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What does a sales associate and cashier do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a sales associate and cashier do

A sales associate and cashier is an employee who takes on the dual role of helping customers with their product inquiries and facilitating the purchase of the customer. As a sales associate, the employee must be familiar with the different products offered by the company and should be able to direct customers to the product that best suits their needs. As a cashier, the employee must be familiar with the cash register and the system that the company uses to manage sales and facilitate payment. He/She or she must be able to work the equipment needed for a smooth checkout process.

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Sales associate and cashier responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real sales associate and cashier resumes:

  • Manage jewelry stock and inventory balances accurately.
  • Provide customer service, cash handling, cleaning, floor-sets, opening and closing procedures, and operate a POS system.
  • Scan customers groceries swiftly, handle cash transactions accurately provide friendly customer service daily.
  • Process all POS transactions including cash, credit cards, and gift cards and balance registers at close of business.
  • Commend for exceeding food safety guidelines and ensuring the highest quality product through meticulous store cleanliness.
  • Strengthen the Walmart brand by interacting positively and professionally with a highly diverse customer base.

Sales associate and cashier skills and personality traits

We calculated that 40% of Sales Associate And Cashiers are proficient in Customer Service, Basic Math, and Sales Floor. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Dexterity, and Near vision.

We break down the percentage of Sales Associate And Cashiers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 40%

    Performed duties such as operating cash register, greeting customers, providing excellent customer service, and executing product placement

  • Basic Math, 18%

    Man the cutting counter and cut all kinds of fabric according to customers' specific needs using basic math skills.

  • Sales Floor, 9%

    Provide courteous and helpful customer service on the sales floor, in the fitting room area and the cash wrap area.

  • Stock Shelves, 6%

    Welcomed and provided excellent customer service handled cash electronic payments restock shelves kept store nice and organized

  • Sales Associates, 5%

    Work alongside managers and sales associates to ensure every customer enjoys a satisfying shopping experience.

  • POS, 4%

    Retail merchandise sales Complaint resolution Business retention Solution selling techniques Performance marketing POS

Common skills that a sales associate and cashier uses to do their job include "customer service," "basic math," and "sales floor." You can find details on the most important sales associate and cashier responsibilities below.

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a sales associate and cashier to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what sales associate and cashiers do because "cashiers must pay attention to customers’ questions and explain pricing." Additionally, a sales associate and cashier resume shows how sales associate and cashiers use communication skills: "time management situation evaluation and analysis management of personal emotions ability to emphasize clear verbal communication telecommunication stock merchandise coordination skills"

Dexterity. Many sales associate and cashier duties rely on dexterity. "cashiers use their hands to operate registers and scan purchases.," so a sales associate and cashier will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways sales associate and cashier responsibilities rely on dexterity: "support the loss prevention initiative by preventing shoplifting opportunities. "

Near vision. sales associate and cashiers are also known for near vision, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to sales associate and cashier responsibilities, because "cashiers need to see well enough to scan items and process transactions accurately." A sales associate and cashier resume example shows how near vision is used in the workplace: "maintain a clean store and operate the store with no supervision. "

Patience. For certain sales associate and cashier responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "patience." The day-to-day duties of a sales associate and cashier rely on this skill, as "cashiers must be able to remain calm when interacting with customers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sales associate and cashiers do: "direct to the designated services or resources resolve customer complaints with tact and patience. "

Physical stamina. A commonly-found skill in sales associate and cashier job descriptions, "physical stamina" is essential to what sales associate and cashiers do. Sales associate and cashier responsibilities rely on this skill because "cashiers stand for long periods." You can also see how sales associate and cashier duties rely on physical stamina in this resume example: "adhered to loss prevention control and compliance procedures assisted management in the daily maintenance and physical appearance of the store"

Customer-service skills. Lastly, "customer-service skills" is an important element of what a sales associate and cashier does. Sales associate and cashier responsibilities require this skill because "cashiers must be courteous and friendly when helping customers." This resume example highlights how sales associate and cashier duties rely on this skill: "operated cash register/cashier/cash handling abilities, organized/displayed stock & inventory/loss prevention, and increased/promoted sales, and provided customer service assistance. "

All sales associate and cashier skills

Choose from 10+ customizable sales associate and cashier resume templates

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Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume
Sales Associate And Cashier Resume

Compare different sales associate and cashiers

Sales associate and cashier vs. Retail cashier

A retail cashier is an employee who scans products and processes cash payments between the retail store and its customers. Retail cashiers must provide excellent customer service that can include greeting customers, directing customer inquiries to the appropriate party, and informing customers about the services available. They often train new cashiers or retail workers and assist in the maintenance of storefront and retail displays. Retail cashiers also assist in counting money and perform audits of cash intake or cash drawers.

