Retail Employee Salary in the United States

How much does a Retail Employee make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retail Employee in the United States is $37,825 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

However, a Retail Employee's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $43,316
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $33,870 to $40,699
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,269
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
Recruit with AI
View as table View as graph 25% $33,870 10% $30,269 90% $43,316 75% $40,699 $37,825 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Retail Employee Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $40,699 $3,392 $783 $20
Average $37,825 $3,152 $727 $18
25th Percentile $33,870 $2,822 $651 $16
Check out Retail Employee Job Openings in the United States
Retail Employee

The Container Store - Columbus, OH

Retail Employee

The Container Store - Columbus, OH

Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Search More Retail Employee Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Retail Employee Salaries

A Retail Employee's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Retail Employee Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Retail Employees. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $41,879.
  • California: $41,720.
  • Massachusetts: $41,164.

Top Paying Cities for Retail Employees

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $47,708
  • San Francisco: $47,186
  • Oakland: $46,191

What Skills Can Increase a Retail Employee's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.44% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Customer Sales (Mentioned in 1.68% Job Postings): Customer Sales means sales of Goods by Licensee directly or through its authorized wholesalers, representatives or distributors to retail establishments for eventual resale to the consumer.
  • Store Operations (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Retail operations are the activities that allow online and physical stores to function. The aim of retail operations is to enhance the customer shopping experience and lower the retailer's costs.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.44%
Customer Sales 1.68%
Store Operations 1.29%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Retail Employee's salary.
  • Prospecting: Can increase your salary by up to 48%.
  • Outside Sales: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Sales Training: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Prospecting
$55,980
48%
Outside Sales
$47,659
26%
Sales Training
$45,389
20%
Sales Presentation
$43,876
16%
Time Management
$40,472
7%
Problem Solving
$40,472
7%
Get Latest Data

Retail Employee Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Retail Employee roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Retail Employee positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Retail Employee as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Retail Employee

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$45,389$22.020%
MFG Durable$43,498$21.015%
Healthcare$41,607$20.010%

How Education impacts a Retail Employee's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Retail Employees enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Retail Employee with a No Diploma is between $29,454 and $31,363).

Retail Employee Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Retail Employee
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.7%
High School 44.1%
Associates 15.8%
Bachelors 34.0%
Masters 3.2%
Doctorate 0.2%
view as graph

Retail Employee Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Retail Employee's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Retail Employee

Salaries for a Retail Employee can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $39,831 in 2023 to around $39,333 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Retail Employee salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Retail Employee Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$39,831
2024
$39,570
2025
$39,333
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $39,831
2024 $39,570
2025 $39,333
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Retail Employee

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Retail Employee

Here are companies hiring for Retail Employee and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Retail Employee Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Retail Employee job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Alto Health Care Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Alto Health Care Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Position Overview. We are currently seeking experienced and compassionate Registered Nurses (RNs) to join our network of healthcare professionals. As a Reg... more

    3 Days Ago

  • AMN Healthcare, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    AMN Healthcare, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Job Description & Requirements Gastroenterology Physician StartDate: ASAP Available Shifts: 32 Days of Paid Time Off A nationally recognized organization c... more

    3 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    5 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Hospital is seeking a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatrician to join a well-respected and growing practice located an hour from Columbus. Only Pediatr... more

    7 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Retail Employee

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Retail Employee?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Retail Employee roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst