How long does it take to become a Store Associate?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a store associate. That is the time it takes to learn specific store associate skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Do you need experience to be a store associate?

No, you don't need experience to be a store sales associate. Having prior work experience in a similar role will definitely improve your chances, but many companies also provide on-the-job training.

How can I be a good store associate?

To be a good store sales associate, you'll need skills and competencies that will help sales associates sell products and services to customers. These skills, such as personality, attitude, and experience, can help sales associates build relationships with customers while increasing store revenue. They're also valuable skills and characteristics to have for other jobs and opportunities later in life.

What are the skills required of an associate?

The skills required of an associate are those that will help sales associates sell products and services to customers. These skills include, but are not limited to, customer service skills such as communication, interpersonal capabilities, and experience.

What is a store associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

A store associate is a retail worker responsible for assisting customers in a store. They greet customers and provide information about products. Store associates also stock shelves and handle transactions at the cash register. They may also be responsible for opening or closing the store, and keeping the store organized. Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment are essential for success as a store associate.

What general advice would you give to a store associate?

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

Associate Professor, San Diego Mesa College

Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.

ScoreStore AssociateUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,543

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

7.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 6.62%

Black or African American 11.10%

Hispanic or Latino 20.03%

Unknown 5.04%

White 56.65%

Gender

female 51.18%

male 48.82%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a store associate?

Pros

Possibility of earning commission or bonuses based on sales performance
Opportunities for advancement within the company
Discounts on merchandise for employees
Learn about different product lines and become knowledgeable about the retail industry
Opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment and stay busy throughout the day

Cons

Dealing with difficult customers or situations
Standing for long periods can be physically demanding
Dealing with theft or loss prevention can be challenging
Limited benefits for part-time employees
Sometimes expected to work alone, which can be overwhelming

Key steps to become a store associate

Explore store associate education requirements

Most common store associate degrees

High School Diploma

35.1 %

Bachelor's

32.3 %

Associate

19.8 %

Start to develop specific store associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Sales Floor	24.76%
Retail Store	11.81%
Inventory Management	9.49%
Cleanliness	6.77%
Math	5.47%

Complete relevant store associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New store associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a store associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real store associate resumes.

Gain additional store associate certifications

Store associate certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific store associate certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for store associates include Automotive Sales Professional and EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA).

More About Certifications

Research store associate duties and responsibilities

Manage the appearance of the store in conjunction with the store priorities to present a desirable image of Aldi.
Work on the cash register, used calculators, POS machines and mental math.
Ensure that all cash handling are accurate and work with Ross' point-of-sale systems.
Put out freight as well as restocking the stock room, carrying 50 pound boxes up ladders.

Prepare your store associate resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your store associate resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a store associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable store associate resume templates

Build a professional store associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your store associate resume.

Apply for store associate jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a store associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do store associates rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Store associate reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2021

Pros

I like mostly that I work with team oriented people. Some people that care and will help and that help others whether it's work related or not. That have good employee morale amongst each other not necessarily management but amongst each other.

Cons

Double standards extra work extra tasks that aren't in the job description you're doing assumptions that you know everything you're doing and you know the right way of everything that you're doing even though no one's ever trained you to do what you're doing and what you're doing isn't necessarily in the jobs description for the title for lack of a better word that you actually have

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Cons

Unable to assist the customers in good time.

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Cons

The amount of stolen items and items simply put on any shelf.

What is a store associate and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a store associate?

What are the pros and cons of being a store associate?

Store associate career paths

Key steps to become a store associate

Explore store associate education requirements

Most common store associate degrees

Start to develop specific store associate skills

Complete relevant store associate training and internships

Gain additional store associate certifications

Research store associate duties and responsibilities

Prepare your store associate resume

Choose from 10+ customizable store associate resume templates

Apply for store associate jobs

How did you land your first store associate job

Average store associate salary

How do store associates rate their job?

Store associate reviews

Store associate FAQs

How long does it take to become a Store Associate?

Do you need experience to be a store associate?

How can I be a good store associate?

What are the skills required of an associate?

Search for store associate jobs

Store associate jobs by state