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Key holder vs sales support associate

The differences between key holders and sales support associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a key holder, becoming a sales support associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a sales support associate has an average salary of $34,454, 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 support associate are sales floor, back room, and math.

Key holder vs sales support associate overview

Key HolderSales Support Associate
Yearly salary$31,779$34,454
Hourly rate$15.28$16.56
Growth rate-6%4%
Number of jobs431,956447,642
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4347
Years of experience64

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 a sales support associate do?

A sales support associate is an individual who is responsible for assisting sales staff and help customers. To provide this assistance, sales support associates use customer communication methods such as telephones or email to process customer orders and ensure that they are accurate. They work closely with distributors to make sure that products are available for their customers. Sales support associates may function as either part-time or full time, but companies may require excellent communication skills.

Key holder vs sales support associate salary

Key holders and sales support associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Key HolderSales Support Associate
Average salary$31,779$34,454
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $25,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBoston, MA
Highest paying stateWisconsinMassachusetts
Best paying companyConnecticut Children's Medical CenterGoldman Sachs
Best paying industryManufacturingFinance

Differences between key holder and sales support associate education

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

Key HolderSales Support Associate
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Key holder vs sales support associate demographics

Here are the differences between key holders' and sales support associates' demographics:

Key HolderSales Support Associate
Average age4347
Gender ratioMale, 28.1% Female, 71.9%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%6%

Differences between key holder and sales support associate 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.
  • Show more

Sales support associate example responsibilities.

  • Contribute to marketing business online and manage Facebook page.
  • Cross trained on POS function and inventory management
  • Assist patients with Critical/Triage calls; document necessary symptoms for medical assistants to determine what medical intervention is necessary.
  • Work with A/R on short payments and credit/debit discrepancies.
  • Identify and prioritize account opportunities and upselling value add services.
  • Process new service for external customers and initiate upselling opportunities for additional products and services.

Key holder vs sales support associate skills

Common key holder skills
  • Sales Floor, 18%
  • Product Knowledge, 11%
  • Visual Standards, 9%
  • Bank Deposits, 7%
  • Loss Prevention, 7%
  • Store Management, 6%
Common sales support associate skills
  • Sales Floor, 21%
  • Back Room, 13%
  • Math, 13%
  • Sales Support, 12%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Sales Service, 6%