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Sales assistant vs shop assistant

The differences between sales assistants and shop assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a sales assistant has an average salary of $35,258, which is higher than the $31,216 average annual salary of a shop assistant.

The top three skills for a sales assistant include customer service, powerpoint and account executives. The most important skills for a shop assistant are customer vehicles, CNC, and customer service.

Sales assistant vs shop assistant overview

Sales AssistantShop Assistant
Yearly salary$35,258$31,216
Hourly rate$16.95$15.01
Growth rate-4%
Number of jobs347,03411,156
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age4139
Years of experience-4

What does a sales assistant do?

Sales assistants are usually entry-level or junior employees who are assigned to help out in the sales department. They are responsible for any administrative or clerical activities needed in the department. They may also work on the operations floor to assist with the selling of company products or services. They help complete company sales by approaching potential buyers and answering any questions about items. They should be familiar with what the company offers to identify the products that would best fit the needs of the customer.

What does a shop assistant do?

A shop assistant is primarily responsible for handling customers and maintaining the upkeep of a sales floor in a retail store. They are in charge of greeting customers, answering inquiries, offering assistance, recommending products, and handling complaints. A shop assistant also has duties that involve receiving, verifying, processing, and sorting shipments from suppliers, managing inventory, and re-stocking shelves while keeping them presentable. To maintain the sales floor's cleanliness, a shop assistant may also perform light chores and keep all equipment organized. Furthermore, it is essential to accomplish tasks while adhering to the policies and regulations of the company.

Sales assistant vs shop assistant salary

Sales assistants and shop assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales AssistantShop Assistant
Average salary$35,258$31,216
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $47,000Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASpokane, WA
Highest paying stateNew YorkRhode Island
Best paying companyIBMSteel Dynamics
Best paying industryFinanceConstruction

Differences between sales assistant and shop assistant education

There are a few differences between a sales assistant and a shop assistant in terms of educational background:

Sales AssistantShop Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Sales assistant vs shop assistant demographics

Here are the differences between sales assistants' and shop assistants' demographics:

Sales AssistantShop Assistant
Average age4139
Gender ratioMale, 28.2% Female, 71.8%Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4%
LGBT Percentage7%4%

Differences between sales assistant and shop assistant duties and responsibilities

Sales assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage numerous, highly confidential details for retirement plan deals from start to finish including meticulous preparation of PowerPoint presentations.
  • Work with 3 AE's billing out 5 million a year.
  • Maintain broadcast files to FCC regulations.
  • Work with NSM with national accounts payables.
  • Negotiate air time for national commercials airing on ABC & CBS.
  • Handle local and national political advertisers with orders and make sure station comply with FCC regulations.
  • Show more

Shop assistant example responsibilities.

  • Provide GHIN handicap services for the members
  • General shop maintenance Mig welding repairs and projects
  • Prepare envelopes and run address/post-mark mail machine.
  • Maintain GHIN handicap system for the golf course.
  • Shop support in embroidery, screen printing, and DTG printing.
  • Help other staff with printing, collating, binding and distribution of materials.
  • Show more

Sales assistant vs shop assistant skills

Common sales assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 36%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Account Executives, 4%
  • Sales Support, 4%
  • Sales Floor, 4%
  • Sales Reports, 3%
Common shop assistant skills
  • Customer Vehicles, 10%
  • CNC, 7%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 6%
  • Machine Shop, 6%
  • Shop Equipment, 6%