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The differences between key holders and sales lead/sales associates 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 a sales lead/sales associate. Additionally, a sales lead/sales associate has an average salary of $31,954, 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 a sales lead/sales associate are POS, cash control, and customer service.
| Key Holder | Sales Lead/Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $31,779 | $31,954 |
| Hourly rate | $15.28 | $15.36 |
| Growth rate | -6% | - |
| Number of jobs | 431,956 | 882,220 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
Sales lead and sales associates are two different sales positions in the retail industry. A sales lead is in charge of supervising the sales department. Sales leads perform administrative duties like recruiting and training staff, monitoring inventories, and maintaining sales performance. On the other hand, sales associates guide potential customers to acquire the products or services that fit their needs. The associates notify clients of sales promotions then present to them the product or service. Employees for these positions are looking for candidates with relevant experience in sales and related degrees like marketing and sales.
Key holders and sales lead/sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Key Holder | Sales Lead/Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $31,779 | $31,954 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $39,000 | Between $17,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Wisconsin | New York |
| Best paying company | Connecticut Children's Medical Center | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a key holder and a sales lead/sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Key Holder | Sales Lead/Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between key holders' and sales lead/sales associates' demographics:
| Key Holder | Sales Lead/Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9% | Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |