Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Retail salespersons (SOC 41-2031) employed 3,897,860 people in May 2025. The median pay is $35,410 a year ($17.03 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,210 and the highest-paid 10% more than $47,890. BLS projects its employment to change by -0.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 520,600 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Washington ($39,560), District of Columbia ($38,500), California ($38,440). Most jobs: California (376,460), Texas (341,640), Florida (333,460).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,210 | $13.08 |
| 25th percentile | $29,900 | $14.38 |
| Median | $35,410 | $17.03 |
| Mean | $37,310 | $17.94 |
| 75th percentile | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $47,890 | $23.02 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 3,998,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 3,984,100 |
| Change in jobs | -14,000 |
| Percent change | -0.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 520,600 |
| Self-employed share | 3.0% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 60,880 | 1.15 | $30,040 | $22,670 | $45,310 | -15% | 43% |
| Alaska | 7,890 | 0.97 | $37,290 | $30,700 | $51,200 | +5% | 46% |
| Arizona | 93,920 | 1.16 | $35,720 | $30,820 | $47,220 | +1% | 56% |
| Arkansas | 35,510 | 1.09 | $29,270 | $23,830 | $39,790 | -17% | 40% |
| California | 376,460 | 0.82 | $38,440 | $35,240 | $54,310 | +9% | 66% |
| Colorado | 76,660 | 1.06 | $37,950 | $32,130 | $49,660 | +7% | 58% |
| Connecticut | 42,410 | 1.00 | $36,490 | $34,150 | $49,850 | +3% | 51% |
| Delaware | 13,400 | 1.10 | $35,360 | $31,200 | $47,420 | -0% | 52% |
| District of Columbia | 4,660 | 0.26 | $38,500 | $36,400 | $49,530 | +9% | 60% |
| Florida | 333,460 | 1.34 | $34,010 | $28,330 | $46,130 | -4% | 64% |
| Georgia | 143,120 | 1.17 | $30,840 | $22,590 | $46,430 | -13% | 59% |
| Hawaii | 19,180 | 1.22 | $37,790 | $30,660 | $49,230 | +7% | 62% |
| Idaho | 20,180 | 0.94 | $35,080 | $26,330 | $49,980 | -1% | 47% |
| Illinois | 126,610 | 0.83 | $35,370 | $31,200 | $48,010 | -0% | 45% |
| Indiana | 83,670 | 1.04 | $31,530 | $23,420 | $46,900 | -11% | 42% |
| Iowa | 41,000 | 1.05 | $31,360 | $25,220 | $45,900 | -11% | 38% |
| Kansas | 33,360 | 0.93 | $32,180 | $23,100 | $46,730 | -9% | 40% |
| Kentucky | 51,250 | 1.02 | $29,650 | $22,400 | $43,850 | -16% | 40% |
| Louisiana | 49,570 | 1.02 | $29,490 | $21,940 | $45,280 | -17% | 43% |
| Maine | 18,450 | 1.15 | $36,640 | $31,300 | $49,500 | +3% | 40% |
| Maryland | 79,320 | 1.15 | $35,510 | $31,200 | $46,130 | +0% | 58% |
| Massachusetts | 86,860 | 0.95 | $36,610 | $33,310 | $47,980 | +3% | 61% |
| Michigan | 111,010 | 1.01 | $34,640 | $27,770 | $48,320 | -2% | 40% |
| Minnesota | 74,840 | 1.01 | $36,370 | $28,710 | $48,080 | +3% | 43% |
| Mississippi | 38,400 | 1.32 | $28,640 | $22,120 | $41,990 | -19% | 41% |
| Missouri | 67,140 | 0.91 | $33,460 | $28,600 | $46,610 | -6% | 38% |
| Montana | 13,490 | 1.05 | $36,270 | $28,620 | $48,680 | +2% | 39% |
| Nebraska | 22,780 | 0.89 | $31,870 | $28,080 | $46,380 | -10% | 41% |
| Nevada | 43,920 | 1.13 | $34,190 | $26,930 | $47,270 | -3% | 60% |
| New Hampshire | 23,880 | 1.39 | $36,200 | $29,590 | $49,710 | +2% | 52% |
| New Jersey | 72,530 | 0.68 | $36,520 | $32,220 | $60,210 | +3% | 59% |
| New Mexico | 23,800 | 1.09 | $33,300 | $27,870 | $45,370 | -6% | 40% |
