How much does a retail salesperson make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $17.02 an hour or $2,951 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.02
- Average (mean)
- $37,310
- Jobs
- 3,897,860
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $27,210 | $13.08 | |
| 25th | $29,900 | $14.38 | |
| Median | $35,410 | $17.02 | |
| 75th | $38,670 | $18.59 | |
| 90th | $47,890 | $23.02 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $39,560 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 |
| California | $38,440 |
| Colorado | $37,950 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 |
| New York | $37,720 |
| Vermont | $37,400 |
| Alaska | $37,290 |
| Oregon | $36,770 |
| Maine | $36,640 |
| Massachusetts | $36,610 |
| New Jersey | $36,520 |
| Connecticut | $36,490 |
| Minnesota | $36,370 |
| Montana | $36,270 |
| New Hampshire | $36,200 |
| North Dakota | $36,040 |
| Arizona | $35,720 |
| Maryland | $35,510 |
| Illinois | $35,370 |
| Delaware | $35,360 |
| Idaho | $35,080 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 |
| Michigan | $34,640 |
| Wisconsin | $34,480 |
| South Dakota | $34,370 |
| Wyoming | $34,310 |
| Virginia | $34,240 |
| Nevada | $34,190 |
| Florida | $34,010 |
| Utah | $33,900 |
| Missouri | $33,460 |
| New Mexico | $33,300 |
| Kansas | $32,180 |
| Tennessee | $31,950 |
| Nebraska | $31,870 |
| Indiana | $31,530 |
| North Carolina | $31,370 |
| Iowa | $31,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,200 |
| Georgia | $30,840 |
| Ohio | $30,800 |
| Texas | $30,800 |
| South Carolina | $30,690 |
| Alabama | $30,040 |
| Oklahoma | $29,660 |
| Kentucky | $29,650 |
| Louisiana | $29,490 |
| Arkansas | $29,270 |
| West Virginia | $28,950 |
| Mississippi | $28,640 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $44,220 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,850 |
| Seattle, WA | $42,080 |
| Napa, CA | $40,780 |
| Kahului, HI | $39,630 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $39,570 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $39,240 |
| Boulder, CO | $38,700 |
| Longview, WA | $38,680 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $38,620 |
| Bremerton, WA | $38,470 |
| Denver, CO | $38,470 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,420 |
| Bozeman, MT | $38,350 |
| New York, NY | $38,280 |
In other countries
Retail Salesperson belongs to the international group "Shop sales assistants".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Cashier$32,880
- Gambling Change Person and Booth Cashier$36,220
- Counter and Rental Clerk$41,300
- Parts Salesperson$38,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $17.02 ($35,410 a year).
How much does a retail salesperson make a month?
About $2,951 a month before tax, based on a median of $35,410 a year.
How much does a retail salesperson make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $27,210 or less a year ($13.08 an hour); the top 10% make $47,890 or more.
Which state pays retail salespersons the most?
Washington, with a median of $39,560 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($38,500) and California ($38,440).
Which city pays retail salespersons the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $44,220 a year.
How many retail salespersons are there in the United States?
About 3,897,860 people work as retail salespersons.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.