Customer sales associate vs customer care associate

The differences between customer sales associates and customer care associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a customer sales associate and a customer care associate. Additionally, a customer sales associate has an average salary of $37,024, which is higher than the $33,115 average annual salary of a customer care associate.

The top three skills for a customer sales associate include sales floor, customer satisfaction and customer service. The most important skills for a customer care associate are customer care, patients, and customer service.

Customer sales associate vs customer care associate overview

	Customer Sales Associate	Customer Care Associate
Yearly salary	$37,024	$33,115
Hourly rate	$17.80	$15.92
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	415,981	250,296
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	12	12

What does a customer sales associate do?

A customer sales associate specializes in handling and communicating with customers to secure sales in a retail store. Their primary responsibilities revolve around greeting clients, responding to inquiries, providing assistance, and even offering suggestions when necessary. Aside from ensuring customer satisfaction, it is also their responsibility to maintain the cleanliness and order on the sales floor by re-stocking shelves and arranging them to look presentable. Furthermore, a customer sales associate must coordinate with other sales floor members and report to a manager or supervisor.

What does a customer care associate do?

A customer care associate's role focuses on providing customer support and service, ensuring optimal services and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities typically revolve around assisting walk-in customers by answering inquiries, offering recommendations or alternatives, and informing them of any promos or discounts. It is essential to devise strategies to identify customer needs, providing them as needed. Furthermore, a customer care associate may answer inquiries made through calls or correspondence, make reservations, handle complaints or concerns, and resolve them according to the company's policies and regulations.

Customer sales associate vs customer care associate salary

Customer sales associates and customer care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Customer Sales Associate	Customer Care Associate
Average salary	$37,024	$33,115
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $49,000	Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City	Odenton, MD	San Diego, CA
Highest paying state	Maryland	California
Best paying company	Johnson Controls	Centennial Bank
Best paying industry	Real Estate	Insurance

Differences between customer sales associate and customer care associate education

There are a few differences between a customer sales associate and a customer care associate in terms of educational background:

	Customer Sales Associate	Customer Care Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Customer sales associate vs customer care associate demographics

Here are the differences between customer sales associates' and customer care associates' demographics:

	Customer Sales Associate	Customer Care Associate
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 50.6% Female, 49.4%	Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 7.0% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between customer sales associate and customer care associate duties and responsibilities

Customer sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage cash balances and inventory stock accurately; ensure cleanliness of all work stations and guarantee excellent customer service.
Process merchandise information through store computer system, POS register system, and complete all require paperwork according to policy.
Used mobile POS systems to streamline the customer experience in order to drive full engagement throughout entire interaction with customer.
Provide above average service to customers by bagging groceries appropriately and assist with carryout and loading merchandise into customer's vehicle.
Recognize opportunities to up-sell and often take the opportunity to do so to create a better Marriott experience and event.

Customer care associate example responsibilities.

Continue to manage a high volume of customer calls relate to HMO, PPO and POS concerns.
Verify HIPAA member information, update members account, expedite payments, explain health and dental plan benefits options.
Answer inbound calls assisting customers with billing questions, troubleshoot for customers, and assist customers with service plans and upgrading packages
Receive inbound provider calls at a call center regarding patients medical insurance benefits and eligibility, edit and process Medicare claims.
Provide superior customer service to inbound calls from DirecTV customers regarding their schedule service/install appointment.

Customer sales associate vs customer care associate skills

Common customer sales associate skills

Sales Floor, 12%
Customer Satisfaction, 9%
Customer Service, 9%
Product Knowledge, 8%
Outbound Calls, 8%
Customer Sales, 8%

Common customer care associate skills

Customer Care, 21%
Patients, 16%
Customer Service, 7%
Telephone Inquiries, 6%
Customer Support, 5%
Home Health, 3%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Customer Sales Associate
Customer Sales Associate vs Customer Care Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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