Retail Staff Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retail Staff in the United States is $38,202 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $43,340
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $34,265 to $40,891
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $30,680
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Smart Recruiting
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $34,265 10% $30,680 90% $43,340 75% $40,891 $38,202 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Retail Staff Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $40,891 $3,408 $786 $20
Average $38,202 $3,183 $735 $18
25th Percentile $34,265 $2,855 $659 $16
Check out Retail Staff Job Openings in the United States
Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

Physician Neurology Ohio Locum Tenens Locums Physician

MD Staff, LLC - Columbus, OH

Local CDL

C.R. England - Columbus, OH

Search More Retail Staff Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Retail Staff Salaries

A Retail Staff'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 Staff 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 Stafves. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $42,297.
  • California: $42,136.
  • Massachusetts: $41,575.

Top Paying Cities for Retail Stafves

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: $48,184
  • San Francisco: $47,656
  • Oakland: $46,652

What Skills Can Increase a Retail Staff'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 Staff'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
$56,538
48%
Outside Sales
$48,134
26%
Sales Training
$45,842
20%
Sales Presentation
$44,314
16%
Time Management
$40,876
7%
Problem Solving
$40,876
7%
Get Latest Data

Retail Staff Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Retail Staff 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 Staff positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Retail Staff as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Retail Staff

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$45,842$22.020%
MFG Durable$43,932$21.015%
Healthcare$42,022$20.010%

How Education impacts a Retail Staff's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Retail Stafves 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 Staff with a No Diploma is between $29,454 and $31,363).

Retail Staff Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Retail Staff
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 Staff Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Retail Staff'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 Staff

Salaries for a Retail Staff can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $39,652 in 2023 to around $39,157 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Retail Staff salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Retail Staff Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$39,652
2024
$39,392
2025
$39,157
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $39,652
2024 $39,392
2025 $39,157
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Retail Staff

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 Staff

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

Find Your Next Retail Staff Job

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

United States
  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 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

    13 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

    14 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 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

    16 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 Staff

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Retail Staff 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