Some details on retail associate pay rates for different companies?
Asked by M S
For example what starting salary will an associate with 1 years experience get paid at 1) Pier One Imports, 2) JC Penney, 3)Target, 4)Niemen Marcus. My girlfriend has 1 years experience in a housewares department of a major retail chain and, despite getting numerous customer service awards, still gets under $7.50/hr and can only get 28-33hrs a week on average. To note, she only has a high-school diploma + "associate" technical degree culinary arts certification so far...when I acheive enough savings she'll go to a "real" college. She's sick of having a job with no career path and hoping for a full 40hr work week at $9/hr+. BTW, in case someone just has to ask "well that's your girlfriend, how dare you make her....", I just completed grad school and am a systems admin (worked retail as well to be a team with her not just sit home and study)...I just want us to work together to build savings and equity (home-ownership!), rather than just barely make rent.

Best Answer:
Pay- well there are all kinds of things involved. Payrole is the most controlable expense any business has. It is general projected by each weeks expected sales. Each weeks expected sales is projected by comparing what the store did on a particular week several years in a row. If your girlfriend is part time, she most likely is used to straighten and recover the store into good shape after customers shop through shelves leaving them disorganized. The majority of associates who get raises get them through their appraisals and aniversary dates. Associates who are leads, supervisors, and managers make more because they handle grunt work like reseting planograms. The more you know isn't really going to make you more money in retail, it is how much you get done in a rediculously short amount of time. The best way to get a raise in my store is to get more done than your colleages in the exact same time frame. Many stores do not offer significant raises at all to part timers or non lead/supervisor positions because of the ease in replacing the open position. Key positions have the best benefits and compensation. A part-timer in college who works weekends may never see a raise at all because the are just ancillary help and may not be expected to stick around after graduation. My advice is that if she wants a career in retail, and in that situation only, then stick to the job while in school... if she is going to do something else after college then she will just have to expect that no one is going to invest there most controlable expense into a tempoary individual. Best Wishes and Good Luck!
Retail Manager, Kohl's
Answered by Jack S