Customer associate vs customer service retail associate

The differences between customer associates and customer service retail associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a customer associate has an average salary of $32,989, which is higher than the $30,002 average annual salary of a customer service retail associate.

The top three skills for a customer associate include sales floor, product knowledge and customer service. The most important skills for a customer service retail associate are POS, customer service, and customer orders.

Customer associate vs customer service retail associate overview

	Customer Associate	Customer Service Retail Associate
Yearly salary	$32,989	$30,002
Hourly rate	$15.86	$14.42
Growth rate	-4%	-
Number of jobs	191,027	580,336
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	40	41
Years of experience	12	-

What does a customer associate do?

A customer associate is responsible for providing the best customer service by assisting the customers with their inquiries and concerns, as well as resolving their complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds as needed. Customer associates also sell products and services to the customers, demonstrating product features, and identifying business opportunities to drive more revenues and profits for the business. They must have excellent communication and organizational skills to process orders and payments timely and accurately.

What does a customer service retail associate do?

A customer service retail associate is responsible for providing the highest customer service for the store's customers by responding to their inquiries and concerns and recommending them goods and services that would fit their needs. Customer service retail associates support the marketing campaigns and promotional strategies of the store by offering and demonstrating products to the customers, as well as arranging stock displays, and monitoring the adequacy of inventories. They also escalate high-level complaints to management for immediate resolution and assist with product replacement and issuing refunds as needed.

Customer associate vs customer service retail associate salary

Customer associates and customer service retail associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Customer Associate	Customer Service Retail Associate
Average salary	$32,989	$30,002
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $51,000	Between $23,000 And $37,000
Highest paying City	Los Angeles, CA	Bellevue, WA
Highest paying state	California	Washington
Best paying company	Udemy	Tractor Supply
Best paying industry	Telecommunication	Finance

Differences between customer associate and customer service retail associate education

There are a few differences between a customer associate and a customer service retail associate in terms of educational background:

	Customer Associate	Customer Service Retail Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Customer associate vs customer service retail associate demographics

Here are the differences between customer associates' and customer service retail associates' demographics:

	Customer Associate	Customer Service Retail Associate
Average age	40	41
Gender ratio	Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4%	Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 54.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between customer associate and customer service retail associate duties and responsibilities

Customer associate example responsibilities.

Manage product queries, process orders and deliveries of medical devices to NHS and private hospitals in UK.
Collaborate with management to train new employees on company policies and procedures and manage customer concerns via LiveChat.
Provide troubleshooting steps to service apple products.
Answer phones, operate POS and collect payments of cash, credit/debit cards and checks.
Job duties include not only calls, but faxing, copying, outlook, multitasking.
Require to have above average language skills, phone, negotiating, collaboration, persuasion, innovation.

Customer service retail associate example responsibilities.

Reconcile POS drawers on a daily basis, correct any problems accordingly and manage bank transactions.
run the registerSkills Usedfork lift, reading, writing, math
Perform cash handling duties, bag customers groceries, assist customers with groceries when necessary.
Assist cashier in boxing groceries, stocking merchandise, reorganizing shelves, and performing inventory.
Run the register of a small convenience retail shop .. Be accurate with money and math skills.
Check out guests on the POS system in a quick and efficient manner with thorough understanding of processing payment procedures.

Customer associate vs customer service retail associate skills

Common customer associate skills

Sales Floor, 24%
Product Knowledge, 22%
Customer Service, 13%
Phone Calls, 7%
Customer Calls, 3%
Outbound Calls, 3%

Common customer service retail associate skills

POS, 20%
Customer Service, 16%
Customer Orders, 13%
Retail Environment, 10%
Bank Deposits, 10%
Product Line, 9%

Customer Associate vs. similar jobs

Customer Associate related careers

Customer Associate related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Customer Associate
Customer Associate vs Customer Service Retail Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs