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Shopper vs retail clerk

The differences between shoppers and retail clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a shopper has an average salary of $36,631, which is higher than the $30,046 average annual salary of a retail clerk.

The top three skills for a shopper include groceries, grocery store and customer orders. The most important skills for a retail clerk are stock shelves, groceries, and retail sales.

Shopper vs retail clerk overview

ShopperRetail Clerk
Yearly salary$36,631$30,046
Hourly rate$17.61$14.45
Growth rate6%-
Number of jobs420,518470,355
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4041
Years of experience--

What does a shopper do?

A shopper is responsible for assisting customers in purchasing goods and services, advising them of the best products according to their needs and budget limitations. Shoppers should have excellent knowledge of the current industry trends to be an effective consultant of their clients, processing orders and payments, and set delivery schedules. They also handle product replacements or refunds as needed, coordinating with sellers for complaints made by the client. A shopper must be highly communicative and organizational, understanding client requirements, and developing selling techniques.

What does a retail clerk do?

A retail clerk is responsible for selling goods and services to the customers, recommending products based on their needs, and responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the product. Retail clerks assist with the store's marketing strategies, organize product displays, monitor inventories, endorse promotional discounts, and help customers on their checkout payments. A retail clerk must have excellent communication and customer service skills to handle customers' requests and ensure their highest satisfaction.

Shopper vs retail clerk salary

Shoppers and retail clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

ShopperRetail Clerk
Average salary$36,631$30,046
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $49,000Between $23,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateVermontRhode Island
Best paying companyReckitt BenckiserBellevue Jr/Sr High School
Best paying industryStart-upManufacturing

Differences between shopper and retail clerk education

There are a few differences between a shopper and a retail clerk in terms of educational background:

ShopperRetail Clerk
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Pennsylvania-

Shopper vs retail clerk demographics

Here are the differences between shoppers' and retail clerks' demographics:

ShopperRetail Clerk
Average age4041
Gender ratioMale, 38.7% Female, 61.3%Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 5.8% White, 61.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between shopper and retail clerk duties and responsibilities

Shopper example responsibilities.

  • Light landscaping - planting flowers, mulch flower beds, weeding, mowing.
  • Key notes on quarterly reviews show exemplary marks for punctuality, customer service, and job quality.
  • Stack cases of merchandise on to pallets.
  • Select the highest quality produce and perishables.
  • Train in use of the RF scanner system.
  • Expedite signs for departments and handle pricing issues with management.
  • Show more

Retail clerk example responsibilities.

  • Accomplish upselling goals to contribute to company's success.
  • Handle sales and returns through a POS software system and inventory database, and train new employees on the same tools.
  • Collect and process payments including accurate maintenance of sales register and jewelry inventory following close of daily business.
  • Provide excellent customer service while upselling promotional products

Shopper vs retail clerk skills

Common shopper skills
  • Groceries, 36%
  • Grocery Store, 25%
  • Customer Orders, 25%
  • Customer Service, 3%
  • Instacart, 2%
  • RF, 2%
Common retail clerk skills
  • Stock Shelves, 31%
  • Groceries, 21%
  • Retail Sales, 6%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%
  • Basic Math, 5%
  • POS, 4%