Retail Salespersons Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for retail salespersons is $35,410, or $17.03 per hour. About 3,897,860 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $39,560 in Washington to $28,640 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $39,560 | $19.02 | 84,850 | 0.95 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $38,500 | $18.51 | 4,660 | 0.26 |
| 3 | California | $38,440 | $18.48 | 376,460 | 0.82 |
| 4 | Colorado | $37,950 | $18.25 | 76,660 | 1.06 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $37,790 | $18.17 | 19,180 | 1.22 |
| 6 | New York | $37,720 | $18.13 | 238,540 | 0.98 |
| 7 | Vermont | $37,400 | $17.98 | 8,250 | 1.08 |
| 8 | Alaska | $37,290 | $17.93 | 7,890 | 0.97 |
| 9 | Oregon | $36,770 | $17.68 | 48,090 | 0.98 |
| 10 | Maine | $36,640 | $17.61 | 18,450 | 1.15 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $36,610 | $17.60 | 86,860 | 0.95 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $36,520 | $17.56 | 72,530 | 0.68 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $36,490 | $17.54 | 42,410 | 1.00 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $36,370 | $17.49 | 74,840 | 1.01 |
| 15 | Montana | $36,270 | $17.44 | 13,490 | 1.05 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $36,200 | $17.41 | 23,880 | 1.39 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $36,040 | $17.33 | 11,320 | 1.05 |
| 18 | Arizona | $35,720 | $17.18 | 93,920 | 1.16 |
| 19 | Maryland | $35,510 | $17.07 | 79,320 | 1.15 |
| 20 | Illinois | $35,370 | $17.00 | 126,610 | 0.83 |
| 21 | Delaware | $35,360 | $17.00 | 13,400 | 1.10 |
| 22 | Idaho | $35,080 | $16.87 | 20,180 | 0.94 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $34,860 | $16.76 | 12,830 | 1.02 |
| 24 | Michigan | $34,640 | $16.65 | 111,010 | 1.01 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $34,480 | $16.58 | 67,640 | 0.92 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $34,370 | $16.52 | 14,180 | 1.24 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $34,310 | $16.50 | 8,770 | 1.25 |
| 28 | Virginia | $34,240 | $16.46 | 100,290 | 0.97 |
| 29 | Nevada | $34,190 | $16.44 | 43,920 | 1.13 |
| 30 | Florida | $34,010 | $16.35 | 333,460 | 1.34 |
| 31 | Utah | $33,900 | $16.30 | 47,570 | 1.09 |
| 32 | Missouri | $33,460 | $16.09 | 67,140 | 0.91 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $33,300 | $16.01 | 23,800 | 1.09 |
| 34 | Kansas | $32,180 | $15.47 | 33,360 | 0.93 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $31,950 | $15.36 | 87,380 | 1.06 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $31,870 | $15.32 | 22,780 | 0.89 |
| 37 | Indiana | $31,530 | $15.16 | 83,670 | 1.04 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $31,370 | $15.08 | 127,540 | 1.03 |
| 39 | Iowa | $31,360 | $15.08 | 41,000 | 1.05 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $31,200 | $15.00 | 141,790 | 0.93 |
| 41 | Georgia | $30,840 | $14.83 | 143,120 | 1.17 |
| 42 | Texas | $30,800 | $14.81 | 341,640 | 0.97 |
| 43 | Ohio | $30,800 | $14.81 | 137,370 | 0.99 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $30,690 | $14.75 | 67,310 | 1.16 |
| 45 | Alabama | $30,040 | $14.44 | 60,880 | 1.15 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $29,660 | $14.26 | 43,830 | 1.02 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $29,650 | $14.26 | 51,250 | 1.02 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $29,490 | $14.18 | 49,570 | 1.02 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $29,270 | $14.07 | 35,510 | 1.09 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $28,950 | $13.92 | 19,050 | 1.08 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $28,640 | $13.77 | 38,400 | 1.32 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do retail salespersons make?
The median annual wage for retail salespersons in the United States is $35,410, or $17.03 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $27,210, and the top 10% earn $47,890.
How many retail salespersons are employed in the U.S.?
About 3,897,860 people work as retail salespersons nationwide.
Which state pays retail salespersons the most?
Washington pays the most at a median of $39,560, followed by District of Columbia ($38,500) and California ($38,440).
Which state pays retail salespersons the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $28,640.
Where are retail salespersons jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is New Hampshire at 1.39×.