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The differences between sales lead/sales associates and store sales associates 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 lead/sales associate and a store sales associate. Additionally, a sales lead/sales associate has an average salary of $31,954, which is higher than the $30,284 average annual salary of a store sales associate.
The top three skills for a sales lead/sales associate include POS, cash control and customer service. The most important skills for a store sales associate are sales floor, POS, and product knowledge.
| Sales Lead/Sales Associate | Store Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $31,954 | $30,284 |
| Hourly rate | $15.36 | $14.56 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 882,220 | 524,877 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Sales lead and sales associates are two different sales positions in the retail industry. A sales lead is in charge of supervising the sales department. Sales leads perform administrative duties like recruiting and training staff, monitoring inventories, and maintaining sales performance. On the other hand, sales associates guide potential customers to acquire the products or services that fit their needs. The associates notify clients of sales promotions then present to them the product or service. Employees for these positions are looking for candidates with relevant experience in sales and related degrees like marketing and sales.
A store sales associate is responsible for assisting store customers, directing them to the correct area of their needs, and responding to their inquiries and concerns regarding a product. Store sales associates also support the store's promotional campaigns, selling goods and services to the customers by demonstrating the product and its benefits. They keep the store premises clean and tidy to avoid any potential hazards during operations. A store sales associate must have excellent communication skills, especially on resolving customer complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds.
Sales lead/sales associates and store sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sales Lead/Sales Associate | Store Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $31,954 | $30,284 |
| Salary range | Between $17,000 And $57,000 | Between $23,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Elizabeth, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Rooms To Go | |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a sales lead/sales associate and a store sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Sales Lead/Sales Associate | Store Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between sales lead/sales associates' and store sales associates' demographics:
| Sales Lead/Sales Associate | Store Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7% | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |