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Shop clerk vs stower

The differences between shop clerks and stowers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a shop clerk has an average salary of $34,468, which is higher than the $27,464 average annual salary of a stower.

The top three skills for a shop clerk include basic math, math and top quality. The most important skills for a stower are PET, pallets, and basic math.

Shop clerk vs stower overview

Shop ClerkStower
Yearly salary$34,468$27,464
Hourly rate$16.57$13.20
Growth rate-5%1%
Number of jobs106,275198,954
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 44%
Average age4738
Years of experience2-

What does a shop clerk do?

A shop clerk is primarily in charge of assisting clients in a retail store, ensuring efficient service for client satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting and identifying the clients' needs, answering inquiries, locating products, offering promotions, and recommending alternatives as needed. They must also maintain the cleanliness of the sales floor, clearing the obstructions and disposing of expired or defective products. Furthermore, a shop clerk must manage the product displays, devising strategies to make them more presentable to the customers.

What does a stower do?

A stower is responsible for scanning a product and appropriately placing it to the right shelf for customer's consumption. Duties of a stower include inspecting the item for any defects and escalating damaged items to the supervisor ensuring adequately labeled products. Other responsibilities include operating essential store equipment, adhering to the sanitary standards of the working area, and assisting customers with their concerns and inquiries. A stower should have excellent time-management skills and the ability to multi-task, especially on working with a fast-paced environment.

Shop clerk vs stower salary

Shop clerks and stowers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Shop ClerkStower
Average salary$34,468$27,464
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $44,000Between $21,000 And $34,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYLakewood, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyRich Products
Best paying industryTransportationTechnology

Differences between shop clerk and stower education

There are a few differences between a shop clerk and a stower in terms of educational background:

Shop ClerkStower
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%High School Diploma, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina University-

Shop clerk vs stower demographics

Here are the differences between shop clerks' and stowers' demographics:

Shop ClerkStower
Average age4738
Gender ratioMale, 34.6% Female, 65.4%Male, 69.9% Female, 30.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.7% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between shop clerk and stower duties and responsibilities

Shop clerk example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
  • Assist with bagging groceries when need.
  • Learned great time management and leadership skills.
  • Implement effective time management and leadership skills.
  • Work POS system to ring up items/close & clean shop.
  • Operate POS system, perform daily deposits and reconciliation reports.
  • Show more

Stower example responsibilities.

  • Operate material handling equipment in safe and efficient manner; including forklifts, balers, and compactors.
  • Itemize and total customer purchases at checkout counter, using POS terminal, and accept various forms of payment.
  • Use all equipment in deli/bakery/bistro such as the refrigerators, freezers, slicers, and ovens according to company guidelines.
  • Operate POS cash registers, closing/opening tills, balancing the cash drawer, and ensure customers are greeted and serve quickly.
  • Operate heavy machinery including balers and forklifts.
  • Maintain cleanliness of equipment and floor to ensure safety and sanitation regulations.
  • Show more

Shop clerk vs stower skills

Common shop clerk skills
  • Basic Math, 25%
  • Math, 17%
  • Top Quality, 14%
  • Cash Handling, 13%
  • WIC, 7%
  • POS, 6%
Common stower skills
  • PET, 23%
  • Pallets, 18%
  • Basic Math, 10%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Math, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 5%

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