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The differences between store associates and retail cashiers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a store associate has an average salary of $29,543, which is higher than the $29,009 average annual salary of a retail cashier.
The top three skills for a store associate include sales floor, retail store and inventory management. The most important skills for a retail cashier are customer service, cleanliness, and front end.
| Store Associate | Retail Cashier | |
| Yearly salary | $29,543 | $29,009 |
| Hourly rate | $14.20 | $13.95 |
| Growth rate | - | -10% |
| Number of jobs | 495,423 | 440,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 41 | 34 |
| 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 retail cashier is an employee who scans products and processes cash payments between the retail store and its customers. Retail cashiers must provide excellent customer service that can include greeting customers, directing customer inquiries to the appropriate party, and informing customers about the services available. They often train new cashiers or retail workers and assist in the maintenance of storefront and retail displays. Retail cashiers also assist in counting money and perform audits of cash intake or cash drawers.
Store associates and retail cashiers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Store Associate | Retail Cashier | |
| Average salary | $29,543 | $29,009 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $36,000 | Between $23,000 And $35,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Pro Football Hall of Fame | Il Fornaio |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a store associate and a retail cashier in terms of educational background:
| Store Associate | Retail Cashier | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between store associates' and retail cashiers' demographics:
| Store Associate | Retail Cashier | |
| Average age | 41 | 34 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.8% Female, 51.2% | Male, 23.7% Female, 76.3% |
| 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, 9.4% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 7.7% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 5% |