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Associate Goodwill Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Associate Goodwill information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$10

$19

$32

How much do associate goodwill jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate goodwill in Rochester, NY is $19.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.71 and $20.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Associate Goodwill vs Retail Associate?

AspectAssociate GoodwillRetail Associate
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require customer service experienceHigh school diploma or equivalent; customer service experience often preferred
Work EnvironmentNonprofit thrift stores, donation centers, community-focused settingsRetail stores, shopping centers, fast-paced environment
Employer & Industry UsageGoodwill Industries, nonprofit sectorPrivate retail companies, department stores
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The main difference between an Associate Goodwill and a Retail Associate lies in their work environment and employer. Associate Goodwill typically works in nonprofit thrift stores or donation centers, focusing on community service, while Retail Associates work in commercial retail stores, often in fast-paced environments. Both roles require similar credentials, but their industry context and organizational goals differ.

What is the highest paying job at Goodwill?

The highest paying position at Goodwill is typically a store manager or regional director, with salaries varying based on location and experience. These roles require leadership skills, retail experience, and often involve overseeing multiple stores or operations.

What are Associate Goodwill employees?

Associate Goodwill employees are entry-level staff members who work at Goodwill stores, donation centers, or warehouses. Their primary responsibilities include assisting customers, sorting and stocking donated items, maintaining store cleanliness, and supporting daily operations. These associates play a key role in providing a positive shopping experience and helping Goodwill fulfill its mission of supporting community-based programs through the sale of donated goods.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate at Goodwill, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate at Goodwill, you generally need customer service skills, basic math abilities, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management, and safety protocols is commonly required. Strong communication, teamwork, and a positive attitude help associates excel in serving customers and collaborating with colleagues. These skills are important to ensure efficient store operations, provide excellent customer experiences, and support Goodwill’s mission.

How much does Goodwill pay you an hour?

Associate positions at Goodwill typically pay around minimum wage, which varies by location but generally ranges from $9 to $15 per hour. Pay rates may increase with experience, responsibilities, or additional certifications, and schedules often include part-time or full-time options.

What does a store associate do at Goodwill?

A store associate at Goodwill is responsible for tasks such as greeting customers, organizing and stocking merchandise, operating cash registers, and maintaining a clean sales floor. They often assist with donations, provide customer service, and may need basic retail skills and a friendly attitude to support store operations.

What are the typical responsibilities and challenges faced by an Associate at Goodwill Industries?

As an Associate at Goodwill Industries, you are often responsible for sorting and pricing donations, stocking sales floor merchandise, assisting customers, and maintaining store cleanliness. A common challenge in this role is managing a fast-paced environment, especially during peak donation periods or sales events. You’ll work closely with a diverse team and interact regularly with customers from different backgrounds, which helps develop strong communication and teamwork skills. The position offers valuable retail experience and opportunities for advancement into supervisory or specialized roles within the organization.

What are the duties of a Goodwill employee?

A Goodwill employee's duties typically include sorting and pricing donated items, assisting customers, stocking shelves, maintaining the cleanliness of the store, and providing customer service. They may also handle cash register operations and support store organization, often working in a retail environment that values teamwork and communication skills.
What are the most commonly searched types of Goodwill jobs in Rochester, NY? The most popular types of Goodwill jobs in Rochester, NY are:
Associate Store Team Leader

Associate Store Team Leader

Goodwill of the Finger Lakes

Rochester, NY • On-site

$55K - $60K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

The Associate Store Team Leader is responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the store assuring that safety, sales, production, programs and services, and other standards are maintained. This position will also partner with other members of the Retail Administration team, People Resources and Workforce Development to ensure that all activities performed are in a manner consistent with the mission, vision, and values of Goodwill.

Subscribes to and promotes Goodwill's mission and values. Functions as an active Retail Division team member to achieve organization and department goals.

Competencies needed to be successful in this job include: Customer Focus, Developing Others, Interpersonal Skills, Self Development, Communication & Collaboration, Process/Project Management, Sense of Urgency, Business Acumen and Functional/Technical Skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Under the direction of the Director of Donated Goods Retail, manages the fiscal and operational functions of assigned store. Partners with People Resources, Finance and Logistics to accomplish people, loss prevention, and safety responsibilities. The Associate Store Team Leader is specifically responsible for:
    1. The financial and operational status for assigned stores including people, sales, productivity, programs, safety, etc. as required and within timeframes;

Delivers results to key metrics:

  1. Achieves budgeted revenue goal;
  2. Achieves revenue to expense ratio target;
  3. Delivers budgeted surplus target;
  4. Adheres to percent labor to sales metric; and
  5. Ensures compliance with Organization Safety standards.
  6. Ensures that all store team members are trained and up-to-date in required Goodwill operating policies, required in-store safety programs and on-the-job training experiences;
  7. Demonstrates the highest level of customer service in all activities;
    1. Reviews customer concerns and resolves them appropriately within established guidelines
  8. Submits required information on production, distribution of labor, safety, and any team member related paperwork as required and within stated timeframes;
  9. Liaise with People Resources on employee relations issues for Store to ensure fair employee practices that are aligned with Goodwill’s mission, vision and values.
  10. Assures that loss prevention programs are adhered to, implemented in-store and are within Goodwill established standards.
  1. Manages a broad range of store activities:
    1. Ensures that established standards, plans, plan-o-grams, and advertising/signage are implemented and maintained;
    2. Ensures polite and courteous acceptance of donations.
    3. Ensures complete processing of donations, both hard goods and clothing.
    4. Monitors the stock level of store merchandise and works with Assistant Team Leaders to adjusts as necessary:
    5. Reviews applications, interviews, selects and completes new hire process for team members.
    6. Prepares employee schedules and ensures adequate staffing is maintained for the store and stays within the boundaries of payroll budget through the store metrics; and
    7. Conducts team members performance reviews with input from other members of retail management, and director of DGR for retail management.
    8. Trains and develops retail management teams for growth and more responsibility.
  2. Ensures safe work practices are followed at all times:
    1. Ensures the facility is neat, clean, and organized to prevent injury or accident.
    2. Ensures employees, volunteers, community service personnel and others use safe work methods at all times.
    3. Provides safety training to all new employees and administers on-going training to all store personnel.
  3. Adheres to organizational values, ensuring that they are practiced daily in all store operations and interactions.
    1. Ensures effective communication with store team, program participants, community and customers.
    2. Acts as a positive role model for employees, trainees, and customers in all aspects of professional performance;
    3. Cooperates with Workforce Development and People Resources departments to maximize the benefits of those services to retail employees.
  4. Ensures that store equipment is kept in proper working order. Promptly notify Maintenance Supervisor of defects, or IT Manager of problems with computer systems and e-mail.
  5. Maintains interior and exterior of store in a neat, clean, organized manner (including but not limited to vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, mopping floor)
  6. Contributes to the overall effectiveness of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes and the retail store by completing all other tasks as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manages members of the store management team, who supervise processes and procedures and team members in assigned operations. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination and evaluation of this store. Also manages non‑supervisory employees.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.


QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to demonstrate proficiency in meeting competencies required for position; able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent preferred. A minimum of four years' progressive business experience required, retail experience required. Minimum of two years supervisory experience required.

Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

Must be proficient in Word, Excel and Outlook.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Able to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Writes business correspondence. Presents information and responds to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public. Employee must be an effective communicator.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Able to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages and sales volume. Able to apply financial and budgeting concepts.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.


While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions while receiving donations or traveling between sites. The employee is occasionally exposed to dusts, molds and dirt while handling donated materials and to extreme cold in the backroom during the winter. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Physical Demands- Associate Store Team Leader


Frequency


Never

Almost Never

Occasionally

Frequently

Often


Sitting

X

Standing

X

Walking

X


Bending over

X

Crawling

X

Reaching Overhead


X

Crouching

X

Kneeling

X

Balancing

X


Lifting and Carrying

10 lbs. or less


X

11 to 25 lbs.

X

26 to 50 lbs.


X

51 to 75 lbs.

X

76 to 100 lbs.

X

over 100 lbs.

X


Push/ Pull Max Force

0 to 20 lbs.


X

21 to 39 lbs.


X

40 to 59 lbs.


X

60 to 100 lbs.

X