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Retail Store Associate Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

DM Goodwill

Retail Store Associate

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$15/hr

Goodwill of Central Iowa is looking for Retail Store Associates to accept, sort, and merchandise donated goods, cashier, and deliver outstanding customer service with our values of love, kindness ...

DM Goodwill

Part-Time Retail Store Associate

Ottumwa, IA · On-site

$14.50/hr

Goodwill of Central Iowa is looking for Retail Store Associates to accept, sort, and merchandise donated goods, cashier, and deliver outstanding customer service with our values of love, kindness ...

DM Goodwill

Full-Time Retail Store Associate

Ottumwa, IA · On-site

$14.50/hr

Goodwill of Central Iowa is looking for Retail Store Associates to accept, sort, and merchandise donated goods, cashier, and deliver outstanding customer service with our values of love, kindness ...

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How much do retail store associate jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for retail store associate in Iowa is $14.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.75 and $15.82 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Retail Store Associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Retail Store 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 software, and barcode scanners is typically required. Attention to detail, effective communication, and a positive attitude are standout soft skills in this role. These qualities are essential for delivering excellent customer experiences, ensuring accurate transactions, and maintaining efficient store operations.

How does a Retail Store Associate typically contribute to team goals and customer satisfaction on a daily basis?

Retail Store Associates play a vital role in supporting team goals by collaborating closely with colleagues to maintain store organization, restock merchandise, and ensure accurate pricing. On a daily basis, they interact directly with customers, assist with product selection, resolve concerns, and help create a positive shopping experience. Associates often work together to meet sales targets, complete inventory tasks, and uphold store policies, all of which directly impact customer satisfaction and the overall success of the store.

What are Retail Store Associates?

Retail Store Associates are employees who assist customers in a retail environment. Their responsibilities typically include greeting shoppers, helping them find products, answering questions, restocking shelves, operating cash registers, and maintaining a clean and organized store. They play a key role in providing a positive shopping experience and ensuring customer satisfaction. Retail Store Associates may also handle returns, process payments, and assist with inventory management.

What is the difference between Retail Store Associate vs Cashier?

AspectRetail Store AssociateCashier
Primary RoleAssists customers, stocks shelves, maintains store appearanceProcesses transactions, handles payments, issues receipts
Required SkillsCustomer service, product knowledge, communicationCash handling, basic math, customer service
Work EnvironmentRetail store, various departmentsCheckout counters, retail store
Common CertificationsNone typically requiredNone typically required

While both roles are essential in retail, a Retail Store Associate has broader responsibilities including customer assistance and stock management, whereas a Cashier primarily handles transactions at the checkout. Both positions require strong customer service skills and are commonly found in retail environments.

What are the most commonly searched types of Retail Store jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Retail Store jobs in Iowa are:
What are popular job titles related to Retail Store Associate jobs in Iowa? For Retail Store Associate jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Retail Store Associate jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Retail Store Associate jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Retail Store Associate jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Retail Store Associate job openings:
Retail Store Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Retail Store Associate job openings in Iowa as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 53% Full Time, and 47% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $30,816 per year, or $14.8 per hour.
Retail Store Associate

Retail Store Associate

Goodwill of Central Iowa

Des Moines, IA

$14.50 - $15/hr

Full-time, Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Goodwill of Central Iowa is looking for Retail Store Associates to accept, sort, and merchandise donated goods, cashier, and deliver outstanding customer service with our values of love, kindness, and respect.
Current Hiring Locations: Ames, Indianola, Norwalk, Ottumwa, amp; Des Moines Metro stores
Hours amp; Schedules:
  • Full-Time (38-40 hours/week) or Part-Time (10-29 hours/week) positions available
  • No retail holiday season! Shifts are scheduled Monday - Saturday: 8 am - 10 pm and Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm
  • This position requires a flexible schedule which includes days, evenings, and weekends to support business needs.
Pay amp; Benefits:
  • Starting wage of $14.50/hour for Indianola, Norwalk, amp; Ottumwa stores and $15.00/hour for Ames amp; Des Moines Metro stores.
  • An additional $1.00/hour on Saturday and Sunday shifts worked!
  • Monthly Retail Associate Bonus eligibility based on store production and revenue goals being met!
  • Annual merit increase eligibility based on individual job performance.​
  • Full-Time Retail Store Associate benefits summary including medical, dental, vision insurance, retirement plan, PTO, and more!
  • Part-Time Retail Store Associates enjoy some benefits too! Click here for PTO amp; retirement + employer match information!
Successful candidates have:
  • Excellent service skills for daily customer interactions
  • Flexibility to work positively on a team within Goodwill of Central Iowa's values of treating others with love, kindness, amp; respect
  • Effective communication and basic math skills - point-of-sale (POS) system experience is a plus
Our Retail Store Associates serve as the first point of contact for Goodwill of Central Iowa’s (GCI) retail customers at both the sales floor or at the donation door. This position will provide excellent customer service and respond to customer needs in a timely manner; operate a cash register, select and rotate merchandise, clean and organize fixtures, and merchandise donated goods. Store Clerks will receive, sort and process donated goods from the donation door to the sales floor.
What you'll do here:
  • Greet, assist, and engage with customers in a helpful and courteous manner
  • Receive donations from the public
  • Sort donations, stack and organize sorted merchandise, ensure quality of goods processed meets standards
  • Work with supervisors to arrange and rotate items on the sales floor, keep merchandise organized and easily accessible to customers
  • Practice safe cash handling and operate the cash register, including calculating and balancing cash register as scheduled
  • Carryout general cleaning tasks, such as: sweeping, scrubbing, dusting, and mopping
  • Use a dolly, wheeled cart, pallet jack, and possibly riding or walk behind forklift
  • Meet daily production goals
  • Other duties as assigned
What you’ll need:
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • A high school diploma or currently attending high school or GED classes, or a minimum of four years of any combination of military service, high school, or related full-time paid employment
  • Availability to work days, evenings, and weekends
  • Ability to carry, lift, push or pull 40 pounds
  • Ability to tolerate variations in work environment temperature
  • Ability to be stationary or mobile for long periods of time
  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Effective communication and basic math skills
  • Must be able to pass a criminal background check and a dependent adult and child abuse background check
Retail Career Development Pathways Could Look Like:
  • Retail Shift Leader - Assist with directing, coordinating, amp; monitoring retail store operations and support employee training.
  • Engagement Coordinator - Assist with new employee onboarding, training, and coaching to successfully integrate employees into GCI's work culture, environment, and processes.
  • E-Commerce Coordinator - Identifies and processes trending/valuable donations to be sold on E-Commerce platforms amp; coaches in-store team members to do the same.
  • Assistant Store Manager - Manages day-to-day retail operations and assists with training, coaching, and performance management of store teams to achieve goals.
  • Store Manager-In-Training - Assists with directing store operations to train, lead, and manage store team members and learn how to achieve key performance metrics and manage revenue targets.
  • Store Manager - Directs store operations to lead, train, and develop employees, champion service excellence, and achieve key performance indicators and revenue targets in support of funding GCI’s mission.
  • District Manager - Oversees multi-unit store operations management by leading teams to drive operational and service excellence, overall financial performance, loss control activities, customer service, inventory control, and quality standards within their assigned stores.
Goodwill of Central Iowa is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability) and E-Verify Participant.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
If you are ready to work for an organization that brings out the best in people, apply today!

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