primary duties is to organize sales and customer data... Show more$11-27
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Taking Care
    • Inventory Control
    • Inventory Management
    • Cataloging
    • Store Appearance
    • Phone Calls
    • Cleanliness
    • Customer Service
    • Math
    • Basic Math
    • HVAC
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Plumbing
    • POS
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage DIY services including battery installation, testing, wiper installs, etc.
    • Establish merchandising and product display procedures increasing in store sales and provide a platform that promote store cleanliness.
    • Work with customers to determine specifications of pipe, valves, and fittings, and troubleshoot basic operations of HVAC systems.
    • Provide logistical support for major distributor of HVAC equipment.
    • Work directly with internal distribution, engineers and inside salesperson.
    • Accept responsibility for shipping, receiving, taking orders, maintaining and organizing inventory and ensuring cleanliness of work environment
    More counter sales person duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the counter sales person job description is a good way to get more applicants. A counter sales person salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a counter sales person in Mississippi may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level counter sales person. Additionally, a counter sales person with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average counter sales person salary

    $16.44hourly

    $34,201 yearly

    Entry-level counter sales person salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 29, 2026

    Average counter sales person salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$41,883$20
    2Connecticut$41,244$20
    3Nevada$40,302$19
    4Pennsylvania$40,008$19
    5Washington$39,679$19
    6Virginia$38,459$18
    7Arizona$37,894$18
    8Alaska$36,526$18
    9Ohio$36,309$17
    10Indiana$36,058$17
    11Michigan$35,344$17
    12Colorado$34,996$17
    13Kentucky$34,244$16
    14Texas$33,341$16
    15Arkansas$31,103$15
    16Wisconsin$29,731$14
    17Missouri$29,497$14
    18Alabama$28,889$14
    19Oklahoma$28,788$14
    20North Carolina$28,618$14

    Average counter sales person salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1MFA Incorporated$40,457$19.454
    2Il Fornaio$38,080$18.31
    3O&G Industries$38,035$18.291
    4Air Hydro Power$38,026$18.28
    5Airgas$37,908$18.2337
    6Steiner Electric Company$37,860$18.203
    7Bobcat Company$37,560$18.061
    8SiteOne Landscape Supply$37,536$18.05
    9Hajoca$37,348$17.9628
    10Habegger$36,983$17.78
    11Zeeland Lumber & Supply$36,554$17.57
    12Consolidated Supply Co.$36,362$17.4813
    13Goodman Manufacturing$36,258$17.434
    14Bering Straits$35,914$17.27
    15Foundation Building Materials$35,753$17.1911
    16White Cap Construction Supply Inc$35,586$17.1144
    17Peirce Phelps$35,507$17.076
    18Aramsco$35,457$17.05
    19First Supply$35,306$16.972
    20SunSource$35,272$16.963
  4. Writing a counter sales person job description

    A good counter sales person 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 sales person job description:

    Counter sales person job description example

    Tacoma Screw Products is a distribution company that sells industrial supplies, fasteners and tools to contractors, small and large businesses and individual retail customers since 1946.
    We have a unique blend of Wholesale and Retail Customers. Because of this, are not open during the typical 'Retail Hours'. We are closed on nights, Sunday, and Holidays.

    We are seeking customer service sales people who are driven to be the best in their field. They love to interact with individuals who want to get the best quality products at the best prices from the most knowledgeable staff. We hire people who take pride in their appearance, their store and their product knowledge. Customer service is number one and so are our people!

    This position will be based at our Ballard Store; 3930 Leary Way NW, Seattle, 98107

    A day in the life:

    Our Counter Sales People assist customers with the selection, application, and purchase of a wide variety of fasteners, industrial hardware, tools, and maintenance and shop supplies. Typical industries include transportation-heavy equipment, maintenance and repair departments, sand/gravel pits, and machine shops.


    Counter Sales Associate Responsibilities:
    Respond to walk-in and telephone customer inquiries including:
    Product knowledge, special product requests, product pricing
    Writing customer order using a software system
    Identifying customers product
    Clarifying requirements and specs
    Locating and retrieving products
    Finalizing transaction, and assisting in the shipment of product if needed
    Develops and maintains favorable relationships with new and existing customers
    Interacts with existing customers to increase sales of the Company's products and services



    Required Skills/Experience

    - High School Diploma or GED

    - At least 1 year of Retail Experience; preferred in an industrial setting

    - Solid math, verbal, and written communication skills

    - Computer literacy

    - Ability to work independently and within a team

    - Must be well organized and self-motivated

    - Must have a valid Divers License and meet insurability requirements

    Physical Requirements:

    - Must be able to move quickly to pull orders and wait on customers

    - Must be able to stand & walk for long periods of time

    - Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform the physical demands of this job.

    - Must be able to unload freight and stock shelves

    - Ability to use hands to keyboard for customer orders and to look up inventory

    - Must be able to answer the telephone and take customer orders

    - Must be able to commute to other Tacoma Screw Locations



    Benefits:

    Benefits:

    Full Time Position; 40 Hours per week

    We are proud to offer best in class benefits to support our employees and any eligible dependents.

    Medical/dental/vision coverage; premiums are 100% paid by the employer

    401K Plan

    Vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay

    EAP Resources

    *Benefits are granted after 90 days of Full Time Employment

    Additional Details:

    The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job; this is not all inclusive. There may be additional tasks, responsibilities, and qualifications for this job.

    Tacoma Screw is an EEO/Vet/Disabled Employer

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right counter sales person 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 counter sales person job on Zippia to find and recruit counter sales person candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with counter sales person candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 sales person

    Once you have selected a candidate for the counter sales person 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new counter sales person. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  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.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a counter sales person?

Recruiting counter sales people involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for counter sales people is $34,201 in the US. However, the cost of counter sales person hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a counter sales person for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $21 an hour.

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