Salary for sales associate in the United States can depend on the company you work for. Earnings will vary from firm to firm, location to location and industry to industry. If a person is employed by a firm that sells goods or services, then salary is an important aspect of their job. The same person may have a higher salary if he or she works for a better known and established company than working for an unknown organization or startup.
The sales associate is responsible for the sale and delivery of products to customers at the direction of their sales manager. The primary purpose of this position is to generate new accounts by negotiating pricing agreements, writing contracts and closing sales; general customer service; maintaining knowledge of products and services provided by the company.
A sales associate or sales clerk is a retail worker who is hired to handle the sales and cash register operations for a retail business. The person hired for this position is typically responsible for assisting customers with the selection of products, ringing up purchases at the register, receiving payments from customers, performing clerical tasks such as assisting with credit applications and other customer transactions.
Salary For Sales Associate Overview
Salary for Sales Associate
As a sales associate, you have many options. You can work at home, such as in the comfort of your own home or even outside on your patio. Or you can choose to work at a retail store, such as Home Depot or Bath & Body Works. In addition to these options, you also have the freedom to choose which industry you want to work in: retail or wholesale.
Sales Associates are primarily responsible for helping customers find what they need, whether it’s a new pair of jeans or bedding for their child’s room. They will also help customers find items that match their needs and budget. Sales Associates may also be responsible for stocking shelves and keeping them clean so shoppers will want to come back again and again!
Salary For Sales Associate
The salary for a sales associate depends on where they work and how much experience they have working in this position. For example, according to Glassdoor’s Salary Guide (2017), the average annual salary for a sales associate at Home Depot is $30k-$40k; whereas, Bath & Body Works pays its sales associates $18k-$20k per year (Glassdoor).
What Is A Sales Associate
Retail sales associates are the face of the retail store and a direct line to the customer. They are responsible for greeting customers, helping resolve minor issues or needs, building rapport, ringing up sales, and more.
These associates are responsible for keeping a clean and organized store. They stock shelves, clean up messes, return orders, direct and assist customers, and close sales. The associate can also encourage customers to join rewards programs, offer advice or recommendations, and assist with the delivery or pick-up of goods.
Retail sales associates should have an excellent understanding of the POS systems the company uses. Additionally, they should have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and they will generally be expected to have a flexible schedule. The ability to upsell, along with a positive attitude and having great teamwork are also valuable skills.
How To Become a Sales Associate
If you’re interested in becoming a Sales Associate, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We’ve determined that 60.1% of Real Estate Sales Associates have a bachelor’s degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 8.9% of Real Estate Sales Associates have master’s degrees. Even though most Real Estate Sales Associates have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a Real Estate Sales Associate. When we researched the most common majors for a Real Estate Sales Associate, we found that they most commonly earn Bachelor’s Degree degrees or Associate Degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on Real Estate Sales Associate resumes include Master’s Degree degrees or Doctoral Degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a Real Estate Sales Associate. In fact, many Real Estate Sales Associate jobs require experience in a role such as Administrative Assistant. Meanwhile, many Real Estate Sales Associates also have previous career experience in roles such as Sales Associate or Office Manager.
Sales Associate Average salary and compensation
The average salary for a retail sales associate is $29,800 per year, often paid as an hourly rate (the equivalent of $14.33). Many roles offer sales commission or a cash bonus. While only base salaries are reflected here, commissions and bonuses may greatly increase total compensation. Additionally, salaries will vary based on experience, company size, industry, and geographic market.
| Location | Salary Low | Salary High |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | $29,650 | $40,100 |
| Los Angeles, California | $33,450 | $45,250 |
| Denver, Colorado | $27,900 | $37,700 |
| Washington, DC | $33,950 | $45,900 |
| Miami, Florida | $27,750 | $37,500 |
| Orlando, Florida | $25,800 | $34,600 |
| Tampa, Florida | $26,000 | $35,000 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $27,100 | $36,700 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $31,150 | $42,150 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $33,700 | $45,600 |
| Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota | $26,850 | $36,300 |
| New York City, New York | $35,450 | $48,000 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $28,900 | $39,100 |
| Dallas, Texas | $28,100 | $38,000 |
| Houston, Texas | $27,900 | $37,850 |
| Seattle, Washington | $32,400 | $43,850 |
| National Average | $25,350 | $34,250 |
