What Does a Retail Sales Specialist Do?

In this section, we compare the average retail sales specialist annual salary with that of a sales clerk. Typically, sales clerks earn a $20,017 lower salary than retail sales specialists earn annually.

While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both retail sales specialists and sales clerks positions are skilled in retail sales, pos, and retail store.

As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a retail sales specialist responsibility requires skills such as "store management," "brand awareness," "client relationships," and "increase sales." Whereas a sales clerk is skilled in "sales transactions," "store policies," "store displays," and "professional selling." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

Sales clerks really shine in the energy industry with an average salary of $28,784. Whereas retail sales specialists tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $44,195.

Sales clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than retail sales specialists. In fact, sales clerks are 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

The next role we're going to look at is the seasonal sales representative profession. Typically, this position earns a lower pay. In fact, they earn a $11,730 lower salary than retail sales specialists per year.

Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Retail sales specialists and seasonal sales representatives both include similar skills like "retail sales," "pos," and "sales floor" on their resumes.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, several resumes showed us that retail sales specialist responsibilities requires skills like "store management," "retail store," "inventory management," and "brand awareness." But a seasonal sales representative might use skills, such as, "sales transactions," "seasonal sales," "seasonal position," and "loss prevention."

It's been discovered that seasonal sales representatives earn lower salaries compared to retail sales specialists, but we wanted to find out where seasonal sales representatives earned the most pay. The answer? The education industry. The average salary in the industry is $41,794. Additionally, retail sales specialists earn the highest paychecks in the manufacturing with an average salary of $44,195.

When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, seasonal sales representatives tend to reach similar levels of education than retail sales specialists. In fact, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Let's now take a look at the retail clerk profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than retail sales specialists with a $15,710 difference per year.

While looking through the resumes of several retail sales specialists and retail clerks we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "retail sales," "pos," and "retail store," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from retail sales specialist resumes include skills like "store management," "brand awareness," "client relationships," and "increase sales," whereas a retail clerk might be skilled in "groceries," "basic math," "math," and "ladders. "

Interestingly enough, retail clerks earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $30,316. As mentioned previously, retail sales specialists highest annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $44,195.

When it comes to education, retail clerks tend to earn similar education levels than retail sales specialists. In fact, they're 2.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

The fourth career we look at typically earns lower pay than retail sales specialists. On average, sales associates earn a difference of $13,589 lower per year.

While their salaries may vary, retail sales specialists and sales associates both use similar skills to perform their jobs. Resumes from both professions include skills like "retail sales," "pos," and "retail store. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a retail sales specialist might have more use for skills like "store management," "brand awareness," "client relationships," and "increase sales." Meanwhile, some sales associates might include skills like "cash handling," "loss prevention," "basic math," and "math" on their resume.

Sales associates earn a higher salary in the manufacturing industry with an average of $31,917. Whereas, retail sales specialists earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.

In general, sales associates reach similar levels of education when compared to retail sales specialists resumes. Sales associates are 2.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.