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What is an associate store manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Steve Wages Ph.D.,
Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.
introduction image

The Associate Store Manager is responsible for ensuring that customers are attended to satisfactorily. They oversee every aspect of the store, including the layout and improving customer experience. They keep records of stock and inventory and evaluate the quality of merchandise regularly. The sales team has targets to meet so the associate store manager helps with training and motivating them. They develop and implement the store's promotion and ensure compliance with sales policies, health regulations, and safety procedures.

The first thing employers ask for is your level of education which is a minimum of a High school diploma. Also, they require at least three years of experience in retail management. You need skills like customer service, communication, time management, organization, interpersonal, and multitasking skills to cut it as an associate store manager. Associate store managers earn $23 per hour, which is about $47,099 yearly.

What general advice would you give to an Associate Store Manager?

Steve Wages Ph.D.Steve Wages Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Director, Cloverdale Center for Youth and Family, Faulkner University

As soon as possible, establish a formal mentoring relationship with someone who is seasoned in pastoral counseling. Generally, the research demonstrates that the performance of employees with mentors is of a higher quality, they advance in their responsibilities and careers faster, and they avoid common mistakes exhibited by other employees. Establish short-term goals (6 months) for your position and a plan for overcoming obstacles; then ask your mentor to hold you accountable for implementing your plan. As part of your self-care. you also need to be proactive in developing a few close friendships, perhaps including colleagues, who can be a source of emotional support and encouragement to you personally.

You should be confident in your training while also being realistic and transparent about your limitations. There is still a lot that you do not know and much you will learn with experience. Until then, be willing to say "I don't know" when faced with problems you have not addressed before. Then commit to learning more about the issue through personal study and/or consulting with a more experienced colleague or mentor. In some cases, you may need to invite a more experienced counselor to meet with a client or where appropriate refer them to someone else.

You need to equip yourself to address structural changes to the delivery of pastoral care and counseling as a consequence of the pandemic. You will need to adapt to providing pastoral counseling virtually perhaps via Zoom sessions. Give thought as to how the virtual context impacts the counseling process and the spiritual resources you employ. For example, if you are comfortable praying with a client in your office, will you be equally inclined to pray with them online or over a phone. In light of the pandemic, Dr. Chuck Lawless noted, "Good pastoral care has required being more proactive than reactive." Ordinarily, pastoral counselors are reactive in that they respond to needs when they hear about them or when they are
ScoreAssociate Store ManagerUS Average
Salary
2.3

Avg. Salary $29,803

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
9.6

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.30%

Black or African American 6.11%

Hispanic or Latino 14.94%

Unknown 4.33%

White 67.86%

Gender

female 58.61%

male 41.39%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress Level
9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.2

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Associate Store Manager career paths

Key steps to become an associate store manager

  1. Explore associate store manager education requirements

    Most common associate store manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    54.4 %

    Associate

    18.8 %

    High School Diploma

    17.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific associate store manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Sales Floor14.56%
    Product Knowledge10.19%
    Customer Service9.32%
    Store Operations8.57%
    Drive Sales8.28%
  3. Complete relevant associate store manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate store managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate store manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate store manager resumes.
  4. Research associate store manager duties and responsibilities

    • Develop and implement operational strategies utilizing less payroll expenses and allot hour usage to accomplish logistical and operational excellence.
    • Demonstrate proficiency in POS and inventory systems to maintain online store, website and business operations.
    • Supervise the management of the POS system and approve all cash wrap management, cash auditing, and tip reporting.
    • Prepare sales and customer relations reports by analyzing and categorizing sales information; identifying and investigating customer complaints and service suggestions.
  5. Apply for associate store manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an associate store manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Associate Store Manager Job

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Average associate store manager salary

The average Associate Store Manager salary in the United States is $29,803 per year or $14 per hour. Associate store manager salaries range between $24,000 and $35,000 per year.

Average Associate Store Manager Salary
$29,803 Yearly
$14.33 hourly

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Associate Store Manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022
Pros

I have leadership skills I always hire employees who like to work in a team I like to see sales increase and love to see the best customer service is given

Cons

In reality, i do not complain as its who i am


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

I don't like it when moral is low and nothing seems to perk employees up to become more productive at work.

Pros

Educating employees and getting everyone on the same mindset about what it takes for a company to succeed.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

The people that you meet! Interactive with a diverse group of individuals from every walk of life.

Cons

The employees with all no calls and no shows!!!!! Poor upper management not taking up for the staff. Also the rude individual’s that comes in gripping about everything


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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