What Does a Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Do?

A cashier is responsible for ensuring all the products and goods sold are well recorded and paid for as well as answering customer inquiries and recommending products. They also help the other sales team when needed and process payment for all goods bought. Their duties and responsibilities include processing payments, ensuring all goods bought are accurately scanned and recorded, and bagging purchases.

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Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real retail sales associate/cashier resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Supervise women's department, manage jewelry department, assist customers on finalizing purchases
Process transactions through POS terminals accepting cash, checks, credit cards, and giving change.
Commend for exceeding food safety guidelines and ensuring the highest quality product through meticulous store cleanliness.
Improve customer solicitation pitch to increase Kohl's credit card application solicitations.

Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a retail sales associate/cashier does, you may be wondering, "should I become a retail sales associate/cashier?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, retail sales associate/cashiers have a growth rate described as "decline" at -2% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of retail sales associate/cashier opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is -105,200.

Retail sales associate/cashiers average about $12.48 an hour, which makes the retail sales associate/cashier annual salary $25,961. Additionally, retail sales associate/cashiers are known to earn anywhere from $20,000 to $32,000 a year. This means that the top-earning retail sales associate/cashiers make $11,000 more than the lowest earning ones.

It's hard work to become a retail sales associate/cashier, but even the most dedicated employees consider switching careers from time to time. Whether you're interested in a more challenging position or just looking for a fresh start, we've compiled extensive information on becoming a sales clerk, cashier associate, head cashier, and retail clerk.

Learn More About Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Job Descriptions

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5 Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Resume Examples

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David Hayes Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Contact Information Killeen, TX (820) 555-4156 dhayes@example.com Skills Rebar New Merchandise Front End Pipe Installations Engraving Front End Activities Retail Sales Customer Service General Construction Ross Employment History Retail Sales Associate/Cashier 2019 - Present Sears Holdings Killeen, TX Prepare warranty and repairs orders for customers and store owned jewelry. Operate cash register, receive and process cash or credit payment, POS (point of sale). Train new employees and maintain a positive attitude. Assisted customers with fine jewelry sales and questions, and performed jewelry and watch repairs. Managed a high volume of freight flow with responsibility of getting all products to sales floor. Retail Sales Associate/Cashier 2016 - 2019 T&D Solutions Killeen, TX Worked backroom and sales floor. Trained and developed retail sales representatives. Provided excellent customer service Assisted customer in finding the right footwear for them Kept the foot deck clean Provide customer service on retail sales floor. Apprentice 2015 - 2016 T&D Solutions Killeen, TX Designed, built, and tested many types of communication antennas. Traced out short circuits in wiring, using measuring instruments and hand tools. Clean parts and shop area and equipment Assist in machining work and cylinder head assembly Operated surface grinders, vertical milling machines, and lathes. Education Certificate General Studies 2014 - 2015 Texas A&M University - Central Texas Killeen, TX


Arthur Greene Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Contact Info New York, NY (310) 555-9312 agreene@example.com Skills Customer ComplaintsPOSFront End AssociatesCommunicationCustomer ServiceStock ShelvesSales TransactionsStock RoomProcess Merchandise ReturnsGeneral Merchandise Employment History Retail Sales Associate/Cashier 2019 - Present Toys R Us New York, NY Stock store shelves, operate store cash register. Unload trucks, stock shelves, label shelves, cashier, and merchandiser. Communicated directly with department managers and supervisors to help replenish sales floor quickly and efficiently. Achieved one of the highest positive customer service responses from guests' surveys. Cashier Supervisor 2015 - 2019 McDonald's New York, NY Provided professional customer service, scheduling, and training. Request and record customer orders, and compute bills using POS system or pen and paper. Greet and server customers, complete customer transactions, and maintain clean and well stocked lobby. Satisfied deadlines in a timely fashion. Managed Customers financial Transactions within designated shifts Assisted Management in ensuring customer satisfaction Collected customer orders Floor Associate 2012 - 2015 Macy's Houston, TX stock the floor with the new merchandise that comes in. Engaged with customers to ensure they were receiving exceptional customer service. Education High School Diploma 2012 - 2012


Arthur Greene Retail Sales Associate/Cashier New York, NY (310) 555-9312 agreene@example.com Experience Retail Sales Associate/Cashier2019 - Present Toys R Us•New York, NY Stock store shelves, operate store cash register. Unload trucks, stock shelves, label shelves, cashier, and merchandiser. Communicated directly with department managers and supervisors to help replenish sales floor quickly and efficiently. Achieved one of the highest positive customer service responses from guests' surveys. Cashier Supervisor2015 - 2019 McDonald's•New York, NY Provided professional customer service, scheduling, and training. Request and record customer orders, and compute bills using POS system or pen and paper. Greet and server customers, complete customer transactions, and maintain clean and well stocked lobby. Satisfied deadlines in a timely fashion. Managed Customers financial Transactions within designated shifts Assisted Management in ensuring customer satisfaction Collected customer orders Floor Associate2012 - 2015 Macy's•Houston, TX stock the floor with the new merchandise that comes in. Engaged with customers to ensure they were receiving exceptional customer service. Skills Customer ComplaintsPOSFront End AssociatesCommunicationCustomer ServiceStock ShelvesSales TransactionsStock RoomProcess Merchandise ReturnsGeneral Merchandise Education High School Diploma 2012 - 2012

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Retail Sales Associate/Cashier Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 17% of Retail Sales Associate/Cashiers are proficient in Customer Service, Basic Math, and Math. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Math skills, and Selling skills.

We break down the percentage of Retail Sales Associate/Cashiers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Customer Service, 17%
Demonstrated fast learning capacity, flexibility and versatile skill-set within front line customer service.
Basic Math, 15%
Used basic Math Skills and excellent interpersonal communication-Effectively managed my time and prioritized tasks-Strong product knowledge and understanding of target customers.
Math, 14%
Provided instruction to individual students to improve academic performance in math and reading comprehension.
Sales Floor, 9%
Move between the sales floor and cash stand based on where the guests are in order to meet their needs.
Retail Sales, 9%
Retail Sales Associate: Provided friendly support to customers; assisted with locating items, stocking and organizing merchandise.
Cash Handling, 8%
Face to face interaction with customers Selling/Cash Handling Experience Armada Fair, Armada, MI.

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Most retail sales associate/cashiers list "customer service," "basic math," and "math" as skills on their resumes. We go into more details on the most important retail sales associate/cashier responsibilities here:

Interpersonal skills can be considered to be the most important personality trait for a retail sales associate/cashier to have. According to a retail sales associate/cashier resume, "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people." Retail sales associate/cashiers are able to use interpersonal skills in the following example we gathered from a resume: "possess excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to customer service. "

While it may not be the most important skill, we found that many retail sales associate/cashier duties rely on math skills. This example from a retail sales associate/cashier explains why: "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers." This resume example is just one of many ways retail sales associate/cashiers are able to utilize math skills: "required strong customer service skills, math, and general nutritional product knowledge. "

Retail sales associate/cashiers are also known for selling skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a retail sales associate/cashier resume: "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "continued to maintain a professional appearance and exude leadership in every setting by coaching team members on useful sales techniques. "

A retail sales associate/cashier responsibilities sometimes require "customer-service skills." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers" This resume example shows how this skill is used by retail sales associate/cashiers: "display new merchandise that encourage customer sales and move overstocked items. "

See the full list of retail sales associate/cashier skills.

After discovering the most helpful skills, we moved onto what kind of education might be helpful in becoming a retail sales associate/cashier. We found that 24.0% of retail sales associate/cashiers have graduated with a bachelor's degree and 1.8% of people in this position have earned their master's degrees. While some retail sales associate/cashiers have a college degree, you may find it's also true that generally it's possible to be successful in this career with only a high school degree. In fact, our research shows that one out of every three retail sales associate/cashiers were not college graduates.

Those retail sales associate/cashiers who do attend college, typically earn either a business degree or a general studies degree. Less commonly earned degrees for retail sales associate/cashiers include a criminal justice degree or a nursing degree.

When you're ready to become a retail sales associate/cashier, you might wonder which companies hire retail sales associate/cashiers. According to our research through retail sales associate/cashier resumes, retail sales associate/cashiers are mostly hired by Paradies Lagardère, Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc., and Office Depot. Now is a good time to apply as Paradies Lagardère has 14 retail sales associate/cashiers job openings, and there are 3 at Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc. and 2 at Office Depot.

If you're interested in companies where retail sales associate/cashiers make the most money, you'll want to apply for positions at The TJX Companies, HUDSON COMPANIES, and Ace Hardware. We found that at The TJX Companies, the average retail sales associate/cashier salary is $28,733. Whereas at HUDSON COMPANIES, retail sales associate/cashiers earn roughly $25,560. And at Ace Hardware, they make an average salary of $24,617.

View more details on retail sales associate/cashier salaries across the United States.

