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General sales associate vs associate sales representative

The differences between general sales associates and associate sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an associate sales representative has an average salary of $51,007, which is higher than the $29,328 average annual salary of a general sales associate.

The top three skills for a general sales associate include POS, work ethic and food preparation. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.

General sales associate vs associate sales representative overview

General Sales AssociateAssociate Sales Representative
Yearly salary$29,328$51,007
Hourly rate$14.10$24.52
Growth rate-4%
Number of jobs383,009333,049
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4147
Years of experience-4

What does a general sales associate do?

The job of a general sales associate is to provide great customer service and increase the revenue of a business. They sell products and services and help customers find the right product. Depending on the retail store, their responsibilities may involve organizing store shelves, answering customers' questions, ringing up purchases, operating the cash register, and greeting customers. They may also be expected to take full charge of the managing of all financial transactions and balancing drawers.

What does an associate sales representative do?

The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.

General sales associate vs associate sales representative salary

General sales associates and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

General Sales AssociateAssociate Sales Representative
Average salary$29,328$51,007
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $39,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCBoston, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiMassachusetts
Best paying companyKaufman Dolowich & VoluckVerint
Best paying industryAutomotiveHealth Care

Differences between general sales associate and associate sales representative education

There are a few differences between a general sales associate and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:

General Sales AssociateAssociate Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

General sales associate vs associate sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between general sales associates' and associate sales representatives' demographics:

General Sales AssociateAssociate Sales Representative
Average age4147
Gender ratioMale, 60.2% Female, 39.8%Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between general sales associate and associate sales representative duties and responsibilities

General sales associate example responsibilities.

  • Supervise women's department, manage jewelry department, assist customers on finalizing purchases
  • Exhibit rudimentary math skills and advance communication skills when efficiently cashiering in a fast pace environment.
  • Perform minor repairs on Kohl's jewelry like changing watch batteries and removing watch links.

Associate sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage organization website and Facebook page; writing articles for websites and newsletters.
  • Perform inside sales, including telemarketing, prospecting, account penetration and product application, consulting and delivery of customer service.
  • Learned how to ask proper questions and communicate MetLife's product differentiators against competition

General sales associate vs associate sales representative skills

Common general sales associate skills
  • POS, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 14%
  • Food Preparation, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Lead Generation, 9%
Common associate sales representative skills
  • Work Ethic, 16%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 12%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • Excellent Organizational, 4%
  • Sales Techniques, 4%