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Retail Associate Jobs in DeKalb, IL (NOW HIRING)

Retail Associate - Hourly - Stores

Aurora, IL · On-site

$14.25 - $16.50/hr

Make An Impact The Sales Associate 's overall responsibility is to provide a Radical Customer ... Who You Are * 1-2 years of retail experience, preferably within the fashion retail industry

Retail Associate - Hourly - Stores

Aurora, IL · On-site

$14.25 - $16.50/hr

Make An Impact The Sales Associate 's overall responsibility is to provide a Radical Customer ... Who You Are * 1-2 years of retail experience, preferably within the fashion retail industry

Early Morning Stock Associate

Aurora, IL · On-site

$15 - $19/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Saint Charles, IL · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Saint Charles, IL · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Saint Charles, IL · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Aurora, IL · On-site

$14.75 - $18.75/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Aurora, IL · On-site

$15 - $19/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Aurora, IL · On-site

$14.75 - $18.75/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

Early Morning Stock Associate

Saint Charles, IL · On-site

$14.75 - $18.50/hr

The Retail Associate is responsible for ensuring our Customers have a positive shopping experience. The Associate makes eye contact, smiles, and greets all Customers in a courteous and friendly ...

... Associate, Retail Sales Associate, or Retail Team Member, this career move would be a great fit! At AT&T, the safety of our employees and customers remains our top priority. We are committed to ...

... Associate, Retail Sales Associate, or Retail Team Member, this career move would be a great fit! At AT&T, the safety of our employees and customers remains our top priority. We are committed to ...

Retail Sales Associate

Elgin, IL · On-site

$15 - $18/hr

At EZCORP we are looking for Retail Sales Associate / Retail Customer Service Team Members to lead the way today and to step into greater roles tomorrow. When you bring us your passion for service ...

Showing results 41-60

Retail Associate information

See DeKalb, IL salary details

$10

$15

$17

How much do retail associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for retail associate in DeKalb, IL is $15.48, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.38 and $16.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a retail associate?

Retail Associates are employees who work in retail stores to assist customers, manage merchandise, and ensure a positive shopping experience. Their responsibilities may include greeting customers, answering questions, stocking shelves, operating cash registers, and maintaining store cleanliness. Retail Associates play a key role in providing customer service and supporting the overall operations of the store. They often work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate store needs. Strong communication skills and a friendly attitude are important for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a retail associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Retail Associate, you need strong customer service skills, basic math abilities, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management tools, and mobile payment technologies is typically required. Excellent communication, teamwork, and a positive attitude help you engage customers and handle challenging situations effectively. These skills ensure a smooth shopping experience, drive sales, and contribute to overall store success.

What are some common challenges retail associates face during busy seasons, and how can they effectively manage them?

During busy seasons, Retail Associates often face high customer volumes, increased restocking demands, and frequent multitasking. Managing these challenges involves maintaining a positive attitude, staying organized, and communicating clearly with both team members and customers. Effective Associates prioritize tasks, use downtime wisely to prepare for rush periods, and aren't afraid to ask for help when needed. Building strong teamwork and staying flexible are key to ensuring smooth operations during peak times.

What is the difference between Retail Associate vs Cashier?

AspectRetail AssociateCashier
Primary RoleAssisting customers, stocking shelves, and maintaining store displaysProcessing transactions and handling payments at checkout
Required SkillsCustomer service, product knowledge, communicationCash handling, basic math, customer service
Work EnvironmentSales floor, retail storeCheckout counters, retail store
Common CertificationsNone typically requiredCash handling certification optional

While both roles are essential in retail, a Retail Associate has broader responsibilities including customer assistance and stock management, whereas a Cashier primarily focuses on transaction processing. Retail Associates often engage with customers throughout the store, while Cashiers work mainly at the checkout area. Understanding these differences helps job seekers identify the right position based on their skills and interests.

What is the easiest retail associate job to get into?

Entry-level retail associate positions are generally the easiest to obtain, as they often require minimal prior experience and focus on basic customer service and stocking tasks. These jobs typically have straightforward application processes and may not require formal certifications, making them accessible for new job seekers.
More about Retail Associate jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Retail jobs in DeKalb, IL?

The most popular types of Retail jobs in DeKalb, IL are:

What job categories do people searching Retail Associate jobs in DeKalb, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Retail Associate jobs in DeKalb, IL are:

What cities near DeKalb, IL are hiring for Retail Associate jobs?

Cities near DeKalb, IL with the most Retail Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Retail Associate job openings in DeKalb, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $32,201 per year, or $15.5 per hour.

Lead Retail Associate

Aurora, IL • On-site

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc
Retail • 10K+ employees

$16/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Goodwill Industries Of Southeastern Wisconsin rating

6.6

Company rating: 6.6 out of 10

Based on 88 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

484th of 788 rated non-profit organizations


Job description

RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL:

Provides daily direction on the achievement of store goals. Supports planning of associate work assignments. Understand and abides by policies, procedures, and programs. Typically works on projects and tasks that span 1 day – 3 months. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES:

1. Directs a variety of tasks including associate break schedules, production processes, and recovery at the end of the day, among others.

2. Oversee that there is adequate coverage at POS and in donations.

3. Monitor and assist with production quality standards while encouraging team to meet their individual production goals.

4. Function as a service experience leader (SEL).

5. Maintain a safe and orderly work environment; ensure employees operate equipment safely and follow safe work practices.

6. Consistently communicate and implement policies and procedures, reporting concerns to leadership.

7. Resolves employees and first level customer concerns and complaints in a timely manner.

8. Assist in resolving employee and customer concerns and addressing safety/security concerns promptly.

9. Project and Change Management: Effectively plans and manages own work to reliably complete routine job responsibilities. Follows through on learning, skill building, and practice necessary to adapt to change. 

10. Problem Solving:  Close supervision for completion of routine work, which is regularly reviewed by manager or senior coworker.  Work that exceeds “routine” comes with detailed instructions.

11. Technical Skill:  Basic knowledge of discipline’s procedures and methods.  Understands and applies the fundamentals of customer service.  Able to respond to routine requests.

12. Community Engagement: Serves as an ambassador for Goodwill in the wider community. Participates in volunteer opportunities as schedule and interest permit.

13. Responsible for completing other duties/responsibilities as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Forklift certification, if required at site.

2. Work experience in a retail or production environment is preferred. 

3. Work varied schedule and flexible hours. Nights and weekend shifts may be required to meet business needs.

CORE CULTURAL COMPETENCIES:

1. Customer Focus: Independently anticipate and meet customer needs, while searching for ways to improve customer service.  Internalize customer feedback, and follow up with customer to ensure problems are solved by providing innovative ideas to meet their future needs.

2. Values Differences:  Seeks out the diverse perspectives and talents of others, striving to work effectively with others who have different perspectives, backgrounds or styles.  Behave with sensitivity towards differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating.  Challenge stereotyping or offensive comments.  

3. Communicates Effectively: Shares information and updates with others, while ensuring a clear, concise and professional communication through reports, documentation, written and other communications.  Listens with interest to what others have to say.   

4. Situational Adaptability: Demonstrates flexibility of responses to different situations through adapting to the changing needs, conditions, priorities or opportunities.  Monitors how well an approach is working to see if a change is needed, recognizing cues that suggest a change in approach or behavior is needed. 

5. Drives Results: Demonstrates a strong drive to achieve meaningful results, through driving tasks to successful completion and closure.  Sets high standards for own performance, showing determination in the face of obstacles and setbacks.

6. Ensures Accountability: Takes responsibility and ownership for successes and failures in own work.  Monitors progress of performance and changes approach accordingly, following through on commitments. 

PHYSICAL/SENSORY DEMANDS:

Regularly lifts and/or moves up 10 pounds, frequently lifts and/or moves up to 20 pounds, occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds. Moves about accomplishing tasks. Lift: Raises objects from lower to higher position or moves objects horizontally. Stoop, kneel crouch or crawl: Positions self to retrieve objects. Reach: Extending upwards or downwards to retrieve objects. Workers are subject to weather conditions (hot, humid, dry, cold etc.).   Workers are subject to human blood, body fluids or tissue. Worker is subject to hazards: proximity to dangerous machinery, moving vehicles, electrical currents, chemicals, or high places. Required to stand for extended periods of time, required to hear and respond to warning devices on equipment, vision required for while using computer keyboard and work with written and electronic information and to assess store production and donation center operations, travel required.

When determining placement within the salary range for this position Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago considers education, experience, internal equity, market demands and other qualifying criteria. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the rage for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on facts and circumstances of each case.

Certain roles are eligible to participate in an incentive plan. Participation in this plan does not guarantee an incentive payment and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, which are subject to change.

In addition to compensation, we offer a competitive benefit program that may include medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off (PTO) and more. The specifics of each benefit package will vary depending on factors such as full or part time jobs, contracted, temporary, or other job categories.

Equal Opportunity Employer

(SEW) (GWINT)


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Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin logo

About Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, based in Greendale, WI, US, is a non-profit organization within the industry of social and community services. The company's activities are centered on providing training, employment, and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence. Founded in 1919, Goodwill Industries has been committed to its mission of changing lives through the power of work, dedicating itself to eliminate barriers to opportunity and helping people reach their highest level of independence and success.

Industry

Retail

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Milwaukee, WI, US

Year founded

1919