Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a sales and service associate and how to become one
Sales and services associates most commonly work in retail, tending to customers and boosting sales. They greet clients, provide information about products and services, answer customers' questions, and help customers select the items that best meet their needs and preferences.
Sales and services associates interact with customers practically all day long. A knack for efficient communication has to be the superpower of those in this role, and they must also have a good amount of patience and willingness to serve.
Managing inventory and keeping shelves stocked is also the responsibility of a sales and services associate. They handle complaints and arrange refunds, if necessary, in a friendly and efficient manner. They need to keep up to date about the products they are selling and attend promotional events and training opportunities to stay on top of their game.
Avg. Salary $55,256
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.56%
Asian 7.67%
Black or African American 10.23%
Hispanic or Latino 20.74%
Unknown 5.21%
White 55.60%
Genderfemale 54.60%
male 45.40%
Age - 39American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 39Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Sales and service associate career paths
Key steps to become a sales and service associate
Explore sales and service associate education requirements
Start to develop specific sales and service associate skills
Skills Percentages Sound Judgment 17.68% Sales Process 12.09% Customer Problems 11.46% Financial Transactions 10.93% Product Knowledge 9.59% Complete relevant sales and service associate training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sales and service associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sales and service associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sales and service associate resumes.Gain additional sales and service associate certifications
More About CertificationsSales and service associate certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific sales and service associate certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for sales and service associates include Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Certified Sales Professional (CSP).
Research sales and service associate duties and responsibilities
- Set and achieve monthly goals in new accounts and investment referrals; encourage cross-sells of services as per management
- Experience booking and closing loans.
- Collaborate with agents in booking appointments and fielding calls.
- Prepare and maintain a log in CRM of all quotations and customer relate activity.
Prepare your sales and service associate resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sales and service associate resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a sales and service associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable sales and service associate resume templates
Build a professional sales and service associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your sales and service associate resume.
Apply for sales and service associate jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a sales and service associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first sales and service associate job
Are you a sales and service associate?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average sales and service associate salary
The average sales and service associate salary in the United States is $55,256 per year or $27 per hour. Sales and service associate salaries range between $29,000 and $103,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do sales and service associates rate their job?
Sales and service associate reviews
Meeting people & making them satisfied with value for their money.
Updated January 8, 2025
