Sales management trainee vs store sales associate

The differences between sales management trainees 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 management trainee and a store sales associate. Additionally, a sales management trainee has an average salary of $47,400, which is higher than the $30,284 average annual salary of a store sales associate.

The top three skills for a sales management trainee include business development, business sales and enterprise management. The most important skills for a store sales associate are sales floor, POS, and product knowledge.

Sales management trainee vs store sales associate overview

	Sales Management Trainee	Store Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$47,400	$30,284
Hourly rate	$22.79	$14.56
Growth rate	5%	-
Number of jobs	290,692	524,877
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 82%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a sales management trainee do?

Typically, sales management trainees are recruited at the entry-level, where they learn to manage sales. The trainees assist with tasks associated with sales management. They work under the supervision of executives and managers in business enterprises. They are equipped with the knowledge to become managers in the fields of sales, operations, and marketing. Among the necessary skills for this job include management skills, problem-solving, leadership, communication skills, attention to detail, time management, and organizational awareness.

What does a store sales associate do?

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 management trainee vs store sales associate salary

Sales management trainees and store sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Sales Management Trainee	Store Sales Associate
Average salary	$47,400	$30,284
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $58,000	Between $23,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Elizabeth, NJ
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	Cisco	Rooms To Go
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Hospitality

Differences between sales management trainee and store sales associate education

There are a few differences between a sales management trainee and a store sales associate in terms of educational background:

	Sales Management Trainee	Store Sales Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 82%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Sales management trainee vs store sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between sales management trainees' and store sales associates' demographics:

	Sales Management Trainee	Store Sales Associate
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7%	Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 62.1% 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%

Differences between sales management trainee and store sales associate duties and responsibilities

Sales management trainee example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage payroll and controllable expenses within company guidelines.
Manage customer database, product updates/upgrades, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.
Assist management team in daily facility operations that include managing performance of associates and inventory shrink management.
Inform on how to navigate through Salesforce.
Identify prospective clients and assist clients using CRM software.
Perform, multiple, complex CRM and customer maintenance activities.

Store sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage to sales KPI's (including sales and expense budget numbers), assuring efficient and effective use of resources.
Earn management trust by serving as keyholder, responsibly opening and closing the store.
Audit all jewelry counts daily, banking deposit log, cashier logs, sales logs.
Utilize the company's POS system to cash customers out or administer returns to the store.
Work as a sales associate and keyholder throughout the summer and a bit of the school year.
Help customers choose jewelry, pierce ears, open and close out register, set up displays.

Sales management trainee vs store sales associate skills

Common sales management trainee skills

Business Development, 21%
Business Sales, 10%
Enterprise Management, 10%
Management Training, 8%
Store Management, 8%
World Class, 7%

Common store sales associate skills

Sales Floor, 20%
POS, 10%
Product Knowledge, 10%
Store Sales, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Stock Room, 5%

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Sales Management Trainee
Sales Management Trainee vs Store Sales Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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