The annual salary of retail cashiers is $2,870 higher than the average salary of sales associate and cashiers.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both sales associate and cashier and retail cashier positions are skilled in customer service, basic math, and sales floor.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a sales associate and cashier are more likely to require skills like "sales associates," "mathematics," "loss prevention," and "groceries." On the other hand, a job as a retail cashier requires skills like "cleanliness," "math," "retail sales," and "cash handling." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Retail cashiers really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $28,228. Comparatively, sales associate and cashiers tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $27,492.retail cashiers tend to reach similar levels of education than sales associate and cashiers. In fact, retail cashiers are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Sales associate and cashier vs. Seasonal cashier

A seasonal cashier is an employee hired for a predetermined time in the retail industry. Seasonal cashiers utilize basic mathematics and computation. They maintain the electronic registers for the payment transactions such as credit cards and cash. It is part of their job to process merchandise by stocking shelves, organizing merchandise, and sorting purchase items. They also evaluate the company's budget inventories, ensuring product requirements. The skills necessary for the job include customer service, attention to detail, and strong communication skills.

A career as a seasonal cashier brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a sales associate and cashier. In fact, seasonal cashiers salary is $3,539 higher than the salary of sales associate and cashiers per year.A few skills overlap for sales associate and cashiers and seasonal cashiers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "customer service," "basic math," and "sales floor. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, sales associate and cashier responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "sales associates," "mathematics," "retail environment," and "floor stock." Meanwhile, a seasonal cashier has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer issues," "customer satisfaction," "math," and "cash handling." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Seasonal cashiers earn a higher average salary than sales associate and cashiers. But seasonal cashiers earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $29,230. Additionally, sales associate and cashiers earn the highest salaries in the retail with average pay of $27,492 annually.In general, seasonal cashiers achieve similar levels of education than sales associate and cashiers. They're 0.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Sales associate and cashier vs. Head cashier

A head cashier is responsible for handling customer's payments efficiently and accurately. Head cashiers assist their colleagues in operating cashier's equipment and customer transactions. Their duties also include attending to a customer's inquiry about a product, processing the replacement of defective items, managing customer complaints, generating daily sales reports, monitoring supplies and inventories, ensuring enough cash for each register, and keeping all the register areas clean and organized. A head cashier should maintain exceptional customer service at all times to provide the best services and experience for the customers.

On average scale, head cashiers bring in higher salaries than sales associate and cashiers. In fact, they earn a $5,004 higher salary per year.By looking over several sales associate and cashiers and head cashiers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "sales floor," and "stock shelves." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a sales associate and cashier is likely to be skilled in "basic math," "mathematics," "stock room," and "sales transactions," while a typical head cashier is skilled in "store operations," "help support," "cleanliness," and "cash handling."

Head cashiers earn the highest salary when working in the retail industry, where they receive an average salary of $28,905. Comparatively, sales associate and cashiers have the highest earning potential in the retail industry, with an average salary of $27,492.Most head cashiers achieve a similar degree level compared to sales associate and cashiers. For example, they're 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Sales associate and cashier vs. Floor associate

A sales floor associate is an employee who is responsible for providing excellent service to customers who come to shop at the company's store. Sale floor associates must be well-informed about their products and locations within the store. When there is no customer help, sale floor associates should restock shelves and racks, clean the fitting rooms, and handle returns efficiently. They also should possess excellent abilities, especially in communication and selling techniques.

Floor associates typically earn higher pay than sales associate and cashiers. On average, floor associates earn a $1,618 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, sales associate and cashiers and floor associates both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "sales floor," and "stock shelves. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "basic math," "sales associates," "mathematics," and "credit card payments" are skills that commonly show up on sales associate and cashier resumes. On the other hand, floor associates use skills like pallet jack, back room, rf, and unload trucks on their resumes.In general, floor associates hold similar degree levels compared to sales associate and cashiers. Floor associates are 0.1% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of sales associate and cashier

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.