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The differences between retail sales representatives and retail sales specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a retail sales specialist has an average salary of $45,756, which is higher than the $37,907 average annual salary of a retail sales representative.
The top three skills for a retail sales representative include retail sales, retail store and POS. The most important skills for a retail sales specialist are retail sales, POS, and store management.
| Retail Sales Representative | Retail Sales Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $37,907 | $45,756 |
| Hourly rate | $18.22 | $22.00 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 391,763 | 480,721 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A retail salesperson's responsibility is to sell products and provide necessary information to the consumers to convince them of availing items. Retail salesperson's duties include coordinating with promotional programs, recommending strategies to increase sales, answering customer's inquiries, and escalating any concerns to the management that might affect the company's sales performance. A retail salesperson must have excellent communication skills to build a good rapport with the customers and assist them with their needs. A retail salesperson also helps with inventories and documenting a customer's suggestion for service improvement.
A retail sales specialist is responsible for selling goods and services and providing the best customer service for the consumers. Retail sales specialists assist the customers on the floor, directing them to the area of their needs, and recommending them products according to their budget limitations. They also ensure the adequacy of stock levels, remove outdated products, and refill items as necessary. A retail sales specialist also supports in resolving complaints, such as replacing items and processing refunds as necessary.
Retail sales representatives and retail sales specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Sales Representative | Retail Sales Specialist | |
| Average salary | $37,907 | $45,756 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $38,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, ME | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Pella | Anastasia Beverly Hills |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a retail sales representative and a retail sales specialist in terms of educational background:
| Retail Sales Representative | Retail Sales Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retail sales representatives' and retail sales specialists' demographics:
| Retail Sales Representative | Retail Sales Specialist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4% | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |