How much does a Certified Field Associate make?

Answer 1

The previous answer referred to Market Force Informationtasks and NOT Certified Field Associatesthough of the same company, they are very separate in the work offered. I do not personally choose Market Force tasks as they pay extremely poor for the time you actually spend. As mentioned above, yes you may only spend 10 to 15 minutes in the store for that $12 to $18 (which would likely be a last minute pay increase rate as the standard assignment rates are seldom above $10), but you have already downloaded and printed paperwork (at your cost) then afterwards completed that paperwork, scanned it into your computer and uploaded it to Market Force. All in all at least an hour. Also, if you made one timing, description or ever so slight procedural mistake -NO PAY- Plus as most of those "Market Force" tasks include dining, I stay away from them as I don't do fast food! Also, you have to pay money out-of-pocket and wait to get reimbursed something I do not like doing.

Now, the actual "Certified Field Associate" tasks range from Covert/Overt Audits (retail, not food) and Marketing (Display set-ups and/or Maintenance) and providing other retail related tasks such as product recalls or product replacements. Most all tasks require photographs to be taken and then uploaded with your online report (no faxing, emails or scanning needed).

Standard rates are almost always either: $8 for the first hour and $2 for each additional 15 minutes or are given a Flat rate of usually $4 to $10 paid for completion.

Also, there are the "Time Caps" that you must consider. If a task is expected to take 45 minutes and is capped at 75 minutes, this means you will be paid for 75 minutes. Even if the work takes you 30 minutes, which if you have multiple of the same assignments you will get quicker from one to the next, so that first job may take the full 75 minutes but the last one may only take 30! Capped assignments almost always work in your favor this way.

Of course some assignments may pay a FLAT rate (those in need of quick completion) of say $50 and can take you as little as an hour (this being a few of my best case scenarios).

The CAP is the maximum amount of time CFA will pay you unless there is an acceptable reason for excess time provided by phone at the time it occurs, then you will be paid for your additional time. When problems have arisen, and they will, I have always been paid the extra time.

The ONLY thing that makes most of these assignments worth the effort is they often have multiple listings for each assignment AND if you do them regularly you can be auto assigned to your preferred locations when available and often at a higher rate. Also, jobs that are overdue or need completed ASAP always pay more.

I have one regular assignment that hits every 4 to 6 weeks for 20 locations averaging about an hour and a half pay at an increased first hour rate and often I am requested to pick-up more of the same assignments that aren't claimed by anyone else at even higher rates.

In my first 10 months I completed more than 400 assignments totaling just over 700 hours of field work and received a little over over 8k (an average of $12 to $14 per hour), so you will not get rich, but it can be a good part time income or second income if your regular job doesn't have OT available.

Of course, take into consideration in that 10 months I have spent about $100 on ink cartridges, $30 on paper and roughly $800 on gas, and then there is also the additional unpaid time preparing paperwork and entering reports.