Store assistant vs store sales associate

The differences between store assistants and store sales associates 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 a store sales associate. Additionally, a store assistant has an average salary of $32,372, which is higher than the $30,284 average annual salary of a store sales associate.

The top three skills for a store assistant include payroll, retail sales and customer service. The most important skills for a store sales associate are sales floor, POS, and product knowledge.

Store assistant vs store sales associate overview

	Store Assistant	Store Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$32,372	$30,284
Hourly rate	$15.56	$14.56
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	511,874	524,877
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a store assistant do?

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.

What does a store sales associate do?

A store sales associate is responsible for assisting store customers, directing them to the correct area of their needs, and responding to their inquiries and concerns regarding a product. Store sales associates also support the store's promotional campaigns, selling goods and services to the customers by demonstrating the product and its benefits. They keep the store premises clean and tidy to avoid any potential hazards during operations. A store sales associate must have excellent communication skills, especially on resolving customer complaints, processing replacements, and issuing refunds.

Store assistant vs store sales associate salary

Store assistants and store sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Store Assistant	Store Sales Associate
Average salary	$32,372	$30,284
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $41,000	Between $23,000 And $39,000
Highest paying City	Jacksonville, NC	Elizabeth, NJ
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	New Jersey
Best paying company	Busch's Fresh Food Market	Rooms To Go
Best paying industry	Retail	Hospitality

Differences between store assistant and store sales associate education

There are a few differences between a store assistant and a store sales associate in terms of educational background:

	Store Assistant	Store Sales Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Store assistant vs store sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between store assistants' and store sales associates' demographics:

	Store Assistant	Store Sales Associate
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 47.0% Female, 53.0%	Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between store assistant and store sales associate duties and responsibilities

Store assistant example 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.

Store sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage to sales KPI's (including sales and expense budget numbers), assuring efficient and effective use of resources.
Earn management trust by serving as keyholder, responsibly opening and closing the store.
Audit all jewelry counts daily, banking deposit log, cashier logs, sales logs.
Utilize the company's POS system to cash customers out or administer returns to the store.
Work as a sales associate and keyholder throughout the summer and a bit of the school year.
Help customers choose jewelry, pierce ears, open and close out register, set up displays.

Store assistant vs store sales associate skills

Common store assistant skills

Payroll, 52%
Retail Sales, 47%
Customer Service, 0%
PET, 0%
Food Handling, 0%
Sales Floor, 0%

Common store sales associate skills

Sales Floor, 20%
POS, 10%
Product Knowledge, 10%
Store Sales, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Stock Room, 5%

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Sales Industry
Store Assistant
Store Assistant vs Store Sales Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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