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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Retail salespersons

Man standing in front of and gesturing towards car Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 73.8 percent of retail salespersons. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 25.4 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of retail salespersons with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	70.9	29.1
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	39.1	60.9
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	<5	>95
Supervising others	1.3	98.7
Supervisor present in immediate work area	74.1	25.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 17.1 percent of retail salespersons and on-the-job training was required for 98.3 percent.

No minimum education was required for 67.3 percent of retail salespersons and a high school diploma was required for 31.5 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 9.4 percent of retail salespersons. Another 89.9 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 95 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of retail salespersons and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 48.4 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 51.4 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 85.1 percent of retail salespersons and was not required for 14.9 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 4.1 percent of retail salespersons. On average, workers spent 17.0 percent of the workday sitting and 83.0 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of retail salespersons with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	4.1	95.9
Driving	13.6	86.4
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	5.9	94.1
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey