Retail Salespersons · New York

Retail Salespersons Salary in New York

Retail Salespersons in New York earn a median annual wage of $37,720 —6.5% above the national median of $35,410. That ranks NY #6 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$37,720
Median hourly
$18.13
Entry level (P10)
$33,650
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$58,630
90th percentile
Employment
238,540
24.6 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.5%
U.S. $35,410

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$33,650
$35,670
$37,720
$44,130
$33,650$37,720$58,630
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $37,720.

Employment concentration (0.98×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for retail salespersons

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. New York is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$39,560$19.0284,8500.95
2District of Columbia$38,500$18.514,6600.26
3California$38,440$18.48376,4600.82
4Colorado$37,950$18.2576,6601.06
5Hawaii$37,790$18.1719,1801.22
6New York$37,720$18.13238,5400.98
7Vermont$37,400$17.988,2501.08
8Alaska$37,290$17.937,8900.97
9Oregon$36,770$17.6848,0900.98
10Maine$36,640$17.6118,4501.15

Related occupations in New York

Occupations in the same job family, compared within New York.

Frequently asked questions

How much do retail salespersons make in New York?

The median annual wage for retail salespersons in New York is $37,720, or $18.13 per hour. That is 6.5% above the national median of $35,410.

What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in New York?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $33,650 per year ($16.18/hour). The 25th percentile is $35,670.

How many people work as retail salespersons in New York?

About 238,540 people work in this occupation in New York, or 24.6 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is New York a good state for retail salespersons?

New York ranks #6 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.98x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays retail salespersons the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $39,560 per year, followed by District of Columbia ($38,500) and California ($38,440).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes