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The differences between merchandising associates and general sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a merchandising associate has an average salary of $33,201, which is higher than the $29,328 average annual salary of a general sales associate.
The top three skills for a merchandising associate include cleanliness, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a general sales associate are POS, work ethic, and food preparation.
| Merchandising Associate | General Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $33,201 | $29,328 |
| Hourly rate | $15.96 | $14.10 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 370,401 | 383,009 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Merchandise associates ensure that customers get a complete shopping experience. They pleasantly arrange and stock merchandise on shelves for customers to purchase. Also, they assemble product displays and make sure popular and on-sale products are visible to customers. Part of their duty is to place the appropriate sales tag on items and record new developments in the store's inventory. Skills required for the job include excellent customer service, being detail-oriented, and relevant experience in sales.
The job of a general sales associate is to provide great customer service and increase the revenue of a business. They sell products and services and help customers find the right product. Depending on the retail store, their responsibilities may involve organizing store shelves, answering customers' questions, ringing up purchases, operating the cash register, and greeting customers. They may also be expected to take full charge of the managing of all financial transactions and balancing drawers.
Merchandising associates and general sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandising Associate | General Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $33,201 | $29,328 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $21,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Uline | Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a merchandising associate and a general sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Merchandising Associate | General Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandising associates' and general sales associates' demographics:
| Merchandising Associate | General Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.8% Female, 56.2% | Male, 60.2% Female, 39.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 7.0% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |