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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

41-2031 Retail Salespersons

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


National estimates for Retail Salespersons
Industry profile for Retail Salespersons
Geographic profile for Retail Salespersons

National estimates for Retail Salespersons:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Retail Salespersons:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
3,659,670 0.6 % $ 14.87 $ 30,940 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for Retail Salespersons:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 9.49 $ 11.01 $ 13.02 $ 15.86 $ 21.43
Annual Wage (2) $ 19,740 $ 22,900 $ 27,080 $ 32,990 $ 44,570


Industry profile for Retail Salespersons:

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

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Retail Salespersons:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
General Merchandise Stores 753,430 25.16 $ 13.01 $ 27,050
Clothing Stores 446,800 64.88 $ 13.79 $ 28,680
Building Material and Supplies Dealers 436,470 37.74 $ 15.47 $ 32,180
Automobile Dealers 239,930 20.03 $ 21.84 $ 45,420
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 224,170 55.38 $ 13.21 $ 27,490

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Retail Salespersons:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Shoe Stores 106,980 72.29 $ 13.46 $ 28,000
Clothing Stores 446,800 64.88 $ 13.79 $ 28,680
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores 61,080 60.19 $ 16.15 $ 33,580
Book Stores and News Dealers 32,230 57.76 $ 12.46 $ 25,910
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 224,170 55.38 $ 13.21 $ 27,490

Top paying industries for Retail Salespersons:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 810 0.04 $ 25.07 $ 52,150
Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 4,980 1.47 $ 23.82 $ 49,540
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 140 0.02 $ 23.55 $ 48,990
Building Equipment Contractors 2,030 0.09 $ 22.44 $ 46,670
Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing 1,720 0.88 $ 22.31 $ 46,400


Geographic profile for Retail Salespersons:

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





States with the highest employment level in Retail Salespersons:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Texas 337,770 27.91 1.06 $ 13.72 $ 28,530
California 331,020 20.15 0.77 $ 17.00 $ 35,370
Florida 286,100 33.89 1.29 $ 14.00 $ 29,120
New York 219,620 25.27 0.96 $ 16.94 $ 35,230
Pennsylvania 131,580 23.87 0.91 $ 14.22 $ 29,580




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Retail Salespersons:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Hawaii 20,500 35.71 1.36 $ 16.96 $ 35,280
Florida 286,100 33.89 1.29 $ 14.00 $ 29,120
South Carolina 65,580 32.54 1.24 $ 13.53 $ 28,130
New Hampshire 20,070 32.41 1.23 $ 15.12 $ 31,450
Alabama 61,150 32.13 1.22 $ 13.38 $ 27,830




Top paying states for Retail Salespersons:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 5,150 7.50 0.29 $ 18.11 $ 37,680
Washington 92,650 29.00 1.10 $ 17.71 $ 36,840
California 331,020 20.15 0.77 $ 17.00 $ 35,370
Hawaii 20,500 35.71 1.36 $ 16.96 $ 35,280
New York 219,620 25.27 0.96 $ 16.94 $ 35,230





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Retail Salespersons:

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 219,790 24.88 0.95 $ 17.06 $ 35,490
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 117,060 20.10 0.76 $ 17.09 $ 35,540
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 101,460 28.27 1.07 $ 14.22 $ 29,580
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 98,000 22.47 0.85 $ 14.74 $ 30,670
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 84,730 33.79 1.28 $ 14.10 $ 29,330
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 75,650 25.48 0.97 $ 13.06 $ 27,170
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 73,240 27.82 1.06 $ 13.86 $ 28,830
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 60,820 22.55 0.86 $ 15.36 $ 31,940
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 57,660 19.08 0.73 $ 15.08 $ 31,360
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 56,470 26.78 1.02 $ 15.31 $ 31,840




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Retail Salespersons:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL 4,890 66.85 2.54 $ 14.40 $ 29,940
Punta Gorda, FL 2,670 57.72 2.19 $ 14.83 $ 30,850
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC 4,270 57.51 2.19 $ 15.41 $ 32,040
Saginaw, MI 4,280 56.48 2.15 $ 15.11 $ 31,430
Dothan, AL 3,100 55.10 2.09 $ 13.95 $ 29,020
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV 1,850 54.36 2.07 $ 11.55 $ 24,020
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC 8,280 53.57 2.04 $ 13.28 $ 27,620
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL 5,630 51.57 1.96 $ 13.99 $ 29,100
Hot Springs, AR 1,820 51.26 1.95 $ 13.38 $ 27,820
Elmira, NY 1,610 50.68 1.93 $ 14.68 $ 30,530