How to hire a sales lead/sales associate

How to hire a sales lead/sales associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sales lead/sales associate hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sales lead/sales associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sales lead/sales associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sales lead/sales associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your sales lead/sales associate job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a sales lead/sales associate for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a sales lead/sales associate to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a sales lead/sales associate that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of sales lead/sales associates.

   Type of Sales Lead/Sales Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Sales Lead/Sales Associate		$8-27
   Retail Sales Lead	Retail sales leads are responsible for the recruitment and training of new sales team members, assisting the management in selling products, and creating sales reports. Some duties and responsibilities of a retail sales lead include customer services such as answering inquiries and complaints, providing assistance and product information, suggesting items and opinions... Show more	$12-28
   Lead Sales Representative	A lead sales representative is responsible for selling goods and services to existing and potential customers through electronic communications and area visits. Lead sales representatives should be highly-knowledgeable of the products that the company offers to discuss and demonstrate the features to the client accurately... Show more	$15-42

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • POS
   • Cash Control
   • Customer Service
   • Bank Deposits
   • Inventory Control
   • Sales Transactions
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Cash Handling
   • Front End
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Merchandise Displays
   • Sales Floor
   • PET
   • Boats

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
   • Complete customer transactions using POS register system and fraud security protocol.
   • Monitor inventory accountability by physically checking inventory, running inventory reports, receiving shipments, and completing transfers in the POS.
   • Demonstrate strong leadership, communication and supervisory skills by providing coaching and feedback to maximize individual and store performance.

   More sales lead/sales associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the sales lead/sales associate job description is a good way to get more applicants. A sales lead/sales associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a sales lead/sales associate in South Carolina may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level sales lead/sales associate. Additionally, a sales lead/sales associate with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average sales lead/sales associate salary

   $15.36hourly

   $31,954 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level sales lead/sales associate salary

   $17,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average sales lead/sales associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$54,759	$26
   2	Minnesota	$42,267	$20
   3	Indiana	$42,091	$20
   4	Texas	$41,386	$20
   5	Arizona	$39,430	$19
   6	Ohio	$39,345	$19
   7	Georgia	$38,564	$19
   8	North Carolina	$38,445	$18
   9	Pennsylvania	$37,585	$18
   10	Missouri	$35,806	$17
   11	Virginia	$35,172	$17
   12	Tennessee	$34,797	$17
   13	Kentucky	$34,540	$17
   14	Mississippi	$33,434	$16
   15	South Carolina	$33,332	$16
   16	Arkansas	$32,790	$16
   17	Louisiana	$30,968	$15
   18	Alabama	$29,574	$14
   19	Oklahoma	$29,271	$14

   Average sales lead/sales associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$88,247	$42.43	25
   2	Harley-Davidson	$69,393	$33.36	6
   3	Energi Holdings	$45,347	$21.80
   4	The Culinary Institute of America	$38,997	$18.75	1
   5	Core & Main	$37,500	$18.03	2
   6	WarnerMedia	$35,413	$17.03
   7	Nas	$35,405	$17.02
   8	Xponential Fitness	$34,742	$16.70	36
   9	Prominence Advisors	$34,352	$16.52
   10	Hudson Group	$33,721	$16.21
   11	Warner Bros.	$32,833	$15.79
   12	Cigna	$32,293	$15.53	8
   13	Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa	$32,285	$15.52	211
   14	Levi Strauss & Co.	$32,283	$15.52	301
   15	See's Candies	$32,131	$15.45	19
   16	Retail	$32,036	$15.40
   17	20-20 Technologies	$31,711	$15.25	93
   18	Nations Lending	$31,646	$15.21
   19	Kelly-Moore Paints	$31,424	$15.11
   20	PVH	$31,271	$15.03	588

4. Writing a sales lead/sales associate job description

   A job description for a sales lead/sales associate role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a sales lead/sales associate job description:

   Sales lead/sales associate job description example

   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   
   Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills by displaying Spotlight on Success behaviors. Maintains upbeat, positive attitude, positive energy and enthusiasm from one interaction to the next. Creates an atmosphere of luck and celebrates customer wins. Is ready to serve and informed of daily information; builds relationships by greeting guests with a warm, friendly verbal greeting. Anticipates needs and provides fast, flawless service. Checks for satisfaction and properly uses the Service Recovery process to resolve problems when they exist. Promotes Total Rewards programs and card membership. Provides a warm farewell and thanks guests for visiting.
   
   Provides quality customer service by displaying expertise in merchandising, fashion, fit and/or product knowledge. Builds sales volume based on customer service, sales, expertise, merchandising and fashion knowledge, and most importantly, on customer satisfaction. Trains and coaches the Sales Associates, in conjunction with the supervisor, in selling techniques, customer service and establishing clientele. Promotes positive guest/client relations. Maintains a clean and orderly store. Operates cash register and makes financial transactions. May be assigned to work in any retail outlet. Completes special assignments as requested.
   
   EDUCATION/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:
   
   High school diploma or equivalent preferred. 1-2 years prior retail sales experience preferred. Working knowledge of items sold in assigned outlet.
   
   DISCLAIMER:
   
   "This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, effort or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technical developments)."
   
   Help us roll out the red carpet at Caesars Palace! This world renowned resort indulges our guests with 25 unique restaurants and cafes, over 3,000 rooms, 4.5 acres of pools and gardens and a 50,000 square foot spa. If you have a passion for delivering personalized service in an exclusive setting, Caesars Palace is the place for you to start your career.
   
   Caesars Entertainment will engage in an interactive process and make reasonable accommodations, as required by law, for individuals with disabilities or to accommodate pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, or where a conflict exists between the position and an individuals' religious beliefs or practices.
   
   The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position.
   
   The Company reserves the right to make changes to the job description whenever necessary.
   
   As a part of the new hire process, finalist candidates will be required to complete a drug test and background check prior to an offer being extended, except where applicable law requires that such pre-employment screening occur post-offer. The Company is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants based on race, color, national origin, sex, age over 40, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills by displaying Spotlight on Success behaviors. Maintains upbeat, positive attitude, positive energy and enthusiasm from one interaction to the next.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find sales lead/sales associates for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sales lead/sales associate job on Zippia to find and attract quality sales lead/sales associate candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with sales lead/sales associate candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sales lead/sales associate

   Once you've decided on a perfect sales lead/sales associate candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new sales lead/sales associate. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a sales lead/sales associate?