| New York | 238,540 | 0.98 | $37,720 | $33,650 | $58,630 | +7% | 52% |
| North Carolina | 127,540 | 1.03 | $31,370 | $23,040 | $46,070 | -11% | 51% |
| North Dakota | 11,320 | 1.05 | $36,040 | $28,140 | $49,820 | +2% | 33% |
| Ohio | 137,370 | 0.99 | $30,800 | $24,210 | $46,020 | -13% | 42% |
| Oklahoma | 43,830 | 1.02 | $29,660 | $22,370 | $45,080 | -16% | 42% |
| Oregon | 48,090 | 0.98 | $36,770 | $31,720 | $49,090 | +4% | 52% |
| Pennsylvania | 141,790 | 0.93 | $31,200 | $23,770 | $46,130 | -12% | 48% |
| Rhode Island | 12,830 | 1.02 | $34,860 | $31,200 | $47,060 | -2% | 49% |
| South Carolina | 67,310 | 1.16 | $30,690 | $22,330 | $45,510 | -13% | 50% |
| South Dakota | 14,180 | 1.24 | $34,370 | $28,190 | $61,720 | -3% | 35% |
| Tennessee | 87,380 | 1.06 | $31,950 | $23,720 | $47,720 | -10% | 48% |
| Texas | 341,640 | 0.97 | $30,800 | $23,330 | $45,080 | -13% | 57% |
| Utah | 47,570 | 1.09 | $33,900 | $26,410 | $49,090 | -4% | 56% |
| Vermont | 8,250 | 1.08 | $37,400 | $31,060 | $55,700 | +6% | 42% |
| Virginia | 100,290 | 0.97 | $34,240 | $27,540 | $46,590 | -3% | 58% |
| Washington | 84,850 | 0.95 | $39,560 | $35,860 | $54,660 | +12% | 55% |
| West Virginia | 19,050 | 1.08 | $28,950 | $22,260 | $39,520 | -18% | 37% |
| Wisconsin | 67,640 | 0.92 | $34,480 | $27,300 | $47,870 | -3% | 40% |
| Wyoming | 8,770 | 1.25 | $34,310 | $24,750 | $54,310 | -3% | 35% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 18,340 | $44,220 | $39,300 | $58,300 | 0.64 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 39,460 | $43,850 | $38,270 | $58,960 | 0.66 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 46,620 | $42,080 | $37,000 | $56,960 | 0.89 |
| Napa, CA | 2,150 | $40,780 | $36,790 | $59,060 | 1.10 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | 2,510 | $39,630 | $34,450 | $57,380 | 1.36 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 5,720 | $39,570 | $37,110 | $55,260 | 1.11 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 1,730 | $39,240 | $35,850 | $57,430 | 1.31 |
| Boulder, CO | 4,880 | $38,700 | $33,550 | $51,120 | 1.01 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 1,120 | $38,680 | $35,020 | $51,470 | 1.09 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 2,430 | $38,620 | $36,040 | $49,020 | 0.98 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 2,770 | $38,470 | $36,070 | $50,250 | 1.18 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 40,340 | $38,470 | $34,700 | $49,130 | 1.00 |
| Vallejo, CA | 4,110 | $38,420 | $36,240 | $51,340 | 1.14 |
| Bozeman, MT | 2,270 | $38,350 | $30,090 | $56,870 | 1.25 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 202,080 | $38,280 | $34,680 | $60,940 | 0.85 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 22,970 | $38,100 | $35,560 | $49,570 | 0.85 |
| Salinas, CA | 4,110 | $37,970 | $35,420 | $49,460 | 0.88 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 920 | $37,900 | $34,800 | $46,130 | 0.75 |
| Bellingham, WA | 2,830 | $37,840 | $35,470 | $50,660 | 1.23 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 34,390 | $37,810 | $35,470 | $49,320 | 0.89 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 3,390 | $37,780 | $35,250 | $49,300 | 1.11 |
| Merced, CA | 1,480 | $37,740 | $34,320 | $48,060 | 0.74 |
| Bend, OR | 3,190 | $37,720 | $32,820 | $53,130 | 1.18 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 130,650 | $37,700 | $35,760 | $54,650 | 0.83 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 1,620 | $37,700 | $34,850 | $49,100 | 1.26 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 5,680 | $37,660 | $34,680 | $48,840 | 0.78 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 3,580 | $37,600 | $35,510 | $50,710 | 1.10 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | 1,040 | $37,550 | $30,070 | $54,960 | 1.14 |
| Anchorage, AK | 4,710 | $37,520 | $30,890 | $51,200 | 1.06 |
| Carson City, NV | 740 | $37,490 | $28,700 | $61,500 | 0.92 |
| Modesto, CA | 5,140 | $37,430 | $35,170 | $49,260 | 1.05 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 12,810 | $37,400 | $30,570 | $48,300 | 1.14 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 3,180 | $37,350 | $34,970 | $48,000 | 0.97 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 28,230 | $37,340 | $34,650 | $50,190 | 0.93 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 12,230 | $37,330 | $35,060 | $53,240 | 1.21 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 3,550 | $37,330 | $31,250 | $55,310 | 1.18 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 8,510 | $37,320 | $32,950 | $51,330 | 1.18 |
| Yuba City, CA | 1,080 | $37,310 | $34,750 | $50,390 | 0.84 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 4,490 | $37,200 | $35,170 | $49,480 | 0.89 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 2,340 | $37,010 | $28,700 | $55,080 | 1.29 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 680 | $37,010 | $27,860 | $57,250 | 0.95 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 740 | $36,940 | $31,540 | $54,520 | 0.97 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 8,270 | $36,880 | $35,080 | $48,910 | 1.02 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 7,400 | $36,880 | $34,650 | $48,210 | 1.15 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 64,150 | $36,850 | $34,000 | $48,260 | 0.95 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 3,650 | $36,790 | $34,160 | $48,570 | 1.55 |
| Bismarck, ND | 2,280 | $36,730 | $28,100 | $50,500 | 1.28 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 41,270 | $36,720 | $34,430 | $48,110 | 0.96 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 3,090 | $36,720 | $32,220 | $57,640 | 0.51 |
| Chico, CA | 2,010 | $36,680 | $34,320 | $48,190 | 1.02 |
| Greeley, CO | 2,650 | $36,670 | $31,200 | $54,180 | 0.88 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 51,180 | $36,670 | $29,260 | $48,260 | 1.05 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 5,400 | $36,640 | $32,010 | $48,810 | 1.27 |
| Yakima, WA | 2,680 | $36,640 | $34,820 | $48,320 | 1.10 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 1,790 | $36,630 | $32,580 | $46,660 | 1.09 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 640 | $36,620 | $34,650 | $49,280 | 0.98 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 66,920 | $36,610 | $30,640 | $47,800 | 0.85 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 1,430 | $36,540 | $31,300 | $52,810 | 1.20 |
| Kingston, NY | 1,860 | $36,530 | $33,210 | $50,590 | 1.26 |
| Fresno, CA | 9,290 | $36,460 | $34,320 | $47,810 | 0.78 |
The median is $35,410 a year ($17.03 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $27,210 and the highest-paid tenth over $47,890 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
3,897,860 in May 2025, and BLS projects -0.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $39,560 (among states with published figures).