Retail Sales Associate Average Salary & Hourly Rate in 2025
Retail sales workers are an important part of the overall sales process since they’re responsible for selling products and welcoming customers to their respective stores. As of February 2025, the average salary for a retail sales associate in the United States is $31,700 per year.
The salary of a retail sales associate may vary depending on key factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, skills, and demand.
In the following sections, this guide will provide an overview of artist salaries and a detailed outline of their job responsibilities, job outlook, and career trends for the coming years.
An Overview of Retail Sales Associate Salaries
The average salary for a retail sales associate in 2025 is $31,700 per year. The salary of retail sales associates usually ranges between $25,205 to $40,297, with the majority earning $28,300 to $36,200 per year.
| Percentile | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10% Percentile | $25,205 |
| 25% Percentile | $28,300 |
| 50% Percentile (Median) | $31,700 |
| 75% Percentile | $36,200 |
| 90% Percentile | $40,297 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reports that salaries for retail sales associates may vary depending on their industry. For instance, retail sales associates working for furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers can earn up to $35,796, while those working on clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers can only typically earn $30,118.
- Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers: $35,796 per year
- Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers: $35,484 per year
- General merchandise retailers: $33,675 per year
- Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers: $30,950 per year
- Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers: $30,118
Retail Sales Associate Salary: Hourly, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Breakdown
The average retail sales associate salary can be broken down into hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts. According to Salary.com, the average rate for retail sales associates in the United States is $15 per hour or $2,642 per month.
- Average salary per hour: $15
- Average salary per week: $610
- Average salary per month: $2,642
- Average salary per year: $31,700
As previously noted, retail sales associates in the United States will find that their salary may vary due to key factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and education. These factors will be explored in detail below.
How Experience Impacts Retail Sales Associates Salaries
Aside from a retail sales associates' educational background, certifications, and accreditations, their level of experience also plays a vital role in increasing their salary. As shown in the list below, there are notable salary differences across various experience levels of retail sales associates in the United States.
Based on the Salary.com data, the difference between an entry-level retail sales associates’ salary and an expert-level retail sales associate is almost $2,701. This also shows a sizeable gap between the salaries of an intermediate-level retail sales associate and a senior-level retail sales associate with $29,624 and $30,030, respectively.
- Entry-Level Retail Sales Associate Salary: $29,472
- Intermediate-Level Retail Sales Associate Salary: $29,624
- Senior-Level Retail Sales Associate Salary: $30,030
- Specialist-Level Retail Sales Associate Salary: $30,893
- Expert-Level Retail Sales Associate Salary: $32,713
State-by-State Breakdown of Average Salaries for Retail Sales Associate
It can also be noted that each US state has different average salaries for retail sales associates due to several factors such as cost of living, industry performance, and demand.
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for retail sales associates in the United States at $35,300. The next ones are California and New Jersey with $35,00 and $34,800 per year, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $34,600 |
| Alabama | $29,200 |
| Arkansas | $28,900 |
| Arizona | $30,900 |
| California | $35,000 |
| Colorado | $32,400 |
| Connecticut | $34,100 |
| District of Columbia | $35,300 |
| Delaware | $32,200 |
| Florida | $30,200 |
| Georgia | $30,700 |
| Hawaii | $33,200 |
| Iowa | $30,400 |
| Idaho | $29,600 |
| Illinois | $32,500 |
| Indiana | $30,800 |
| Kansas | $30,200 |
| Kentucky | $29,900 |
| Louisiana | $30,200 |
| Massachusetts | $34,500 |
| Maryland | $32,700 |
| Maine | $30,900 |
| Michigan | $31,300 |
| Minnesota | $32,500 |
| Missouri | $30,300 |
| Mississippi | $28,300 |
| Montana | $29,700 |
| North Carolina | $30,500 |
| North Dakota | $31,400 |
| Nebraska | $29,900 |
| New Hampshire | $32,300 |
| New Jersey | $34,800 |
| New Mexico | $29,300 |
| Nevada | $31,900 |
| New York | $33,800 |
| Ohio | $31,000 |
| Oklahoma | $29,400 |
| Oregon | $32,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,700 |
| Rhode Island | $33,100 |
| South Carolina | $30,000 |
| South Dakota | $28,500 |
| Tennessee | $29,400 |
| Texas | $31,100 |
| Utah | $30,200 |
| Virginia | $31,800 |
| Vermont | $31,100 |
| Washington | $34,200 |
| Wisconsin | $31,400 |
| West Virginia | $28,600 |
| Wyoming | $30,400 |
Retail Sales Associate Salaries: Top Earning Cities Revealed
Salary.com data reveals that the top three paying cities for retail sales associates in the United States are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, all in the state of California.
