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The differences between retail sales specialists and apparel sales associates 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 $29,897 average annual salary of an apparel sales associate.
The top three skills for a retail sales specialist include retail sales, POS and store management. The most important skills for an apparel sales associate are cash handling, customer engagement, and retail sales.
| Retail Sales Specialist | Apparel Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $45,756 | $29,897 |
| Hourly rate | $22.00 | $14.37 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 480,721 | 438,252 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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 They also ensure the adequacy of stock levels, remove outdated products, and refill items as necessary.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.
An apparel sales associate works with customers and makes sales. A sales associate's primary responsibility is to communicate with customers, answer their inquiries about the products, and promote its benefits to encourage a purchase. The apparel sales associate is expected to be knowledgeable about the company's products or services. The associate's other responsibilities are to develop sales techniques to encourage purchases, make a store inventory of products, and receive feedback and comments from customers. They will also work with the sales and marketing department.
Retail sales specialists and apparel sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Sales Specialist | Apparel Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $45,756 | $29,897 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $54,000 | Between $23,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | Anastasia Beverly Hills | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a retail sales specialist and an apparel sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Retail Sales Specialist | Apparel Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 51% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retail sales specialists' and apparel sales associates' demographics:
| Retail Sales Specialist | Apparel Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.7% Female, 43.3% | Male, 18.6% Female, 81.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 6.1% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |