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The differences between store assistants and assistant department heads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a store assistant and an assistant department head. Additionally, an assistant department head has an average salary of $65,309, which is higher than the $32,372 average annual salary of a store assistant.
The top three skills for a store assistant include payroll, retail sales and customer service. The most important skills for an assistant department head are ladders, sales floor, and customer service.
| Store Assistant | Assistant Department Head | |
| Yearly salary | $32,372 | $65,309 |
| Hourly rate | $15.56 | $31.40 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 511,874 | 41,690 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
As the name entails, a store assistant helps the store supervisor or manager. You will typically perform various tasks that include processing inventory and replenishing items when they get low, assisting stock clerks in receiving and processing shipments, and performing tasks related to store opening and closing. Additionally, you are expected to provide customer service, including handling customer complaints and facilitating transactions utilizing point of sale software. A store assistant also checks for any product breakage or damage.
An assistant department head is responsible for monitoring the operations of the department, together with the department head. Assistant department heads' duties include managing clients' inquiries and complaints, developing strategic solutions to improve clients' satisfaction, and identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and the business' profitability. They will also work on monitoring the staff's performance and addressing their concerns, creating sales reports, maintaining budget goals, and organizing training. An assistant department head must have excellent leadership and communication skills to help in achieving the department's objectives.
Store assistants and assistant department heads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Assistant | Assistant Department Head | |
| Average salary | $32,372 | $65,309 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $39,000 And $106,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jacksonville, NC | Centereach, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New York |
| Best paying company | Busch's Fresh Food Market | Princeton University |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Energy |
There are a few differences between a store assistant and an assistant department head in terms of educational background:
| Store Assistant | Assistant Department Head | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 store assistants' and assistant department heads' demographics:
| Store Assistant | Assistant Department Head | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |