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How to hire a customer service retail associate

Customer service retail associate hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring customer service retail associates in the United States:

  • There are currently 2,567,077 customer service retail associates in the US, as well as 580,336 job openings.
  • Customer service retail associates are in the highest demand in Los Angeles, CA, with 16 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a customer service retail associate 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 customer service retail associate to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a customer service retail associate, step by step

To hire a customer service retail associate, 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 customer service retail associate:

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

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a customer service retail associate does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your customer service retail associate 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 customer service retail associate 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a customer service retail 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 customer service retail associate that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of customer service retail associates.

    Type of Customer Service Retail AssociateDescriptionHourly rate
    Customer Service Retail AssociateRetail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.$11-17
    Retail ClerkA retail clerk is responsible for selling goods and services to the customers, recommending products based on their needs, and responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the product. Retail clerks assist with the store's marketing strategies, organize product displays, monitor inventories, endorse promotional discounts, and help customers on their checkout payments... Show more$11-18
    Customer Service ClerkA customer service clerk is responsible for resolving client issues, giving requested information, and providing clients high-quality customer service. Customer service clerks' tasks include sharing information, responding to and recording requests, collecting payments, and resolving billing disputes... Show more$12-20
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • POS
    • Customer Service
    • Customer Orders
    • Retail Environment
    • Bank Deposits
    • Product Line
    • Retail Store
    • FedEx
    • Strong Work Ethic
    • Work Ethic
    • Retail Customer Service
    • Cash Handling
    • Retail Sales
    • Product Selection
    Check all skills
    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.
    More customer service retail associate duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your customer service retail associate job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A customer service retail associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a customer service retail associate in West Virginia may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level customer service retail associate usually earns less than a senior-level customer service retail associate. Additionally, a customer service retail associate with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average customer service retail associate salary

    $14.42hourly

    $30,002 yearly

    Entry-level customer service retail associate salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 25, 2025

    Average customer service retail associate salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Washington$43,161$21
    2California$36,175$17
    3Massachusetts$35,817$17
    4Oregon$35,440$17
    5Colorado$32,808$16
    6Nevada$32,187$15
    7Minnesota$31,886$15
    8Indiana$30,502$15
    9Nebraska$30,097$14
    10New Jersey$29,714$14
    11Utah$29,673$14
    12Michigan$29,633$14
    13Arizona$28,799$14
    14Tennessee$28,505$14
    15Oklahoma$28,398$14
    16Maine$28,332$14
    17Illinois$28,254$14
    18Texas$28,082$14
    19Ohio$27,692$13
    20Alabama$26,961$13

    Average customer service retail associate salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Tractor Supply$33,650$16.183,867
    2AT&T$33,272$16.001,234
    3Office Depot$32,051$15.41411
    4Hudson Group$32,035$15.40
    5FedEx$31,952$15.36219
    6M&T Bank$31,703$15.241
    7Kelly Services$30,952$14.8812
    8Russell Tobin$30,239$14.54
    9Southern States Cooperative$30,185$14.5124
    10Aerotek$29,983$14.414
    11Elements Massage$29,897$14.37
    12Neiman Marcus Group$29,894$14.37
    13Sunset Honda$29,779$14.32
    14Adecco$29,585$14.2226
    15Check 'n Go$29,584$14.22
    16Rent-A-Center$29,570$14.225
    17Macy's$29,551$14.211,087
    18IKEA North America Services, LLC$29,320$14.107
    19OLE$29,105$13.99
    20Randstad North America, Inc.$29,040$13.962
  4. Writing a customer service retail associate job description

    A customer service retail associate job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a customer service retail associate job description:

    Customer service retail associate job description example

    CUSTOMER SERVICE / RETAIL SHIPPING - PART TIME
    Postal Annex is located in the Cal Oaks shopping center.
    We are looking for a part time associate to join our team.

    What are we looking for?
    We are looking for an employee with retail and shipping experience. Holding a California Notary license is a definite plus, or, willing to become a notary. Knowledge of UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL shipping is a plus. Someone that has sales and customer service experience, is detail-oriented, and can also multi-task. Must be comfortable with computers, copiers, fax machines, and printers.

    Postal Annex+ is a family-owned shipping store that offers a large variety of products and services, including greeting cards, gifts, mailbox services, and more. A different job and customer situation will be thrown at you regularly. You will need to be able to think/react quickly. If you like variety – this position could be for you!

    There is very little "downtime" during work. We need an individual who can handle a fast-paced environment, can multitask effectively, and maintain a steady workflow throughout the entire day.

    Daily responsibilities would include (but are not limited to): Great customer service. Standing and walking the store for extended periods of time. Lifting boxes. Stocking and inventory. Putting away mail. Use of computers, copier machines, and multiple printers. Taking passport photos. Notary service. Problem-solving.
    About Postal Annex: Postal Annex+ is a small shipping store that offers a large variety of products and services, including greeting cards, gifts, mailbox services, and more. We are your neighborhood business service center, offering many needed services under one roof.

    About Postal Annex
    Postal Annex+ is a small shipping store that offers a large variety of products and services, including greeting cards, gifts, mailbox services and more. We are your neighborhood business service center, offering many needed services under one roof.
    About Postal Annex Postal Annex+ is a small shipping store that offers a large variety of products and services, including greeting cards, gifts, mailbox services and more. We are your neighborhood business service center, offering many needed services under one roof.

    About Postal Annex:

    Postal Annex+ is a small shipping store that offers a large variety of products and services, including greeting cards, gifts, mailbox services and more. We are your neighborhood business service center, offering many needed services under one roof.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find customer service retail 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 customer service retail associate job on Zippia to find and recruit customer service retail 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

    Recruiting customer service retail associates requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 customer service retail associate

    Once you've selected the best customer service retail associate candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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.

    To prepare for the new customer service retail associate first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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 customer service retail associate?

There are different types of costs for hiring customer service retail associates. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new customer service retail associate employee.

You can expect to pay around $30,002 per year for a customer service retail associate, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for customer service retail associates in the US typically range between $11 and $17 an hour.

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