Customer sales associate vs store sales associate

The differences between customer sales associates and store sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a customer sales associate, becoming a store sales associate takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a customer sales associate has an average salary of $37,024, which is higher than the $30,284 average annual salary of a store sales associate.

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

Customer sales associate vs store sales associate overview

	Customer Sales Associate	Store Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$37,024	$30,284
Hourly rate	$17.80	$14.56
Growth rate	-4%	-
Number of jobs	415,981	524,877
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	40	43
Years of experience	12	6

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 store sales associate do?

A store sales associate is responsible for assisting store customers, directing them to the correct area of their needs, and responding to their inquiries and concerns regarding a product. Store sales associates also support the store's promotional campaigns, selling goods and services to the customers by demonstrating the product and its benefits. They keep the store premises clean and tidy to avoid any potential hazards during operations. A store sales associate must have excellent communication skills, especially on resolving customer complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds.

Customer sales associate vs store sales associate salary

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

	Customer Sales Associate	Store Sales Associate
Average salary	$37,024	$30,284
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $49,000	Between $23,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Odenton, MD	Elizabeth, NJ
Highest paying state	Maryland	New Jersey
Best paying company	Johnson Controls	Rooms To Go
Best paying industry	Real Estate	Hospitality

Differences between customer sales associate and store sales associate education

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

	Customer Sales Associate	Store Sales Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 41%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Customer sales associate vs store sales associate demographics

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

	Customer Sales Associate	Store Sales Associate
Average age	40	43
Gender ratio	Male, 50.6% Female, 49.4%	Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	9%

Differences between customer sales associate and store sales 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.

Store sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage to sales KPI's (including sales and expense budget numbers), assuring efficient and effective use of resources.
Earn management trust by serving as keyholder, responsibly opening and closing the store.
Audit all jewelry counts daily, banking deposit log, cashier logs, sales logs.
Utilize the company's POS system to cash customers out or administer returns to the store.
Work as a sales associate and keyholder throughout the summer and a bit of the school year.
Help customers choose jewelry, pierce ears, open and close out register, set up displays.

Customer sales associate vs store sales 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 store sales associate skills

Sales Floor, 20%
POS, 10%
Product Knowledge, 10%
Store Sales, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Stock Room, 5%

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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