Key holder vs assistant manager

The differences between key holders and assistant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a key holder and an assistant manager. Additionally, an assistant manager has an average salary of $39,127, which is higher than the $31,779 average annual salary of a key holder.

The top three skills for a key holder include sales floor, product knowledge and visual standards. The most important skills for an assistant manager are paperwork, cleanliness, and customer service.

Key holder vs assistant manager overview

	Key Holder	Assistant Manager
Yearly salary	$31,779	$39,127
Hourly rate	$15.28	$18.81
Growth rate	-6%	6%
Number of jobs	431,956	566,132
Job satisfaction	4	4.5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age	43	44
Years of experience	6	6

What does a key holder do?

A keyholder is responsible for ensuring the store's daily security before and after the operation. Keyholders' duties include assisting with administrative tasks, handling customers' inquiries, managing and escalating customers' complaints, monitoring the alarm system, keeping track of the deliveries, supporting staff training, cooperating in company's events, and recommending operational strategies to meet business goals and objectives. A keyholder must have excellent customer service and time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task, especially during high customer volume.

What does an assistant manager do?

An assistant manager provides assistance and support to the direct manager in ensuring that the business runs smoothly with guaranteed satisfaction. An associate manager helps organize daily projects and manages employees to make sure that tasks are being done in a timely and accurate manner. Assistant managers are also expected to develop a good relationship with the whole workforce and clients to contribute to a successful and healthy workplace. An assistant manager is also required to present practical strategies for business growth, monitor daily operations, and communicate with clients for any possible suggestions and complaints.

Key holder vs assistant manager salary

Key holders and assistant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Key Holder	Assistant Manager
Average salary	$31,779	$39,127
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $39,000	Between $23,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	New York, NY	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Wisconsin	New Jersey
Best paying company	Connecticut Children's Medical Center	Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Finance

Differences between key holder and assistant manager education

There are a few differences between a key holder and an assistant manager in terms of educational background:

	Key Holder	Assistant Manager
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	University of Georgia

Key holder vs assistant manager demographics

Here are the differences between key holders' and assistant managers' demographics:

	Key Holder	Assistant Manager
Average age	43	44
Gender ratio	Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9%	Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 6.6% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	9%	10%

Differences between key holder and assistant manager duties and responsibilities

Key holder example responsibilities.

Achieve and exceed store and company sales and KPI goals.
Manage monetary transactions and POS operations.
Used upselling techniques daily when selling gaming systems and accessories.
Maintain operational duties in the manager's absence including scheduling and review of KPI reports.
Used social networking, such as Facebook, to keep customers update on new arrivals and merchandise.
Maintain a cleanly environment for customers, employees, and other animals, especially after any pet messes.

Assistant manager example responsibilities.

Manage and approve all advertising and promotional activity (weekly flyers).
Manage a team in order to reach daily, monthly, and yearly monetary, KPI, and loyalty goals.
Assist with customer service, organize employee payroll and scheduling, and manage day-to-day company responsibilities.
Maintain customer base by providing excellent customer service, maintaining facilities cleanliness, preparing daily reports and managing other cashiers.
Provide exceptional customer service by serving food and bartending during the restaurant s busiest hours of operation
Assist customers and operate POS register, unload stock delivery truck, stock merchandise and build displays, make bank deposits.

Key holder vs assistant manager skills

Common key holder skills

Sales Floor, 18%
Product Knowledge, 11%
Visual Standards, 9%
Bank Deposits, 7%
Loss Prevention, 7%
Store Management, 6%

Common assistant manager skills

Paperwork, 10%
Cleanliness, 9%
Customer Service, 7%
Math, 7%
Basic Math, 6%
Payroll, 4%

Key Holder vs. similar jobs

Key Holder related careers

Key Holder related jobs

Key Holder jobs by location

Zippia Careers
Sales Industry
Key Holder
Key Holder vs Assistant Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse sales jobs