Some other companies you might be interested in as a retail sales associate/cashier include Macy's, Nordstrom, and Walmart. These three companies were found to hire the most retail sales associate/cashiers from the top 100 U.S. educational institutions.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious retail sales associate/cashiers are:

Paradies Lagardère14 Retail Sales Associate/Cashiers Jobs
Licking/Knox Goodwill Industries, Inc.3 Retail Sales Associate/Cashiers Jobs
Office Depot2 Retail Sales Associate/Cashiers Jobs

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What Sales Clerks Do

A sales clerk is responsible for assisting customers in purchasing products, responding to customer inquiries, and providing product recommendations. Sales clerks require excellent customer service and communication skills to offer the best services to the customers and maintain good customer feedback for the business. They also check inventories, request supplies as needed, and organize product displays on the appropriate shelves. A sales clerk must have strong verbal communication skills to manage customer concerns and excellent time-management skills to perform tasks within the fast-paced work environment.

We looked at the average retail sales associate/cashier annual salary and compared it with the average of a sales clerk. Generally speaking, sales clerks receive $222 lower pay than retail sales associate/cashiers per year.

Even though retail sales associate/cashiers and sales clerks have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, sales floor, and retail sales in the day-to-day roles.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. A retail sales associate/cashier responsibility is more likely to require skills like "basic math," "math," "cash handling," and "credit card payments." Whereas a sales clerk requires skills like "professional selling," "customer orders," "exceptional guest," and "engraving." Just by understanding these different skills you can see how different these careers are.

Sales clerks receive the highest salaries in the energy industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $28,784. But retail sales associate/cashiers are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $27,103.

Sales clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than retail sales associate/cashiers. In fact, sales clerks are 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Cashier Associate?

A cashier associate is responsible for greeting customers and processing their purchases, ensuring speed and accuracy. There are also instances when a cashier associate must offer special promotions or products, replace goods when there are defects, and obtain necessary codes when the product fails to register. Although a cashier associate handles the cash register and cash flow most of the time, they can also have tasks related to maintaining the sales floor's cleanliness. Furthermore, should there be any urgent issues, it is crucial to immediately reach out to a manager or supervisor.

Now we're going to look at the cashier associate profession. On average, cashiers associate earn a $3,367 higher salary than retail sales associate/cashiers a year.

While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both retail sales associate/cashiers and cashiers associate are known to have skills such as "customer service," "sales floor," and "product knowledge. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that retail sales associate/cashier responsibilities requires skills like "basic math," "math," "retail sales," and "cash handling." But a cashier associate might use skills, such as, "safety hazards," "front end," "store management," and "shipping receiving."

In general, cashiers associate study at similar levels of education than retail sales associate/cashiers. They're 0.0% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Head Cashier Compares

A head cashier is responsible for handling customer's payments efficiently and accurately. Head cashiers assist their colleagues in operating cashier's equipment and customer transactions. Their duties also include attending to a customer's inquiry about a product, processing the replacement of defective items, managing customer complaints, generating daily sales reports, monitoring supplies and inventories, ensuring enough cash for each register, and keeping all the register areas clean and organized. A head cashier should maintain exceptional customer service at all times to provide the best services and experience for the customers.

The third profession we take a look at is head cashier. On an average scale, these workers bring in higher salaries than retail sales associate/cashiers. In fact, they make a $5,182 higher salary per year.

Using retail sales associate/cashiers and head cashiers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "customer service," "sales floor," and "cash handling," but the other skills required are very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from retail sales associate/cashier resumes include skills like "basic math," "math," "retail sales," and "sales transactions," whereas a head cashier might be skilled in "store operations," "help support," "cleanliness," and "good communication. "

Interestingly enough, head cashiers earn the most pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $28,905. As mentioned previously, retail sales associate/cashiers highest annual salary comes from the retail industry with an average salary of $27,103.

Head cashiers typically study at similar levels compared with retail sales associate/cashiers. For example, they're 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Retail Clerk

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.

The fourth career we look at typically earns higher pay than retail sales associate/cashiers. On average, retail clerks earn a difference of $4,085 higher per year.

According to resumes from both retail sales associate/cashiers and retail clerks, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "customer service," "basic math," and "math. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a retail sales associate/cashier might have more use for skills like "cash handling," "credit card payments," "store sales," and "product selection." Meanwhile, some retail clerks might include skills like "groceries," "customer satisfaction," "ladders," and "punctuality" on their resume.

In general, retail clerks make a higher salary in the manufacturing industry with an average of $30,316. The highest retail sales associate/cashier annual salary stems from the retail industry.

The average resume of retail clerks showed that they earn similar levels of education to retail sales associate/cashiers. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 0.6% more. Additionally, they're more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.2%.

Updated October 2, 2020