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The differences between retail representatives and retail specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a retail representative has an average salary of $31,790, which is higher than the $31,114 average annual salary of a retail specialist.
The top three skills for a retail representative include flexibility, store management and certification programs. The most important skills for a retail specialist are store management, retail environment, and store associates.
| Retail Representative | Retail Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $31,790 | $31,114 |
| Hourly rate | $15.28 | $14.96 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 402,132 | 269,690 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A retail representative is in charge of assisting customers with their shopping needs in retail stores, ensuring customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting customers and identifying their needs, answering inquiries, locating products, offering promotions and recommendations, and conducting demonstrations when possible. There are also instances where they must process payments or refunds. Furthermore, as a retail representative, it is essential to arrange products on shelves to make it look attractive to customers, all while maintaining the cleanliness of the sales floor.
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 representatives and retail specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Representative | Retail Specialist | |
| Average salary | $31,790 | $31,114 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $38,000 | Between $22,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Salem, NH |
| Highest paying state | - | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a retail representative and a retail specialist in terms of educational background:
| Retail Representative | Retail Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retail representatives' and retail specialists' demographics:
| Retail Representative | Retail Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.6% Female, 56.4% | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |