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Sales associate vs sales leader

The differences between sales associates and sales leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a sales leader has an average salary of $68,699, which is higher than the $32,167 average annual salary of a sales associate.

The top three skills for a sales associate include customer service, sales floor and cash handling. The most important skills for a sales leader are product knowledge, customer service, and sales floor.

Sales associate vs sales leader overview

Sales AssociateSales Leader
Yearly salary$32,167$68,699
Hourly rate$15.46$33.03
Growth rate-5%
Number of jobs579,849458,558
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4143
Years of experience-6

What does a sales associate do?

Sales associates are responsible for promoting the company's goods or services. They are expected to provide exceptional customer service to prospective buyers. They should be familiar with all features of the company's products or services so that they can answer the customers' inquiries. Sales associates also assist customers in processing their checkouts, refunds, returns, and other needs. They should be customer-oriented, and they should have great communication skills. They should know how to sell their products or services to customers. They are considered the company's representatives on the ground.

What does a sales leader do?

A Sales Leader's responsibility is more than just leading. Most of the tasks involve monitoring the progress of sales, creating strategies to attain financial gains, managing the workforce, and as well as suggesting and enforcing particular options that would be beneficial for the sales and the company. All while making sure that all actions adhere to the policies and standards of the company. Above all, a Sale's Leader must have the passion and determination to drive a team towards the company's goal.

Sales associate vs sales leader salary

Sales associates and sales leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales AssociateSales Leader
Average salary$32,167$68,699
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $47,000Between $33,000 And $139,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyBarclaysZS
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between sales associate and sales leader education

There are a few differences between a sales associate and a sales leader in terms of educational background:

Sales AssociateSales Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Sales associate vs sales leader demographics

Here are the differences between sales associates' and sales leaders' demographics:

Sales AssociateSales Leader
Average age4143
Gender ratioMale, 38.4% Female, 61.6%Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 6.9% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between sales associate and sales leader duties and responsibilities

Sales associate example responsibilities.

  • Supervise women's department, manage jewelry department, assist customers on finalizing purchases
  • Gain experience with credit cards, mathematics, as well as customer service.
  • Utilize forklift, order picker reach truck, electric ladder, or roll ladders to transfer merchandise to the sales floor.
  • Create Facebook page for Ohco Import/Export division.
  • Increase sales by upselling products and follow up sales calls.
  • Assist customers with the purchase of the perfect piece of jewelry
  • Show more

Sales leader example responsibilities.

  • Manage to sales KPI's (including sales and expense budget numbers), assuring efficient and effective use of resources.
  • Manage all lead activity for a specific vertical sales territory, identifying opportunities and engaging appropriate field sales representatives.
  • Provide excellent customer service, operate cash register, offer product and pet knowledge.
  • Charge with training new associates for visual updates, stock processing, client experience, product knowledge, and POS.
  • Assist with payroll and timekeeping duties.
  • Interact with kids while the parents are shopping.
  • Show more

Sales associate vs sales leader skills

Common sales associate skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Sales Floor, 13%
  • Cash Handling, 9%
  • Retail Sales, 9%
  • Loss Prevention, 7%
  • Basic Math, 5%
Common sales leader skills
  • Product Knowledge, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Sales Floor, 9%
  • Store Management, 6%
  • Loss Prevention, 6%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%