| Top Paying Cities | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $39,800 |
| San Francisco, CA | $39,700 |
| Oakland, CA | $38,700 |
| New York, NY | $37,100 |
| Queens Village, NY | $36,800 |
| Paramus, NJ | $36,600 |
Explore Retail Sales Associates Benefits and Perks Beyond Salary
In addition to their pay, retail sales associates receive a range of benefits and rewards. According to data from Salary.com, the total compensation for retail sales associates includes benefits such as Social Security and 401(k)/403(b) plans.
- Social Security
- 401K/403B plans
- Disability insurance
- Healthcare
- Pension plan
- Time Off (PTO)
Retail Sales Associate Job Description: Roles and Responsibilities
Retail sales associates are responsible for selling products to customers – anything from furniture, cars, clothes, equipment, and even spare parts. Some retail sales associates are also responsible for welcoming customers at the door.
The job description for a retail sales associate is as follows:
- Provide customers with the products that will suit their needs the best
- Assisting customers through demonstrating the product
- Provide a demonstration of how their products work
- Give customers a heads-up in case there are sales, promotions, policies, or anything else that they might need
- Add up the customer’s overall total purchase.
Since retail sales associates also face customers and interact with them on the showroom floor, they should also know the basic procedures for handling theft like notifying security personnel when it comes to emergency procedures.
When and How to Ask for a Raise as a Retail Sales Associate
Although the job of a retail sales associate does not require a high school diploma, people interested in the role will need to learn how to face customers and have eloquent communication skills.
That said, you can still boost your credibility through upskilling and learning some valuable skills for a higher retail sales associate salary. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow to ask for a raise as a retail sales associate:
- Finish the needed training: Knowing the basics can not only make the job of a retail sales associate easier, but it can also help net you a bigger salary in the long run. This can be done significantly, especially since most retail sales associates start as interns with already a couple of days or months of experience under their belt.
- Acquire the needed licenses: This varies by state, but some retail sales associate jobs require licenses before starting the job – especially if they’re applying for the role of car salespeople. However, keep in mind that this only applies to California and Colorado.
- Ask for a formal meeting: Prepare a meeting with your managers and employers beforehand to set a more formal and serious tone for the conversation.
- Make a clear and confident presentation: Discuss what you bring to the company and make sure to highlight milestones you’ve achieved during your tenure with the company. Be clear about your intentions and maintain a positive mindset.
Why Does a Retail Sales Associate Make So Much?
The average retail sales associate can receive a good baseline salary since it’s primarily a consumer-facing job. Additionally, senior retail sales associates are also responsible for handling cash and training new employees, which effectively gives them multiple hats at work.
This means that being a retail sales associate requires great interpersonal skills on top of stellar communication skills to boot. The U.S. BLS has outlined these specific skills that a retail sales associate should ideally have:
- Customer service skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Math
- Persistence and Persuasion
However, Salary.com’s Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Solution has also pointed out that retail sales associates with certain skills can earn more money. Retail sales associates with sales support and merchandising skills can earn 8.75% and 7.48% more, respectively.
Other high compensation skills include the following:
- Sales Support: +8.75%
- Merchandising: 7.48%
- Retail Operations: 6.83%
- Inventory Control: +6.33%
- Wholesale: +5.92%
- Inventory Management: +2.81%
The Future of Retail Sales Associates: Job Outlook and Career Trends
Based on reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job title outlook for retail sales associates sees little to no change at all with a 0% outlook for the years 2023 to 2033. That said, even if there are no changes, the job still sees approximately 582,200 openings per year.
The employment growth for retail sales associates largely depends on the state of the existing labor force in the United States. The job is always in high demand, especially considering the fact that most big companies need retail sales associates to help them sell their products even more.
