Retail Salespersons salary
Retail Salespersons earn a median of $35,410 a year ($17.03/hr) in the U.S. – from $22,560 in Puerto Rico to $39,560 in Washington. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$17.03/hr · $35,410 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$27,210$13.08/hr
75% earn more$29,900$14.38/hr
half earn more, half less$35,410$17.03/hr
25% earn more$38,670$18.59/hr
top 10% earn more$47,890$23.02/hr
pulled up by top earners$37,310$17.94/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among retail salespersons. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for retail salespersons. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
84,850 jobs · $19.02/hr$39,560
4,660 jobs · $18.51/hr$38,500
376,460 jobs · $18.48/hr$38,440
76,660 jobs · $18.25/hr$37,950
19,180 jobs · $18.17/hr$37,790
238,540 jobs · $18.13/hr$37,720
8,250 jobs · $17.98/hr$37,400
7,890 jobs · $17.93/hr$37,290
48,090 jobs · $17.68/hr$36,770
18,450 jobs · $17.61/hr$36,640
86,860 jobs · $17.60/hr$36,610
72,530 jobs · $17.56/hr$36,520
42,410 jobs · $17.54/hr$36,490
74,840 jobs · $17.49/hr$36,370
13,490 jobs · $17.44/hr$36,270
23,880 jobs · $17.41/hr$36,200
11,320 jobs · $17.33/hr$36,040
93,920 jobs · $17.18/hr$35,720
79,320 jobs · $17.07/hr$35,510
126,610 jobs · $17.00/hr$35,370
13,400 jobs · $17.00/hr$35,360
20,180 jobs · $16.87/hr$35,080
12,830 jobs · $16.76/hr$34,860
111,010 jobs · $16.65/hr$34,640
67,640 jobs · $16.58/hr$34,480
14,180 jobs · $16.52/hr$34,370
8,770 jobs · $16.50/hr$34,310
100,290 jobs · $16.46/hr$34,240
43,920 jobs · $16.44/hr$34,190
333,460 jobs · $16.35/hr$34,010
47,570 jobs · $16.30/hr$33,900
67,140 jobs · $16.09/hr$33,460
23,800 jobs · $16.01/hr$33,300
33,360 jobs · $15.47/hr$32,180
87,380 jobs · $15.36/hr$31,950
22,780 jobs · $15.32/hr$31,870
83,670 jobs · $15.16/hr$31,530
127,540 jobs · $15.08/hr$31,370
41,000 jobs · $15.08/hr$31,360
141,790 jobs · $15.00/hr$31,200
143,120 jobs · $14.83/hr$30,840
137,370 jobs · $14.81/hr$30,800
341,640 jobs · $14.81/hr$30,800
67,310 jobs · $14.75/hr$30,690
60,880 jobs · $14.44/hr$30,040
43,830 jobs · $14.26/hr$29,660
51,250 jobs · $14.26/hr$29,650
49,570 jobs · $14.18/hr$29,490
35,510 jobs · $14.07/hr$29,270
19,050 jobs · $13.92/hr$28,950
38,400 jobs · $13.77/hr$28,640
41,230 jobs · $10.85/hr$22,560
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 41-2031. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do retail salespersons make?
The median wage for retail salespersons in the U.S. was $17.03 an hour or $35,410 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $29,900 and $38,670 a year.
Which state pays retail salespersons the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for retail salespersons: $39,560 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $22,560. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many retail salespersons are there?
BLS estimates 3,897,860 retail salespersons were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.