Average Salary for Retail Salespersons
SOC 41-2031 · Sales and Related Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Retail Salespersons in the United States is $34,580 ($16.62/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $25,600 at the 10th percentile to $47,930 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 3,800,250 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 61.7% since 2014.
Median Annual
$34,580
Mean Annual
$37,150
10th Pct
$25,600
75th Pct
$37,850
Employment
3,800,250
Salary Distribution
$26k
10th
$29k
25th
$35k
Median
$38k
75th
$48k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $44,680 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $42,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $39,180 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $38,760 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $37,740 |
| Boulder, CO | $37,720 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $37,700 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $37,510 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $37,500 |
| Vallejo, CA | $37,450 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $37,410 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,350 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $37,340 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,270 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Washington | $38,350 |
| District of Columbia | $37,800 |
| California | $37,250 |
| New York | $37,020 |
| Colorado | $36,960 |
| Alaska | $36,940 |
| Vermont | $36,810 |
| Maine | $36,460 |
| Massachusetts | $36,320 |
| Oregon | $36,140 |
| Hawaii | $36,050 |
| North Dakota | $35,670 |
| New Jersey | $35,630 |
| New Hampshire | $35,440 |
| Connecticut | $35,350 |
| Arizona | $35,320 |
| Minnesota | $35,310 |
| Montana | $35,000 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 |
| Illinois | $34,490 |
| Maryland | $34,310 |
| Utah | $34,300 |
| South Dakota | $34,260 |
| Delaware | $34,200 |
| Wisconsin | $33,640 |
| Nevada | $33,430 |
| Idaho | $33,400 |
| Michigan | $33,340 |
| Virginia | $32,760 |
| Florida | $31,950 |
| Kansas | $31,670 |
| Wyoming | $31,450 |
| New Mexico | $31,360 |
| Missouri | $31,250 |
| Tennessee | $30,770 |
| Ohio | $30,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,410 |
| Nebraska | $30,350 |
| Indiana | $30,300 |
| Texas | $30,130 |
| North Carolina | $30,090 |
| Iowa | $30,030 |
| Georgia | $29,770 |
| Oklahoma | $29,580 |
| Kentucky | $29,450 |
| South Carolina | $29,450 |
| Alabama | $29,430 |
| Arkansas | $29,420 |
| Louisiana | $28,820 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,790 |
| West Virginia | $27,910 |
| Mississippi | $27,810 |
| Guam | $23,640 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,360 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Retail Salespersons broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $73,320 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $61,780 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $58,760 |
| Utility System Construction | $56,560 |
| Support Activities for Road Transportation | $55,770 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | $54,460 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $51,810 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $51,810 |
| Paper Manufacturing | $50,320 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $50,290 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services | $49,430 |
| Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing | $49,320 |
| Offices of Physicians | $49,070 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $48,280 |
| Warehousing and Storage | $48,280 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | $48,060 |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | $47,920 |
| Automotive Body, Paint, Interior, and Glass Repair | $47,880 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors | $47,280 |
| Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers | $47,140 |
| Utilities | $46,940 |
| Utilities | $46,940 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | $46,940 |
| Air Transportation | $46,850 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | $46,330 |
| Security Systems Services | $45,920 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | $45,780 |
| Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors | $45,780 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | $45,660 |
| Fuel Dealers | $45,510 |
| Automobile Dealers | $45,470 |
| Investigation and Security Services | $45,330 |
| Roofing Contractors | $45,180 |
| Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $44,970 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | $44,970 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | $44,960 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $44,940 |
| Death Care Services | $44,900 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $44,520 |
| Other Building Equipment Contractors | $44,450 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $44,420 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $44,400 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | $44,150 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $43,800 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $43,440 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers | $43,190 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $43,160 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $43,150 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | $43,070 |
| Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | $42,840 |
| Automotive Mechanical and Electrical Repair and Maintenance | $42,780 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $42,680 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $41,720 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $41,620 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $41,600 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities | $41,600 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $41,420 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $41,420 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $41,200 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $41,200 |
| Newspaper Publishers | $40,990 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | $40,970 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $40,940 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $40,720 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $40,710 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | $40,500 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | $40,270 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | $40,230 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | $40,180 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | $40,070 |
| Repair and Maintenance | $39,990 |
| Construction | $39,870 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $39,740 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $39,230 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $39,230 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | $39,150 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $39,080 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $39,080 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | $39,010 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | $39,010 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $38,770 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | $38,590 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $38,240 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) | $38,240 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $38,040 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $37,870 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | $37,870 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $37,850 |
| Specialized Design Services | $37,660 |
| Hospitals | $37,640 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | $37,640 |
| Offices of Optometrists | $37,630 |
| Temporary Help Services | $37,620 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | $37,620 |
| Technical and Trade Schools | $37,600 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $37,590 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $37,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $37,540 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $37,540 |
| Wholesale Trade | $37,440 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $37,270 |
| Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance | $37,230 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $37,150 |
| Construction of Buildings | $37,110 |
| Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers | $37,110 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | $37,000 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | $37,000 |
| Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | $36,920 |
| Residential Building Construction | $36,850 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $36,790 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $36,730 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers | $36,630 |
| Home Health Care Services | $36,620 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings | $36,530 |
| Drycleaning and Laundry Services | $36,510 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $36,480 |
| Gambling Industries | $36,400 |
| Publishing Industries | $36,390 |
| Employment Services | $36,390 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $36,300 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $36,250 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers | $36,230 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers | $36,200 |
| Other Support Services | $36,030 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $35,980 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $35,980 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $35,900 |
| Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers | $35,850 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | $35,810 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $35,780 |
| Electronics and Appliance Retailers | $35,720 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $35,720 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $35,680 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | $35,630 |
| Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers | $35,600 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $35,560 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $35,550 |
| Junior Colleges | $35,550 |
| Footwear Manufacturing | $35,490 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $35,480 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $35,480 |
| Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | $35,460 |
| Apparel Manufacturing | $35,460 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $35,450 |
| Photographic Services | $35,450 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $35,440 |
| Finance and Insurance | $35,440 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | $35,380 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | $35,200 |
| Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers | $35,120 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $35,110 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $35,100 |
| Business Schools and Computer and Management Training | $35,090 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | $35,050 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $35,050 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $35,050 |
| Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $34,990 |
| Other Miscellaneous Retailers | $34,980 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | $34,910 |
| Business Support Services | $34,900 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation | $34,900 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $34,890 |
| Landscaping Services | $34,790 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $34,770 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $34,770 |
| Special Food Services | $34,760 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | $34,750 |
| Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers | $34,730 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $34,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $34,710 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $34,710 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $34,690 |
| Accommodation | $34,650 |
| Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | $34,640 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $34,640 |
| Information | $34,610 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $34,580 |
| Telecommunications | $34,570 |
| Manufacturing | $34,560 |
| Textile Furnishings Mills | $34,550 |
| Retail Trade | $34,550 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $34,550 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $34,500 |
| Offices of All Other Health Practitioners | $34,490 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $34,470 |
| Personal Care Services | $34,400 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $34,370 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $34,310 |
| Couriers and Express Delivery Services | $34,150 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $34,140 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | $34,140 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $33,970 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $33,890 |
| Water Transportation | $33,870 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $33,870 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) | $33,860 |
| Educational Services | $33,820 |
| Religious Organizations | $33,740 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $33,730 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $33,670 |
| Casino Hotels | $33,570 |
| Office Administrative Services | $33,560 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $33,450 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $33,400 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | $33,400 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $33,370 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $33,370 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $33,310 |
| Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | $33,280 |
| Other Personal Services | $33,280 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $33,280 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | $33,270 |
| Educational Services | $33,250 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $33,230 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $33,210 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $33,120 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $32,920 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $32,780 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $32,760 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $32,640 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $32,590 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $32,470 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $32,440 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | $32,400 |
| Textile Product Mills | $32,370 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | $32,330 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $32,310 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $32,300 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $32,270 |
| Support Activities for Crop Production | $32,250 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | $32,250 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry | $32,250 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $32,230 |
| Food Manufacturing | $32,160 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | $32,010 |
| Other Textile Product Mills | $32,000 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $32,000 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $32,000 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $31,940 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | $31,830 |
| Truck Transportation | $31,800 |
| Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services | $31,770 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $31,740 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $31,670 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $31,620 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water | $31,620 |
| Animal Food Manufacturing | $31,620 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation | $31,580 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $31,570 |
| Shoe Retailers | $31,470 |
| Florists | $31,470 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) | $31,470 |
| Textile Mills | $31,470 |
| Real Estate | $31,430 |
| Other Support Activities for Transportation | $31,250 |
| Spectator Sports | $31,220 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $31,200 |
| Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | $31,200 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $31,200 |
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $31,200 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $31,190 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery | $31,180 |
| Book Retailers and News Dealers | $30,650 |
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers | $30,390 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $30,370 |
| Apparel Knitting Mills | $30,370 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $30,280 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $30,280 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $30,280 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $30,030 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) | $29,960 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | $29,740 |
| Individual and Family Services | $29,730 |
| Social Assistance | $29,540 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $29,300 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | $28,940 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $28,880 |
| Gasoline Stations | $28,850 |
| Motion Picture and Video Exhibition | $28,790 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $28,660 |
| Educational Support Services | $28,610 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $28,460 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $28,430 |
| Rail Transportation | $28,370 |
| Rail Transportation | $28,370 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | $28,270 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $27,480 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $26,780 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $25,810 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $25,580 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $19,030 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $34,580 |
| 2023 | $33,680 |
| 2022 | $30,600 |
| 2021 | $29,120 |
| 2020 | $27,080 |
| 2019 | $25,250 |
| 2018 | $24,200 |
| 2017 | $23,210 |
| 2016 | $22,680 |
| 2015 | $21,780 |
| 2014 | $21,390 |