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The differences between sales associate/managers and assistant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a sales associate/manager and an assistant manager. Additionally, a sales associate/manager has an average salary of $41,412, which is higher than the $39,127 average annual salary of an assistant manager.
The top three skills for a sales associate/manager include customer service, sales floor and strong customer service. The most important skills for an assistant manager are paperwork, cleanliness, and customer service.
| Sales Associate/Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $41,412 | $39,127 |
| Hourly rate | $19.91 | $18.81 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 318,977 | 566,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
As the name entails, sales associates or associate managers are responsible for helping the store manager organize and run the retail stores. Their roles and responsibilities include ensuring that the store's goals are met by the sales team, hiring and training sales staff, and monitoring inventory. They are also expected to analyze consumer behavior, look for competitive products in the market, and communicate and evaluate clients' needs. To be qualified for this position, you should have experience as an assistant manager, organizational and leadership skills, and proficiency in MS Office.
An assistant manager provides assistance and support to the direct manager in ensuring that the business runs smoothly with guaranteed satisfaction. An associate manager helps organize daily projects and manages employees to make sure that tasks are being done in a timely and accurate manner. Assistant managers are also expected to develop a good relationship with the whole workforce and clients to contribute to a successful and healthy workplace. An assistant manager is also required to present practical strategies for business growth, monitor daily operations, and communicate with clients for any possible suggestions and complaints.
Sales associate/managers and assistant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sales Associate/Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Average salary | $41,412 | $39,127 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $55,000 | Between $23,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salem, VA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a sales associate/manager and an assistant manager in terms of educational background:
| Sales Associate/Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between sales associate/managers' and assistant managers' demographics:
| Sales Associate/Manager | Assistant Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.2% Female, 55.8% | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |