Retail Salespersons — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$35,410
United States, 2025
Employment
3,897,860
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- O*NET code
- 41-2031.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$27,210
25th percentile
$29,900
75th percentile
$38,670
90th percentile
$47,890
Most important skills
- Persuasion3.9
- Active Listening3.8
- Service Orientation3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Social Perceptiveness3.5
- Negotiation3.5
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Writing3.0
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Learning3.0
- Monitoring3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 13 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
13
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persuasion | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Negotiation | 3.5 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.8 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.5 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Writing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $69,990
Compare with Retail SalespersonsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with Retail SalespersonsSupplemental
National median $45,260
Compare with Retail SalespersonsSupplemental
National median $39,390
Compare with Retail SalespersonsSupplemental
National median $104,920
Compare with Retail SalespersonsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with Retail SalespersonsSupplemental
National median $72,080
Compare with Retail SalespersonsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $44,220 | 18,340 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,850 | 39,460 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $42,080 | 46,620 | 2025 |
| Napa, CA | $40,780 | 2,150 | 2025 |
| Kahului, HI | $39,630 | 2,510 | 2025 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $39,570 | 5,720 | 2025 |
| WA | $39,560 | 84,850 | 2025 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $39,240 | 1,730 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | $38,700 | 4,880 | 2025 |
| Longview, WA | $38,680 | 1,120 | 2025 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $38,620 | 2,430 | 2025 |
| DC | $38,500 | 4,660 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $38,470 | 2,770 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $38,470 | 40,340 | 2025 |
| CA | $38,440 | 376,460 | 2025 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,420 | 4,110 | 2025 |
| Bozeman, MT | $38,350 | 2,270 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $38,280 | 202,080 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,100 | 22,970 | 2025 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,970 | 4,110 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Retail Salespersons to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.