How much does a retail salesperson make?
The median retail salesperson in the United States earns $35,410 per year, about $17.03 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all retail salespersons earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-2031.
Retail salesperson salary range
Pay for retail salespersons spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $27,210 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $47,890. The average (mean) wage of $37,310 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $27,210 | $13.08 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $29,900 | $14.38 | |
| Median (50th) | $35,410 | $17.03 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $38,670 | $18.59 | |
| 90th percentile | $47,890 | $23.02 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for retail salespersons (SOC 41-2031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Retail salesperson salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Retail salespersons earn the most in Washington at $39,560 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $28,640. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 | 84,850 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 | 4,660 |
| California | $38,440 | 376,460 |
| Colorado | $37,950 | 76,660 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 | 19,180 |
| New York | $37,720 | 238,540 |
| Vermont | $37,400 | 8,250 |
| Alaska | $37,290 | 7,890 |
| Oregon | $36,770 | 48,090 |
| Maine | $36,640 | 18,450 |
| Massachusetts | $36,610 | 86,860 |
| New Jersey | $36,520 | 72,530 |
| Connecticut | $36,490 | 42,410 |
| Minnesota | $36,370 | 74,840 |
| Montana | $36,270 | 13,490 |
| New Hampshire | $36,200 | 23,880 |
| North Dakota | $36,040 | 11,320 |
| Arizona | $35,720 | 93,920 |
| Maryland | $35,510 | 79,320 |
| Illinois | $35,370 | 126,610 |
| Delaware | $35,360 | 13,400 |
| Idaho | $35,080 | 20,180 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | 12,830 |
| Michigan | $34,640 | 111,010 |
| Wisconsin | $34,480 | 67,640 |
| South Dakota | $34,370 | 14,180 |
| Wyoming | $34,310 | 8,770 |
| Virginia | $34,240 | 100,290 |
| Nevada | $34,190 | 43,920 |
| Florida | $34,010 | 333,460 |
| Utah | $33,900 | 47,570 |
| Missouri | $33,460 | 67,140 |
| New Mexico | $33,300 | 23,800 |
| Kansas | $32,180 | 33,360 |
| Tennessee | $31,950 | 87,380 |
| Nebraska | $31,870 | 22,780 |
| Indiana | $31,530 | 83,670 |
| North Carolina | $31,370 | 127,540 |
| Iowa | $31,360 | 41,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,200 | 141,790 |
| Georgia | $30,840 | 143,120 |
| Ohio | $30,800 | 137,370 |
| Texas | $30,800 | 341,640 |
| South Carolina | $30,690 | 67,310 |
| Alabama | $30,040 | 60,880 |
| Oklahoma | $29,660 | 43,830 |
| Kentucky | $29,650 | 51,250 |
| Louisiana | $29,490 | 49,570 |
| Arkansas | $29,270 | 35,510 |
| West Virginia | $28,950 | 19,050 |
| Mississippi | $28,640 | 38,400 |
State median wages for retail salespersons (SOC 41-2031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for retail salespersons
The BLS projects employment of retail salespersons to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.3%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 3,998,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 3,984,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 520,600 openings a year for retail salespersons. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a retail salesperson
The typical entry-level education for retail salespersons is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a retail salesperson earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $39,560) and the lowest (Mississippi, $28,640) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 3,897,860 people work as retail salespersons in the United States. At $35,410 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Retail salesperson salary FAQ
How much does a retail salesperson make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a retail salesperson is $17.03. The middle half of retail salespersons earn between $14.38 and $18.59 per hour.
What is the highest retail salesperson salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of retail salespersons earn more than $47,890 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a retail salesperson make a year?
The median annual salary for a retail salesperson is $35,410. The average (mean) wage of $37,310 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a retail salesperson a well paid job?
At $35,410 a year, a retail salesperson earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 3,897,860 people work as retail salespersons in the United States.
Which state pays retail salespersons the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for retail salespersons at $39,560 a year. District of Columbia ($38,500) and California ($38,440) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a retail salesperson a good career?
Employment of retail salespersons is projected to shrink 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 520,600 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a retail salesperson?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for retail salespersons as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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