General sales associate demographics and statistics in the US
General sales associate demographics research summary. Zippia estimates general sales associate demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our general sales associate estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about general sales associates after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 2,159,641 general sales associates currently employed in the United States.
- 39.8% of all general sales associates are women, while 60.2% are men.
- The average general sales associate age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of general sales associates is White (58.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.5%), Black or African American (9.6%) and Asian (7.2%).
- In 2022, women earned 95% of what men earned.
- 7% of all general sales associates are LGBT.
- General sales associates are 58% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
General sales associate demographics by:
General sales associate gender statistics
39.8% of general sales associates are women and 60.2% of general sales associates are men.
- Male, 60.2%
- Female, 39.8%
General sales associate gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 60.2% |
| Female | 39.8% |
General sales associate gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$30,561
Female income
$29,083
General sales associate gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in general sales associate positions over time. Currently, 39.8% of general sales associates are female.
General sales associate gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 57.05% | 42.95% |
| 2011 | 56.72% | 43.28% |
| 2012 | 57.43% | 42.57% |
| 2013 | 57.44% | 42.56% |
| 2014 | 56.52% | 43.48% |
| 2015 | 57.40% | 42.60% |
| 2016 | 57.99% | 42.01% |
| 2017 | 58.30% | 41.70% |
| 2018 | 58.84% | 41.16% |
| 2019 | 57.97% | 42.03% |
| 2020 | 59.36% | 40.64% |
| 2021 | 60.16% | 39.84% |
General sales associate related jobs gender ratio
We compared general sales associates with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, parts counterman and lumber associate have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| BRA Specialist | 6% | 94% |
| Clinique Consultant | 6% | 94% |
| Beauty Consultant | 6% | 94% |
| General Sales Associate | 60% | 40% |
| Cart Associate | 94% | 6% |
| Lumber Associate | 95% | 5% |
| Parts Counterman | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
General sales associate demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among general sales associates is White, which makes up 58.4% of all general sales associates. Comparatively, 18.5% of general sales associates are Hispanic or Latino and 9.6% of general sales associates are Black or African American.
- White, 58.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 18.5%
- Black or African American, 9.6%
- Asian, 7.2%
- Unknown, 5.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
General sales associate race
| General sales associate race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 58.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 18.5% |
| Black or African American | 9.6% |
| Asian | 7.2% |
| Unknown | 5.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
General sales associate race and ethnicity over time
See how general sales associate racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
General sales associate race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 66.59% | 10.04% | 5.87% | 14.07% |
| 2011 | 64.82% | 11.06% | 6.04% | 14.75% |
| 2012 | 64.53% | 10.57% | 6.19% | 15.21% |
| 2013 | 63.53% | 11.08% | 6.24% | 15.55% |
| 2014 | 63.49% | 10.69% | 6.68% | 15.65% |
| 2015 | 62.95% | 10.73% | 6.45% | 16.29% |
| 2016 | 62.75% | 10.40% | 6.44% | 16.59% |
| 2017 | 62.27% | 9.96% | 6.87% | 16.91% |
| 2018 | 62.38% | 9.72% | 6.55% | 17.42% |
| 2019 | 62.35% | 9.67% | 6.62% | 17.30% |
| 2020 | 59.85% | 9.67% | 6.99% | 17.69% |
| 2021 | 58.36% | 9.64% | 7.15% | 18.49% |
General sales associate wage gap by race
According to our data, white general sales associates have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown general sales associates have the lowest average salary at $30,165.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $30,165 |
| White | $30,927 |
| Black or African American | $30,230 |
| Asian | $30,747 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $30,744 |
Average general sales associate age
See how the average age of general sales associates varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
General sales associate age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 32.5 | 38 |
| Unknown | 37 | 31.5 |
| Asian | 40 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 30 | 31 |
| White | 43 | 43 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 36.5 | 39 |
General sales associate age breakdown
The average age of general sales associates is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the general sales associate population.
General sales associate age breakdown
| General Sales Associate Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 18% |
| 20-30 years | 28% |
General sales associate educational attainment
- Bachelor's, 36%
- High School Diploma, 31%
- Associate, 20%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 9%
General sales associates by degree level
| General sales associate degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 36% |
| High School Diploma | 31% |
| Associate | 20% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
General sales associate jobs you might like
General sales associate wage gap by degree level
According to the data, general sales associates with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $32,806 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, general sales associates earn a median annual income of $32,539 compared to $29,771 for general sales associates with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $32,806 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $29,043 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $32,539 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $29,771 |
General sales associate employment statistics
Most general sales associates work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where general sales associates work
Below, you can see the size of companies where general sales associates work.
General sales associate jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 12% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 7% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 40% |
General sales associate jobs by company type
Employees with the general sales associate job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most general sales associates prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
General sales associate jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 37% |
| Private | 58% |
| Government | 0% |
General sales associate jobs by industry
The most common industries for general sales associates are retail, professional and hospitality.
General sales associate industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 31% |
| Fortune 500 | 17% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Hospitality | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 7% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Education | 4% |
| Transportation | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Media | 2% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
General sales associate turnover and employment statistics
General sales associate unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for general sales associates between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
General sales associate unemployment rate by year
| Year | General sales associate unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 11.74% |
| 2011 | 10.94% |
| 2012 | 9.82% |
| 2013 | 8.89% |
| 2014 | 7.55% |
| 2015 | 7.02% |
| 2016 | 6.27% |
| 2017 | 6.04% |
| 2018 | 5.79% |
| 2019 | 5.48% |
| 2020 | 8.30% |
| 2021 | 8.88% |
Average general sales associate tenure
The average general sales associate stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,270 general sales associates resumes in Zippia's database.
General sales associate tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 35% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 11% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 4% |
General sales associate LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of general sales associates that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Launderette Attendant | 3.66% | 44,552 |
| Parts Counter Clerk | 3.76% | 95,411 |
| Plan Checker | 5.05% | 7,041 |
| General Sales Associate | 7.10% | - |
Similar general sales associate jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Launderette Attendant | 3.66% | 44,552 |
| Parts Counter Clerk | 3.76% | 95,411 |
| Plan Checker | 5.05% | 7,041 |
Foreign languages spoken by general sales associates
The most common foreign language among general sales associates is Spanish at 52.6%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.3% and German is the third-most popular at 6.0%.
- Spanish, 52.6%
- French, 10.3%
- German, 6.0%
- Japanese, 4.3%
- Arabic, 4.3%
- Other, 22.5%
General sales associate languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 52.6% |
| French | 10.3% |
| German | 6.0% |
| Japanese | 4.3% |
| Arabic | 4.3% |
| Other | 22.5% |
