How to hire a store assistant

How to hire a store assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step store assistant hiring guide:

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

What does a store assistant do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a store assistant, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or 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 store assistant 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 store assistant that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of store assistants and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Store Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Store Assistant		$12-19
   Key Carrier	A key carrier is primarily in charge of opening and closing business establishments. Because they are typically the first team member to come into the workplace, it is often their duty to set-up alarm systems, clean the sales floor and other areas, arrange shelves or tables, and prepare for the incoming customers... Show more	$12-18
   Key Holder	A keyholder is responsible for ensuring the store's daily security before and after the operation. Keyholders' duties include assisting with administrative tasks, handling customers' inquiries, managing and escalating customers' complaints, monitoring the alarm system, keeping track of the deliveries, supporting staff training, cooperating in company's events, and recommending operational strategies to meet business goals and objectives... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Payroll
   • Retail Sales
   • Customer Service
   • PET
   • Food Handling
   • Sales Floor
   • Store Operations
   • Store Associates
   • POS
   • Store Management
   • Retail Store
   • Product Knowledge
   • Loss Prevention
   • Inventory Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Team leadership duties including managing store employees, provide training regarding store policy, procedure, and various product education.
   • Monitor and manage inventory with excel and QuickBooks.
   • Operate POS machine, make delicious drinks, and offer great service to customers.
   • Count drawer and balance it, count money to cash out and fill out the POS system.
   • Maintain accurate payroll records and store them according to company retention policies.
   • Demonstrate leadership and time management.

   More store assistant duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your store assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A store assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, store assistants' average salary in oregon is 56% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level store assistants 39% less than senior-level store assistants.
   • Certifications. A store assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a store assistant's salary.

   Average store assistant salary

   $15.56hourly

   $32,372 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level store assistant salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average store assistant salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	North Carolina	$33,967	$16
   2	Florida	$32,872	$16
   3	South Carolina	$32,732	$16
   4	Louisiana	$32,329	$16
   5	Illinois	$31,309	$15
   6	Texas	$31,117	$15
   7	Minnesota	$31,030	$15
   8	California	$30,924	$15
   9	Indiana	$30,309	$15
   10	Georgia	$28,882	$14
   11	Arizona	$27,775	$13
   12	Ohio	$27,367	$13
   13	New Mexico	$25,580	$12
   14	Nevada	$24,500	$12

   Average store assistant salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Busch's Fresh Food Market	$38,776	$18.64	24
   2	State of West Virginia	$37,752	$18.15	2
   3	University Of Minnesota Physicians	$37,188	$17.88
   4	Chapters Health System	$37,057	$17.82
   5	Saf -Gard Safety Shoe	$35,012	$16.83	1
   6	Stein's Garden & Home	$33,252	$15.99
   7	Tractor Supply	$33,251	$15.99	3,710
   8	P&S Surgical Hospital	$33,134	$15.93	18
   9	Price Chopper Supermarkets-Market 32	$32,903	$15.82
   10	Horizon Services	$32,459	$15.61
   11	Kelly Services	$32,215	$15.49	2
   12	Birkey's Farm Store	$32,184	$15.47
   13	Ascena Retail Group	$31,602	$15.19
   14	Army and Air Force Exchange Service	$31,248	$15.02	7
   15	Nike	$30,609	$14.72	255
   16	The Home Depot	$29,807	$14.33	5,178
   17	Hormel Foods	$29,803	$14.33	6
   18	Circle K	$29,443	$14.16	1,158
   19	Tuesday Morning	$28,474	$13.69
   20	7-Eleven	$28,408	$13.66	594

4. Writing a store assistant job description

   A good store assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a store assistant job description:

   Store assistant job description example

   The future of Nike has never looked better.
   
   Our purpose is to unite the world through sport to create a healthy planet, active communities, and an equal playing field for all.
   
   In order to stay at the top of our game, we're always looking to level-up with outstanding people who provide the kind of above-and-beyond service that inspires Nike fans for life!
   
   As a member of Nike Retail, you'll be part of a diverse & inclusive team with opportunities for personal growth and professional development, all in a casual work environment where you can be your authentic self. And, with a generous employee discount and an overall benefits package that's among the best around, we're pretty confident you're gonna love it here!
   
   More About This Role
   
   As an Assistant Head Coach, in close partnership with your Head Coach and store leaders, you lead a team that helps keep all store functions running seamlessly. In addition, you play a key role in creating an environment in which your employees can excel personally and professionally.
   
   The result? An unforgettable in-store Nike experience that exceeds expectations. Every consumer. Every time.
   
   In addition to shared leadership responsibilities, you will focus on one of three Areas of Expertise where you'll gain critical experiences that help propel you along your development journey.
   
   * Consumer Experience. With the consumer at the heart of everything we do, you'll help shape how world-class service looks throughout the store, bringing the Nike experience-both physical and digital-to life for our fans every step of the way.
   * Athlete Services. In this role, you'll ensure your store is staffed with amazing people by attracting, assessing, and onboarding your future teammates. In addition, you'll equip store employees with the tools they need to be successful in their day-to-day tasks. Most importantly, you'll help foster a vibrant, inclusive, and fun work culture.
   * Product Life Cycle. From receiving in the stockroom to visual merchandising on the sales floor, you'll make sure that the consumer always has access to the right product at the right time.
   
   No matter the location or position, every Nike employee shares one unifying mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.
   
   If you have a body, you're an athlete

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find store assistants 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 store assistant job on Zippia to find and attract quality store assistant candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit store assistants, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 store assistant

   Once you've decided on a perfect store assistant 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.

   To prepare for the new store assistant first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 store assistant?