Stores supervisor vs sales lead/sales associate

The differences between stores supervisors and sales lead/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 stores supervisor and a sales lead/sales associate. Additionally, a stores supervisor has an average salary of $34,046, which is higher than the $31,954 average annual salary of a sales lead/sales associate.

The top three skills for a stores supervisor include sales floor, ladders and store management. The most important skills for a sales lead/sales associate are POS, cash control, and customer service.

Stores supervisor vs sales lead/sales associate overview

	Stores Supervisor	Sales Lead/Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$34,046	$31,954
Hourly rate	$16.37	$15.36
Growth rate	-	-
Number of jobs	286,651	882,220
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does a stores supervisor do?

Store or retail supervisors are management professionals who are responsible for managing a team of staff members to ensure the smooth operation of a retail store. These supervisors are required to arrive early at the store so that they can open the store and disable the alarm system as well as prepare the cash registers. They must maintain inventory level and order new products when necessary while keeping records of every product available in their backroom. Store supervisors must also act as a customer service agent to help customers enjoy their experience in the store.

What does a sales lead/sales associate do?

Sales lead and sales associates are two different sales positions in the retail industry. A sales lead is in charge of supervising the sales department. Sales leads perform administrative duties like recruiting and training staff, monitoring inventories, and maintaining sales performance. On the other hand, sales associates guide potential customers to acquire the products or services that fit their needs. The associates notify clients of sales promotions then present to them the product or service. Employees for these positions are looking for candidates with relevant experience in sales and related degrees like marketing and sales.

Stores supervisor vs sales lead/sales associate salary

Stores supervisors and sales lead/sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Stores Supervisor	Sales Lead/Sales Associate
Average salary	$34,046	$31,954
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $43,000	Between $17,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City	Providence, RI	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Rhode Island	New York
Best paying company	Nestlé	Google
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Retail

Differences between stores supervisor and sales lead/sales associate education

There are a few differences between a stores supervisor and a sales lead/sales associate in terms of educational background:

	Stores Supervisor	Sales Lead/Sales Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Stores supervisor vs sales lead/sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between stores supervisors' and sales lead/sales associates' demographics:

	Stores Supervisor	Sales Lead/Sales Associate
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 48.2% Female, 51.8%	Male, 35.3% Female, 64.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between stores supervisor and sales lead/sales associate duties and responsibilities

Stores supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage the daily task of a retail pet store, delivering great customer services and increase net sales.
Assist in maintaining department staffing levels to ensure scheduling and service requirements are achieved while maintaining payroll objectives.
Assist store leadership in effectively leading, managing and developing store and/or department operations and associates to maximize sales and profitability.
Handle customer transactions on POS along with getting change for all register and cash room.
Maintain store cleanliness and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Exercise cleanliness and raise awareness of cleanliness and encourage safety generate work areas.

Sales lead/sales associate example responsibilities.

Partner in managing operations of multiple retail outlets, including hiring, performance management, scheduling, and merchandising management.
Complete customer transactions using POS register system and fraud security protocol.
Monitor inventory accountability by physically checking inventory, running inventory reports, receiving shipments, and completing transfers in the POS.
Demonstrate strong leadership, communication and supervisory skills by providing coaching and feedback to maximize individual and store performance.

Stores supervisor vs sales lead/sales associate skills

Common stores supervisor skills

Sales Floor, 10%
Ladders, 8%
Store Management, 7%
Cash Handling, 7%
Store Operations, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

Common sales lead/sales associate skills

POS, 16%
Cash Control, 13%
Customer Service, 9%
Bank Deposits, 8%
Inventory Control, 8%
Sales Transactions, 7%

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Stores Supervisor
Stores Supervisor vs Sales Lead/Sales Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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