Returns Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Returns Associate make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Returns Associate in the United States is $42,362 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Returns Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $49,183
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,397 to $45,932
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,877
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View as table View as graph 25% $37,397 10% $32,877 90% $49,183 75% $45,932 $42,362 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Returns Associate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $45,932 $3,828 $883 $22
Average $42,362 $3,530 $815 $20
25th Percentile $37,397 $3,116 $719 $18
Check out Returns Associate Job Openings in the United States
Returns Associate

Morris Furniture Company, Inc. - Fairborn, OH

Receiving and Returns Associate

WineDirect - Solon, OH

Returns Vendor Associate

ViziRecruiter,LLC. - Wilmington, OH

Tax Associate Years Returns

Dev - Cincinnati, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Returns Associate Salaries

A Returns Associate's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Returns Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Returns Associate's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $38,029
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $42,099
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,488
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,562
  • Expert (over 8 years): $66,881
Levels Salary
Returns C... Level Returns Associate$38,029
Returns A... Level Returns Associate$42,099
Returns C... Level Returns Associate$46,488
Returns S... Level Returns Associate$59,562
Returns M... Level Returns Associate$66,881
$38,029 0 yr
$42,099 < 2 yrs
$46,488 2-4 yrs
$59,562 5-8 yrs
$66,881 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Returns Associate Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Returns Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $46,903.
  • California: $46,725.
  • Massachusetts: $46,102.

Top Paying Cities for Returns Associates

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $53,431
  • San Francisco: $52,906
  • Oakland: $51,732

What Skills Can Increase a Returns Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 17.21% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 17.21%
Microsoft Office 2.43%
Data Entry 1.62%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Returns Associate's salary.
  • Accounting: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accounting
 $47,869
13%
Commitment
 $47,022
11%
Decision Making
 $47,022
11%
Microsoft Excel
 $46,174
9%
Team Management
 $45,751
8%
Leadership
 $44,904
6%
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How Education impacts a Returns Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Returns Associates enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Returns Associate with a No Diploma is between $39,411 and $41,720).

Returns Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Returns Associate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 25.0%
High School 25.0%
Associates 25.0%
Bachelors 50.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Returns Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Returns Associate's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$37,397
Average $42,362/year
$45,932
$3,116
Average $3,530/month
$3,828
$719
Average $815/week
$883
$18
Average $20/hour
$22
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $45,932 $3,828 $883 $22
Average $42,362 $3,530 $815 $20
25th Percentile $37,397 $3,116 $719 $18

Salaries of jobs related to Returns Associate

Salary Trends for Returns Associate

Salaries for a Returns Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $44,670 in 2023 to around $42,503 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Returns Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Returns Associate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$44,670
2024
$43,205
2025
$42,503
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $44,670
2024 $43,205
2025 $42,503
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Returns Associate

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401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Returns Associate

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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