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The differences between store associates and customer service retail associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a customer service retail associate has an average salary of $30,002, which is higher than the $29,543 average annual salary of a store associate.
The top three skills for a store associate include sales floor, retail store and inventory management. The most important skills for a customer service retail associate are POS, customer service, and customer orders.
| Store Associate | Customer Service Retail Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $29,543 | $30,002 |
| Hourly rate | $14.20 | $14.42 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 495,423 | 580,336 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A store associate is responsible for assisting customers with the products they need and recommending alternative goods that would fit their budget. Sales associates also market promotional offers and provide product descriptions to the customer. They also monitor inventories, stock supplies on the appropriate shelves, and ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the store. Store associates also perform other administrative tasks as needed, such as creating sales reports, assisting in the counter, and helping customers on carrying their items.
A customer service retail associate is responsible for providing the highest customer service for the store's customers by responding to their inquiries and concerns and recommending them goods and services that would fit their needs. Customer service retail associates support the marketing campaigns and promotional strategies of the store by offering and demonstrating products to the customers, as well as arranging stock displays, and monitoring the adequacy of inventories. They also escalate high-level complaints to management for immediate resolution and assist with product replacement and issuing refunds as needed.
Store associates and customer service retail associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Associate | Customer Service Retail Associate | |
| Average salary | $29,543 | $30,002 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $36,000 | Between $23,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Bellevue, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Pro Football Hall of Fame | Tractor Supply |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a store associate and a customer service retail associate in terms of educational background:
| Store Associate | Customer Service Retail Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between store associates' and customer service retail associates' demographics:
| Store Associate | Customer Service Retail Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.8% Female, 51.2% | Male, 33.3% Female, 66.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.7% Asian, 6.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |