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Sales associate/manager vs floor manager

The differences between sales associate/managers and floor 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 a floor manager. Additionally, a floor manager has an average salary of $43,813, which is higher than the $41,412 average annual salary of a sales associate/manager.

The top three skills for a sales associate/manager include customer service, sales floor and strong customer service. The most important skills for a floor manager are customer service, cleanliness, and pallets.

Sales associate/manager vs floor manager overview

Sales Associate/ManagerFloor Manager
Yearly salary$41,412$43,813
Hourly rate$19.91$21.06
Growth rate5%6%
Number of jobs318,977442,213
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4343
Years of experience66

What does a sales associate/manager do?

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.

What does a floor manager do?

A floor manager is responsible for supervising the general operations of a specific department in an organization. Floor manager tasks include assisting customers, ensuring prompt resolution of clients' inquiries, distributing tasks to the staff, and monitoring the employees' performance. A floor manager will be in charge of checking inventories and report inadequate supplies, identifying business opportunities to increase the company's sales and profitability, developing strategic procedures to maintain customer satisfaction, and managing disputes from the customers and employees. A floor manager must have excellent leadership and communication skills to address specific concerns and process customers' requests as needed.

Sales associate/manager vs floor manager salary

Sales associate/managers and floor managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales Associate/ManagerFloor Manager
Average salary$41,412$43,813
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $55,000Between $32,000 And $58,000
Highest paying CitySalem, VASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleOil States International
Best paying industryManufacturingTelecommunication

Differences between sales associate/manager and floor manager education

There are a few differences between a sales associate/manager and a floor manager in terms of educational background:

Sales Associate/ManagerFloor Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiSUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Sales associate/manager vs floor manager demographics

Here are the differences between sales associate/managers' and floor managers' demographics:

Sales Associate/ManagerFloor Manager
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 44.2% Female, 55.8%Male, 56.1% Female, 43.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between sales associate/manager and floor manager duties and responsibilities

Sales associate/manager example responsibilities.

  • Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
  • Execute marketing and visual merchandising initiatives and organize POS merchandise display.
  • Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
  • Start as a part time associate and are promoted to full time Keyholder within 90 days.

Floor manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage all marketing initiatives and programs including maintenance of POS and coupon/tie-in programs.
  • Present PowerPoint presentations and lead skill stations.
  • Organize and run all managerial duties thru out the the store.
  • Ensure production run smoothly, solve problems under pressure, sanitize the plant daily to international health-code standards.
  • Work on POS registers.-Open/Close Store.- Lead employees in task procedures and guide them in helping customers.- Make deposits to bank.
  • Structure and facilitate all training classes along with creating necessary Powerpoint presentations for class.
  • Show more

Sales associate/manager vs floor manager skills

Common sales associate/manager skills
  • Customer Service, 34%
  • Sales Floor, 13%
  • Strong Customer Service, 9%
  • Retail Sales, 4%
  • Payroll, 4%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
Common floor manager skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Cleanliness, 12%
  • Pallets, 11%
  • HR, 8%
  • Flyers, 5%
  • Safety Standards, 5%