Retail sales manager vs store sales associate

The differences between retail sales managers and store sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a retail sales manager, becoming a store sales associate takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a retail sales manager has an average salary of $48,678, which is higher than the $30,284 average annual salary of a store sales associate.

The top three skills for a retail sales manager include retail sales, store operations and store sales. The most important skills for a store sales associate are sales floor, POS, and product knowledge.

Retail sales manager vs store sales associate overview

	Retail Sales Manager	Store Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$48,678	$30,284
Hourly rate	$23.40	$14.56
Growth rate	5%	-
Number of jobs	353,765	524,877
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	46	43
Years of experience	8	6

What does a retail sales manager do?

A retail sales manager is responsible for managing the retail sales department's operations, ensuring the highest customer satisfaction with the staff's efficiency and performance. Retail sales managers develop sales strategies and marketing campaigns to boost revenues, increasing the company's profitability. They also conduct training and programs for staff to maximize their productivity and provide the best customer service for their clients. A retail sales manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns, and resolve their complaints.

What does a store sales associate do?

A store sales associate is responsible for assisting store customers, directing them to the correct area of their needs, and responding to their inquiries and concerns regarding a product. Store sales associates also support the store's promotional campaigns, selling goods and services to the customers by demonstrating the product and its benefits. They keep the store premises clean and tidy to avoid any potential hazards during operations. A store sales associate must have excellent communication skills, especially on resolving customer complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds.

Retail sales manager vs store sales associate salary

Retail sales managers and store sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Retail Sales Manager	Store Sales Associate
Average salary	$48,678	$30,284
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $66,000	Between $23,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Reno, NV	Elizabeth, NJ
Highest paying state	Pennsylvania	New Jersey
Best paying company	Talbots	Rooms To Go
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Hospitality

Differences between retail sales manager and store sales associate education

There are a few differences between a retail sales manager and a store sales associate in terms of educational background:

	Retail Sales Manager	Store Sales Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 61%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Southern California	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Retail sales manager vs store sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between retail sales managers' and store sales associates' demographics:

	Retail Sales Manager	Store Sales Associate
Average age	46	43
Gender ratio	Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8%	Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	7%	9%

Differences between retail sales manager and store sales associate duties and responsibilities

Retail sales manager example responsibilities.

Create and lead staff development sessions on solution selling techniques/running effective promotions/POS execution/trade math.
Receive and count new products, reconcile delivery invoices, tickets, and enter new products into POS system.
Complete customer transactions using POS register system.
Deliver consistently strong results in identifying and capitalizing on cross-selling opportunities to advance corporate-define marketing campaigns and effectively increase revenue streams.
Oversee floor day to day operations by obtaining the acquisition of customer accounts and provide superior leadership to team members.
Provide leadership training and coaching with a proven record of accountability

Store sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage to sales KPI's (including sales and expense budget numbers), assuring efficient and effective use of resources.
Earn management trust by serving as keyholder, responsibly opening and closing the store.
Audit all jewelry counts daily, banking deposit log, cashier logs, sales logs.
Utilize the company's POS system to cash customers out or administer returns to the store.
Work as a sales associate and keyholder throughout the summer and a bit of the school year.
Help customers choose jewelry, pierce ears, open and close out register, set up displays.

Retail sales manager vs store sales associate skills

Common retail sales manager skills

Retail Sales, 13%
Store Operations, 7%
Store Sales, 6%
Retail Store, 5%
Product Knowledge, 5%
Sales Associates, 5%

Common store sales associate skills

Sales Floor, 20%
POS, 10%
Product Knowledge, 10%
Store Sales, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Stock Room, 5%

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Retail Sales Manager
Retail Sales Manager vs Store Sales Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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