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Retail Sales Assistant

Provide high quality customer service in a retail environment.

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Job opportunities

1,008

Jobs on SEEK right now

Job growth

4.7%*

Projected job growth in 5 years

What's it like to be a Retail Sales Assistant?

Retail Sales Assistants work in shops and stores and provide a high quality customer experience by greeting customers, establishing their needs and helping them to find products to meet those needs.

Tasks and duties

Prepare the shop for the day and complete sales transactions
Replenish and restock items as required, in addition to providing advice and recommending products to customers
Implement specific sales strategies and promotions to ensure maximum profit is generated.

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Retail Sales Assistants are responsible for providing customers with a positive, informative and engaging shopping experience. They may also assist with the coordination and training of other staff.

Individuals who are highly organised with strong attention to detail and who have excellent communication skills make ideal Retail Sales Assistants.

What can I earn as a Retail Sales Assistant?

All

NSW

VIC

QLD

TAS

ACT

The most common salary in AUS for a Retail Sales Assistant is between $45k and $55k

Compare salaries by similar roles

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Sales Assistant

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$20k$50k$95k

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75%

Receptionist

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$20k$50k$90k

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60%

Administration Officer

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$20k$50k$100k

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56%

Waitperson

Most common salaryAUS

$20k$50k$85k

See skills overlap

55%

Close salary comparison

Source: SEEK job ads

How to become a Retail Sales Assistant

You don’t need any formal qualifications to work as a Retail Sales Assistant in Australia, as on-the-job training is typically provided. However, qualifications in retail services may help you when you are applying for work as a Retail Sales Assistant.

Gain work experience in the field, and undertake a qualification in retail services, such as a Certificate II in Retail Services (SIR20216) or a Certificate III in Retail Services (SIR20216).
If you are looking to further your career within retail, you can work your way up and apply for promotions to more senior roles, such as Retail Store Manager or Brand Manager.

Explore related qualifications

SEEK users who have worked as a Retail Sales Assistant have studied these qualifications.

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NSW

VIC

QLD

TAS

ACT

Certificate III in Retail

This qualification prepares you for a career in the retail industry and for roles in specialty stores, supermarkets and department stores.

Compare institutions

See 3 institutions that offer this course in Australia and Online.

Certificate II in Retail Services

This certificate prepares you for a career in the retail industry. It will give you the skills needed to work under supervision of others.

Compare institutions

See 4 institutions that offer this course in Australia and Online.

Skills and experience employers are looking for

Hi there, have any of these? Add your skills directly to your SEEK Profile.

Retail

Team Work

Self Motivation

Customer Service

Positive Attitude

Communication Skills

Hard Working

Sales

Confidence

Interpersonal Sensitivity

Skills listed in your SEEK Profile

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Roles where your skills are commonly valued by employers.

Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data

How do Retail Sales Assistants rate their role?

Latest reviews from 24 Retail Sales Assistants surveyed on SEEK

Work-life balance

3.9

Job satisfaction

3.9

Career progression opportunities

3.5

Job security

3.6

Pay / Salary

3.5

Variety of work

3.2

Latest reviews

All

Positive

Negative

Aug 2019

Bring a sales assistant is good fun but tough at times

Reviewer's Qualification

Bachelor of Business

Experience

1 – 4 years

Organisation size

Medium (20-199 employees)

Specialisation

Sports Retail

The good things

Being able to engage with new people everyday while working with a great group of people who have common interest made each day enjoyable.

The challenges

The challenges mainly revolve around having to deal with unappreciative customers semi-regularly but this is still outweighed by those who really appreciate your assistance.

Nov 2018

We bring a little good to everyone, every day

Reviewer's Qualification

Certificate IV in Music (Performance)

Experience

10+ years

Organisation size

Large (200+ employees)

Specialisation

Supermarket

The good things

Working in sales is a very social and interactive job. Your focus is on making the customers day better whether that is with the product you provide or simply saying hi. I find it very satisfying fin...

The challenges

As is any role dealing with the public you are sometimes going to deal with people that are angry, upset or downright rude or discriminatory. Sometimes the shifts available are at less sociable hour ...

Source: SEEK Role Reviews