Retail Salesperson Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) retail salesperson in the US earns $17.03 an hour, or $35,410 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 3,897,860 jobs (May 2025, occupation: retail salespersons). The middle half earn between $29,900 and $38,670 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $47,890.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $30,632 a year ($2,553 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($33,418 a year) and lowest in West Virginia ($24,747).
Retail Salesperson pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $13.08 | $27,210 | $24,018 |
| 25th percentile | $14.38 | $29,900 | $26,205 |
| Median (half earn more) | $17.03 | $35,410 | $30,632 |
| 75th percentile | $18.59 | $38,670 | $33,251 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $23.02 | $47,890 | $40,660 |
The average (mean) is $37,310 a year ($17.94 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 41-2031. Source
Retail Salesperson salary by state
The highest median pay for retail salespeople is in Washington ($39,560), District of Columbia ($38,500), California ($38,440), Colorado ($37,960), Hawaii ($37,790). The lowest is in Mississippi ($28,640), West Virginia ($28,950), Arkansas ($29,270).
The most retail salespeople work in California (376,460), Texas (341,640), Florida (333,460).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($33,418), California ($31,995), Alaska ($31,956), New Hampshire ($31,275), Vermont ($31,249). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $14.44 | $30,040 | $25,140 | 60,880 |
| Alaska | $17.93 | $37,290 | $31,956 | 7,890 |
| Arizona | $17.18 | $35,730 | $30,175 | 93,920 |
| Arkansas | $14.07 | $29,270 | $25,101 | 35,510 |
| California | $18.48 | $38,440 | $31,995 | 376,460 |
| Colorado | $18.25 | $37,960 | $31,086 | 76,660 |
| Connecticut | $17.54 | $36,480 | $30,381 | 42,410 |
| Delaware | $17.00 | $35,360 | $29,165 | 13,400 |
| District of Columbia | $18.51 | $38,500 | $33,115* | 4,660 |
| Florida | $16.35 | $34,010 | $29,507 | 333,460 |
| Georgia | $14.83 | $30,850 | $26,177 | 143,120 |
| Hawaii | $18.17 | $37,790 | $30,932 | 19,180 |
| Idaho | $16.87 | $35,090 | $29,361 | 20,180 |
| Illinois | $17.00 | $35,360 | $28,986 | 126,610 |
| Indiana | $15.16 | $31,530 | $25,997 | 83,670 |
| Iowa | $15.08 | $31,370 | $26,728 | 41,000 |
| Kansas | $15.47 | $32,180 | $27,027 | 33,360 |
| Kentucky | $14.26 | $29,660 | $25,091 | 51,250 |
| Louisiana | $14.18 | $29,490 | $25,362 | 49,570 |
| Maine | $17.61 | $36,630 | $30,363 | 18,450 |
| Maryland | $17.07 | $35,510 | $28,414 | 79,320 |
| Massachusetts | $17.60 | $36,610 | $29,957 | 86,860 |
| Michigan | $16.65 | $34,630 | $28,784 | 111,010 |
| Minnesota | $17.49 | $36,380 | $29,556 | 74,840 |
| Mississippi | $13.77 | $28,640 | $24,776 | 38,400 |
| Missouri | $16.09 | $33,470 | $28,449 | 67,140 |
| Montana | $17.44 | $36,280 | $30,395 | 13,490 |
| Nebraska | $15.32 | $31,870 | $26,906 | 22,780 |
| Nevada | $16.44 | $34,200 | $29,660 | 43,920 |
| New Hampshire | $17.41 | $36,210 | $31,275 | 23,880 |
| New Jersey | $17.56 | $36,520 | $30,558 | 72,530 |
| New Mexico | $16.01 | $33,300 | $28,126 | 23,800 |
| New York | $18.13 | $37,710 | $30,814 | 238,540 |
| North Carolina | $15.08 | $31,370 | $26,632 | 127,540 |
| North Dakota | $17.33 | $36,050 | $31,146 | 11,320 |
| Ohio | $14.81 | $30,800 | $26,388 | 137,370 |
| Oklahoma | $14.26 | $29,660 | $25,232 | 43,830 |
| Oregon | $17.68 | $36,770 | $29,019 | 48,090 |
| Pennsylvania | $15.00 | $31,200 | $26,270 | 141,790 |
| Rhode Island | $16.76 | $34,860 | $28,537 | 12,830 |
| South Carolina | $14.75 | $30,680 | $26,131 | 67,310 |
| South Dakota | $16.52 | $34,360 | $29,788 | 14,180 |
| Tennessee | $15.36 | $31,950 | $27,852 | 87,380 |
| Texas | $14.81 | $30,800 | $26,928 | 341,640 |
| Utah | $16.30 | $33,900 | $28,092 | 47,570 |
| Vermont | $17.98 | $37,400 | $31,249 | 8,250 |
| Virginia | $16.46 | $34,240 | $28,537 | 100,290 |
| Washington | $19.02 | $39,560 | $33,418 | 84,850 |
| West Virginia | $13.92 | $28,950 | $24,747 | 19,050 |
| Wisconsin | $16.58 | $34,490 | $28,642 | 67,640 |
| Wyoming | $16.50 | $34,320 | $29,756 | 8,770 |
Overtime and pay rules for retail salespeople
Retail salespeople who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a retail salesperson's pay
On the median $35,410, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 13.5% of pay for a single filer: $2,069 of income tax and $2,709 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $19,310, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($1,770 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $212, so it costs about $1,558 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed retail salespeople are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| EMT | $44,470 | $21.38 |
| Nursing Assistant (CNA) | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Home Health Aide | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Cashier | $32,880 | $15.81 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $17 an hour is how much a year.
Retail Salesperson salary questions
How much does a retail salesperson make?
The median pay is $17.03 an hour, or $35,410 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $27,210 and the top 10% more than $47,890.
How much does a retail salesperson make after taxes?
About $30,632 a year, or $1,178 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In West Virginia, at that state's own median pay, it is about $24,747.
How much does a retail salesperson make a month?
About $2,951 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $2,553 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays retail salespeople the most?
Washington, with a median of $39,560 a year ($19.02 an hour). Next are District of Columbia ($38,500) and California ($38,440). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a retail salesperson make an hour?
The median is $17.03 an hour. The middle half earn $14.38 to $18.59, and the top 10% more than $23.02.
Do retail salespeople get paid overtime?
Retail salespeople who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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