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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2019

41-2031 Retail Salespersons

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers. Excludes “Cashiers” (41-2011).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
4,317,950 0.5 % $14.12 $29,360 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.09 $10.47 $12.14 $15.13 $20.57
Annual Wage (2) $18,900 $21,780 $25,250 $31,480 $42,780


Industry profile for this occupation:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
General Merchandise Stores 840,890 26.87 $12.38 $25,740
Clothing Stores 695,590 67.52 $13.07 $27,190
Building Material and Supplies Dealers 440,750 38.44 $14.97 $31,130
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 269,760 55.50 $12.55 $26,110
Automobile Dealers 266,310 20.55 $21.28 $44,270

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Shoe Stores 145,420 71.37 $12.63 $26,260
Clothing Stores 695,590 67.52 $13.07 $27,190
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores 80,530 60.50 $15.32 $31,850
Book Stores and News Dealers 44,340 57.61 $11.93 $24,810
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 269,760 55.50 $12.55 $26,110

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 50 0.01 $23.75 $49,390
Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 5,070 1.44 $22.61 $47,030
Building Finishing Contractors 1,700 0.20 $21.41 $44,540
Automobile Dealers 266,310 20.55 $21.28 $44,270
Building Equipment Contractors 2,150 0.10 $21.23 $44,150


Geographic profile for this occupation:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 418,900 24.10 0.82 $15.79 $32,850
Texas 383,920 30.88 1.05 $13.29 $27,640
Florida 325,640 37.03 1.26 $13.35 $27,760
New York 288,630 30.31 1.03 $15.53 $32,310
Pennsylvania 159,180 26.97 0.92 $13.80 $28,710




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 24,940 39.24 1.33 $15.93 $33,130
Florida 325,640 37.03 1.26 $13.35 $27,760
New Hampshire 24,400 36.94 1.26 $14.24 $29,620
South Dakota 15,260 35.89 1.22 $14.72 $30,620
South Carolina 71,670 34.00 1.16 $13.07 $27,180




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 6,620 9.16 0.31 $17.56 $36,520
Washington 106,070 31.96 1.09 $17.08 $35,520
Connecticut 41,900 25.16 0.86 $16.46 $34,230
North Dakota 12,540 29.68 1.01 $16.11 $33,520
Hawaii 24,940 39.24 1.33 $15.93 $33,130





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 290,640 30.10 1.02 $15.53 $32,300
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 149,070 23.89 0.81 $15.86 $33,000
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 125,620 26.86 0.91 $13.94 $28,990
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 115,960 31.71 1.08 $13.68 $28,460
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 100,750 38.13 1.30 $13.40 $27,870
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 87,880 28.79 0.98 $12.51 $26,020
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 85,990 31.34 1.07 $13.02 $27,080
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 75,850 26.37 0.90 $14.81 $30,810
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 72,710 25.99 0.88 $15.18 $31,580
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 68,870 21.66 0.74 $14.65 $30,480