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The differences between retail clerks and retail specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a retail specialist has an average salary of $31,114, which is higher than the $30,046 average annual salary of a retail clerk.
The top three skills for a retail clerk include stock shelves, groceries and retail sales. The most important skills for a retail specialist are store management, retail environment, and store associates.
| Retail Clerk | Retail Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $30,046 | $31,114 |
| Hourly rate | $14.45 | $14.96 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 470,355 | 269,690 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A retail clerk is responsible for selling goods and services to the customers, recommending products based on their needs, and responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the product. Retail clerks assist with the store's marketing strategies, organize product displays, monitor inventories, endorse promotional discounts, and help customers on their checkout payments. A retail clerk must have excellent communication and customer service skills to handle customers' requests and ensure their highest satisfaction.
A retail specialist is primarily in charge of securing sales and assisting customers on a sales floor, ensuring to meet the daily sales targets and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting clients and answering inquiries, locating products, offering recommendations and promotions, and processing payments. They may also address issues or concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a retail specialist, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness of the sales floor and arrange displays properly to attract customers.
Retail clerks and retail specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Clerk | Retail Specialist | |
| Average salary | $30,046 | $31,114 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $38,000 | Between $22,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Salem, NH |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Bellevue Jr/Sr High School | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a retail clerk and a retail specialist in terms of educational background:
| Retail Clerk | Retail Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retail clerks' and retail specialists' demographics:
| Retail Clerk | Retail Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |