Meat department associate vs store associate

The differences between meat department associates and store associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a store associate has an average salary of $29,543, which is higher than the $26,955 average annual salary of a meat department associate.

The top three skills for a meat department associate include food handling, customer service and grinders. The most important skills for a store associate are sales floor, retail store, and inventory management.

Meat department associate vs store associate overview

	Meat Department Associate	Store Associate
Yearly salary	$26,955	$29,543
Hourly rate	$12.96	$14.20
Growth rate	-3%	-
Number of jobs	52,410	495,423
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	High School Diploma, 35%
Average age	42	41
Years of experience	4	-

What does a meat department associate do?

A meat department associate is responsible for addressing customer needs and offering product suggestions based on the customer's preference. Meat department associates ensure the safe storage of the products, carefully loading and unloading the items from the distribution trucks to the appropriate area. They also assist with product packaging, price labeling, inspecting quality, and eliminating products that do not pass quality standards. A meat department associate may also perform administrative and clerical duties as needed, such as taking orders, processing payments, and updating sales reports.

What does a store associate do?

A store associate is responsible for assisting customers with the products they need and recommending alternative goods that would fit their budget. Sales associates also market promotional offers and provide product descriptions to the customer. They also monitor inventories, stock supplies on the appropriate shelves, and ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the store. Store associates also perform other administrative tasks as needed, such as creating sales reports, assisting in the counter, and helping customers on carrying their items.

Meat department associate vs store associate salary

Meat department associates and store associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Meat Department Associate	Store Associate
Average salary	$26,955	$29,543
Salary range	Between $13,000 And $55,000	Between $24,000 And $36,000
Highest paying City	Leesburg, VA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New York
Best paying company	Linklaters	Pro Football Hall of Fame
Best paying industry	Retail	Retail

Differences between meat department associate and store associate education

There are a few differences between a meat department associate and a store associate in terms of educational background:

	Meat Department Associate	Store Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 33%	High School Diploma, 35%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Meat department associate vs store associate demographics

Here are the differences between meat department associates' and store associates' demographics:

	Meat Department Associate	Store Associate
Average age	42	41
Gender ratio	Male, 65.3% Female, 34.7%	Male, 48.8% Female, 51.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 7.7% White, 64.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	3%	7%

Differences between meat department associate and store associate duties and responsibilities

Meat department associate example responsibilities.

Placed/Fil orders, maintain inventory, and manage department cleanliness.
Stock meat counter, dairy and frozen foods as well as general groceries.
Maintain, clean and sterilize, tables, deli slicers, and cutting equipment daily.
Clear shopping carts from lot, bag groceries for customers and help customers load groceries into vehicle.
Maintain and clean the meat dept, including saws, grinders, refrigerator, freezer and various other tools and equipment.
Used all equipment in meat department such as the refrigerators, freezers, slicers, and ovens according to company guidelines.

Store associate example responsibilities.

Manage the appearance of the store in conjunction with the store priorities to present a desirable image of Aldi.
Work on the cash register, used calculators, POS machines and mental math.
Ensure that all cash handling are accurate and work with Ross' point-of-sale systems.
Put out freight as well as restocking the stock room, carrying 50 pound boxes up ladders.
Operate POS register and provide exceptional customer service.
Regulate profit margins, payroll, loss-prevention control and inventory management.

Meat department associate vs store associate skills

Common meat department associate skills

Food Handling, 20%
Customer Service, 11%
Grinders, 10%
Fresh Product, 8%
Food Safety, 7%
Fresh Meat, 6%

Common store associate skills

Sales Floor, 25%
Retail Store, 12%
Inventory Management, 9%
Cleanliness, 7%
Math, 5%
Strong Customer Service, 5%

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Meat Department Associate
Meat Department Associate vs Store Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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