At a glance
Median pay for Retail Salespersons runs from $29,150 in Little Rock to $44,220 in San Jose across 75 curated metros; the middle value is $34,320.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Jose ($40,046), San Francisco ($37,928), Seattle ($37,865).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Retail Salespersons salary comparison
Retail sales roles may involve part-time schedules and commissions. Annual occupational estimates are not an offer of full-time hours or an individual income prediction. 75 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $40,046 | $2,840 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,850 | $37,928 | $2,474 |
| Seattle, WA | $42,080 | $37,865 | $2,000 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $34,320 | $37,085 | $1,249 |
| Madison, WI | $35,830 | $36,829 | $1,354 |
| Des Moines, IA | $33,430 | $36,455 | $1,150 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,910 | $36,424 | $1,057 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $34,800 | $36,422 | $1,202 |
| Denver, CO | $38,470 | $36,367 | $1,874 |
| Boise City, ID | $35,670 | $36,253 | $1,487 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $33,260 | $36,187 | $1,192 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $34,160 | $35,752 | $1,156 |
| Nashville, TN | $34,420 | $35,728 | $1,528 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,100 | $35,718 | $1,819 |
| Rochester, NY | $34,650 | $35,709 | $1,143 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,460 | $35,690 | $1,392 |
| Tucson, AZ | $34,530 | $35,636 | $1,212 |
| Albany, NY | $35,420 | $35,574 | $1,280 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $33,820 | $35,567 | $1,113 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $34,410 | $35,497 | $1,139 |
Show all 75 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $40,046 | $2,840 |
| San Francisco, CA | $43,850 | $37,928 | $2,474 |
| Seattle, WA | $42,080 | $37,865 | $2,000 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $34,320 | $37,085 | $1,249 |
| Madison, WI | $35,830 | $36,829 | $1,354 |
| Des Moines, IA | $33,430 | $36,455 | $1,150 |
| Buffalo, NY | $34,910 | $36,424 | $1,057 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $34,800 | $36,422 | $1,202 |
| Denver, CO | $38,470 | $36,367 | $1,874 |
| Boise City, ID | $35,670 | $36,253 | $1,487 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $33,260 | $36,187 | $1,192 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $34,160 | $35,752 | $1,156 |
| Nashville, TN | $34,420 | $35,728 | $1,528 |
| Sacramento, CA | $38,100 | $35,718 | $1,819 |
| Rochester, NY | $34,650 | $35,709 | $1,143 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,460 | $35,690 | $1,392 |
| Tucson, AZ | $34,530 | $35,636 | $1,212 |
| Albany, NY | $35,420 | $35,574 | $1,280 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $33,820 | $35,567 | $1,113 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $34,410 | $35,497 | $1,139 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $37,340 | $35,420 | $1,724 |
| Columbus, OH | $33,780 | $35,383 | $1,274 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $32,580 | $35,344 | $1,220 |
| Worcester, MA | $36,220 | $35,329 | $1,426 |
| Detroit, MI | $35,130 | $35,026 | $1,207 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $36,670 | $34,983 | $1,440 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $37,330 | $34,932 | $1,875 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $35,960 | $34,806 | $1,702 |
| Hartford, CT | $35,720 | $34,765 | $1,416 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $35,230 | $34,616 | $1,307 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $35,820 | $34,577 | $1,430 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $34,360 | $34,538 | $1,513 |
| Austin, TX | $33,860 | $34,528 | $1,726 |
| Riverside, CA | $36,720 | $34,498 | $1,846 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $33,580 | $34,495 | $1,473 |
| North Port, FL | $35,160 | $34,330 | $1,747 |
| Birmingham, AL | $31,450 | $34,318 | $1,172 |
| Richmond, VA | $33,580 | $34,315 | $1,447 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $34,420 | $34,124 | $1,583 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $36,850 | $34,037 | $2,023 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $38,280 | $34,008 | $1,830 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $34,810 | $33,943 | $1,480 |
| San Diego, CA | $37,810 | $33,793 | $2,246 |
| Charleston, SC | $34,090 | $33,765 | $1,605 |
| Raleigh, NC | $33,100 | $33,721 | $1,573 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $37,400 | $33,706 | $2,083 |
| Knoxville, TN | $31,150 | $33,651 | $1,145 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $33,720 | $33,648 | $1,626 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $36,610 | $33,623 | $2,027 |
| Tampa, FL | $33,790 | $33,492 | $1,628 |
| Tulsa, OK | $29,810 | $33,414 | $1,078 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $30,160 | $33,360 | $1,124 |
| Baltimore, MD | $34,800 | $33,306 | $1,611 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $37,700 | $33,197 | $2,063 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $30,070 | $33,124 | $1,135 |
| Greensboro, NC | $30,750 | $33,113 | $1,093 |
| Greenville, SC | $30,840 | $33,069 | $1,150 |
| Cleveland, OH | $31,000 | $33,006 | $1,050 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $31,530 | $32,948 | $1,191 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $30,660 | $32,942 | $1,116 |
| Atlanta, GA | $32,850 | $32,831 | $1,672 |
| New Orleans, LA | $30,400 | $32,830 | $1,217 |
| Dayton, OH | $30,360 | $32,753 | $1,039 |
| San Antonio, TX | $30,960 | $32,687 | $1,363 |
| Little Rock, AR | $29,150 | $32,619 | $1,055 |
| Durham, NC | $31,790 | $32,581 | $1,466 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,840 | $32,576 | $1,053 |
| Dallas, TX | $33,400 | $32,399 | $1,614 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $32,310 | $32,320 | $1,365 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $30,810 | $32,306 | $1,105 |
| Orlando, FL | $32,290 | $31,839 | $1,760 |
| Houston, TX | $31,340 | $31,776 | $1,430 |
| Columbia, SC | $29,540 | $31,539 | $1,193 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $30,820 | $31,468 | $1,478 |
| Miami, FL | $34,330 | $30,073 | $1,869 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 75 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Retail Salespersons varies across metros
Across the 75 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Retail Salespersons runs from $29,150 in Little Rock to $44,220 in San Jose, a 1.52× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $30,073 in Miami to $40,046 in San Jose, a 1.33× difference. The middle value across these metros is $34,320 nominal and $34,315 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 75 metros, Des Moines moves from 48th on nominal pay to 6th on adjusted pay while Los Angeles moves from 8th to 54th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $39,300 | $40,980 | $44,220 | $47,010 | $58,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $38,270 | $40,010 | $43,850 | $47,900 | $58,960 |
| Seattle, WA | $37,000 | $38,480 | $42,080 | $45,850 | $56,960 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $28,630 | $30,400 | $34,320 | $37,180 | $47,150 |
| Madison, WI | $28,310 | $30,030 | $35,830 | $38,970 | $49,190 |
| Des Moines, IA | $27,630 | $29,450 | $33,430 | $36,710 | $46,780 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Retail salespersons from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of -0.3% ranks 68th (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 520,600 projected annual openings rank 1st. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. Its typical training category is short-term on-the-job training. National employment base: 3,998,100 workers in 2025; projected 3,984,100 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Retail sales roles can differ by store format, product category and expected weekly hours. An annual occupation-wide pay estimate does not imply that every position is full-time or includes a reliable commission amount.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Request the actual guaranteed hourly rate, typical schedule, commission plan and benefits eligibility. For a move, compare your expected hours and transportation costs instead of treating the annual metro median as a contract.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Retail Salespersons in Houston, TX
Houston is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 75 metros, it ranks 59th on nominal median and 72nd on price-adjusted median.
For the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $31,340. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $28,000 to $36,820. The price-adjusted median of $31,776 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 98.6 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,430 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$6. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Orlando has a published BLS median of $32,290 and adjusted median of $31,839. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Houston with Orlando in the interactive tool, or review the Houston metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.