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The differences between store assistants and retail specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a store assistant has an average salary of $32,372, which is higher than the $31,114 average annual salary of a retail specialist.
The top three skills for a store assistant include payroll, retail sales and customer service. The most important skills for a retail specialist are store management, retail environment, and store associates.
| Store Assistant | Retail Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $32,372 | $31,114 |
| Hourly rate | $15.56 | $14.96 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 511,874 | 269,690 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 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.
A retail specialist is primarily in charge of securing sales and assisting customers on a sales floor, ensuring to meet the daily sales targets and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting clients and answering inquiries, locating products, offering recommendations and promotions, and processing payments. They may also address issues or concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a retail specialist, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness of the sales floor and arrange displays properly to attract customers.
Store assistants and retail specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Assistant | Retail Specialist | |
| Average salary | $32,372 | $31,114 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $22,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jacksonville, NC | Salem, NH |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Busch's Fresh Food Market | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a store assistant and a retail specialist in terms of educational background:
| Store Assistant | Retail Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | - |
Here are the differences between store assistants' and retail specialists' demographics:
| Store Assistant | Retail Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0% | Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2% |
| 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, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 7% |