How to hire a store associate

How to hire a store associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step store associate 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 associate job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new store associate
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a store associate do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a store associate, 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

   A store associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, store associates from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of store associate salaries for various roles:

   Type of Store Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Store Associate	Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.	$11-17

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Floor
   • Retail Store
   • Inventory Management
   • Cleanliness
   • Math
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Credit Card Transactions
   • Front End
   • Patients
   • Customer Service
   • Stock Merchandise
   • Store Appearance
   • Store Shelves
   • Pallet Jack

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Operate POS register and provide exceptional customer service.
   • Regulate profit margins, payroll, loss-prevention control and inventory management.

   More store associate duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the store associate job description is a good way to get more applicants. A store associate salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a store associate in Wyoming may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level store associate. Additionally, a store associate with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average store associate salary

   $14.20hourly

   $29,543 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level store associate salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average store associate salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$34,461	$17
   2	District of Columbia	$34,319	$17
   3	Washington	$33,660	$16
   4	Maine	$33,204	$16
   5	California	$32,569	$16
   6	Minnesota	$32,064	$15
   7	Oregon	$31,621	$15
   8	Illinois	$30,813	$15
   9	Colorado	$30,301	$15
   10	Maryland	$29,596	$14
   11	Nebraska	$29,350	$14
   12	Arizona	$29,169	$14
   13	Indiana	$29,080	$14
   14	Pennsylvania	$28,773	$14
   15	Michigan	$28,540	$14
   16	Missouri	$28,121	$14
   17	Ohio	$27,997	$13
   18	Kansas	$27,793	$13
   19	Florida	$27,195	$13
   20	North Carolina	$27,103	$13

   Average store associate salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Pro Football Hall of Fame	$40,399	$19.42	1
   2	Mars	$36,361	$17.48
   3	Wayfair	$35,678	$17.15	51
   4	Tractor Supply	$35,523	$17.08	4,146
   5	PPG	$33,662	$16.18
   6	Amazon	$33,475	$16.09	85
   7	Highmark	$33,324	$16.02	61
   8	Los Angeles County Museum of Art	$33,193	$15.96	2
   9	Princeton University	$32,871	$15.80	2
   10	CVS Health	$32,322	$15.54	2,292
   11	Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply	$32,253	$15.51
   12	Emerson	$32,233	$15.50	3
   13	Speedway Motors	$32,184	$15.47
   14	Camping World	$32,155	$15.46	165
   15	Duluth Trading	$32,115	$15.44	63
   16	Hormel Foods	$32,115	$15.44	3
   17	Pasco-Hernando State College	$32,078	$15.42
   18	True Value	$31,963	$15.37
   19	Genuine Parts	$31,956	$15.36	63
   20	Mirabito	$31,835	$15.31	34

4. Writing a store associate job description

   A good store associate 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 associate job description:

   Store associate job description example

   Gopuff is looking for Operations Associates (OAs) to join the operations team. Directly reporting to a Site Leader, OAs play an essential role at Gopuff that requires drive, perseverance, positivity, and enthusiasm for the challenge. You will accomplish a variety of operations responsibilities including picking, packing, receiving product, and working with our partner drivers. This is a temporary position with the opportunity to be converted to permanent employment based on tenure and performance.
   
   Customers turn to Gopuff to provide their everyday essentials-day and night, rain or shine. We're assembling a team of thinkers, dreamers and risk takers who are ready to help us reshape the world of retail faster than ever before. And it doesn't hurt if you like snacks.
   
   Responsibilities Pick and pack items for dispatch to customers.Receive product from vendors, ensure physical count matches purchase order/invoice, and resolve discrepancies.Manage inventory and re-shelving of canceled orders.Clean and organize sales floor.Manage waste and spoilage through strict compliance with FIFO practice-Contact customer for substituted or out-of-stock items.Handle, scan and move product in a safe and well-organized manner.Stand, push, pull, squat, bend, reach and walk during shifts.Use carts, pallet jacks, dollies and other equipment to move product.Lift up to 49 pounds.Handle products that may contain tobacco, nicotine, and/or alcohol.Work in freezer locations periodically throughout shifts.Capability to walk several flights of steps periodically throughout the day.
   
   QualificationsHigh School Diploma or GED Equivalent.Experience working in a restaurant or retail environment (preferred, not required).The ability to work a fluid schedule and be available during peak shifts (1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts).General working knowledge of basic web-based software applications (e.g. Google G-Suite).
   
   At Gopuff, we know that life can be unpredictable. Sometimes you forget the milk at the store, run out of pet food for Fido, or just really need ice cream at 11 pm. We get it-stuff happens. But that's where we come in, delivering all your wants and needs in just minutes.
   
   And now, we're assembling a team of motivated people to help us drive forward that vision to bring a new age of convenience and predictability to an unpredictable world.
   Like what you're hearing? Then join us on Team Blue.
   
   Gopuff is an equal employment opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive workplace where we do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or familial status, age, ancestry, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We believe in diversity and encourage any qualified individual to apply.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find store associates 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 associate job on Zippia to find and recruit store associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting store associates requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   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 associate

   Once you have selected a candidate for the store associate position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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