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Key holder vs associate retailer

The differences between key holders and associate retailers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a key holder has an average salary of $31,779, which is higher than the $28,763 average annual salary of an associate retailer.

The top three skills for a key holder include sales floor, product knowledge and visual standards. The most important skills for an associate retailer are ladders, sales floor, and loss prevention.

Key holder vs associate retailer overview

Key HolderAssociate Retailer
Yearly salary$31,779$28,763
Hourly rate$15.28$13.83
Growth rate-6%-
Number of jobs431,956474,522
Job satisfaction43
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%High School Diploma, 35%
Average age4341
Years of experience6-

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 associate retailer do?

An Associate Retailer is responsible for keeping the sales area up to standard and assisting customers while inside the store's premises. Most of the tasks revolve around keeping items on shelves clean and well-organized, greeting and offering assistance to customers, responding to inquiries and locating products, and even providing suggestions or recommendations when necessary and in adherence to the store's policies and regulations. In other stores and retail outlets, the Associate Retailer may also process payments and returns while still putting importance to customer satisfaction.

Key holder vs associate retailer salary

Key holders and associate retailers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Key HolderAssociate Retailer
Average salary$31,779$28,763
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $23,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWisconsinWashington
Best paying companyConnecticut Children's Medical CenterMars
Best paying industryManufacturingHospitality

Differences between key holder and associate retailer education

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

Key HolderAssociate Retailer
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%High School Diploma, 35%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at Delhi-

Key holder vs associate retailer demographics

Here are the differences between key holders' and associate retailers' demographics:

Key HolderAssociate Retailer
Average age4341
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage9%7%

Differences between key holder and associate retailer 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.
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Associate retailer example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish upselling goals to contribute to company's success.
  • Provide excellent retail customer service; manage stock and inventory; operate POS cash register
  • Provide excellent customer service while upselling promotional products
  • Promote the organization via Facebook, twitter, and blog.
  • Used Rf scanners to pull equipment from stockroom and place on the sales-floor.
  • Pull items from the queue for restocking, tracking inventory with an RF unit.
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Key holder vs associate retailer skills

Common key holder skills
  • Sales Floor, 18%
  • Product Knowledge, 11%
  • Visual Standards, 9%
  • Bank Deposits, 7%
  • Loss Prevention, 7%
  • Store Management, 6%
Common associate retailer skills
  • Ladders, 23%
  • Sales Floor, 22%
  • Loss Prevention, 14%
  • Customer Issues, 10%
  • PET, 10%
  • Retail Store, 4%