Retail Sales Agent Salary in the United States

How much does a Retail Sales Agent make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retail Sales Agent in the United States is $39,755 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $19.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $45,294
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $36,098 to $42,654
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,769
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Smart Recruiting
View as table View as graph 25% $36,098 10% $32,769 90% $45,294 75% $42,654 $39,755 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Retail Sales Agent Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $42,654 $3,555 $820 $21
Average $39,755 $3,313 $765 $19
25th Percentile $36,098 $3,008 $694 $17
Check out Retail Sales Agent Job Openings in the United States
Retail Sales Associate

BJ's Wholesale Club - WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT

Retail Sales Associate

BJ's Wholesale Club - WINDSOR, VT

Retail Sales Associate

BJ's Wholesale Club - WILDER, VT

Retail Sales Associate

BJ's Wholesale Club - HARTFORD, VT

Search More Retail Sales Agent Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Retail Sales Agent Salaries

A Retail Sales Agent'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 Experience Level Affects Retail Sales Agent Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Retail Sales Agent's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $37,396
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $37,566
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $38,017
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $38,977
  • Expert (over 8 years): $40,394
Levels Salary
Entry Level Retail Sales Agent$37,396
Intermediate Level Retail Sales Agent$37,566
Senior Level Retail Sales Agent$38,017
Specialist Level Retail Sales Agent$38,977
Expert Level Retail Sales Agent$40,394
$37,396 0 yr
$37,566 < 2 yrs
$38,017 2-4 yrs
$38,977 5-8 yrs
$40,394 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Retail Sales Agent 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 Sales Agents. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $44,017.
  • California: $43,850.
  • Massachusetts: $43,265.

Top Paying Cities for Retail Sales Agents

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: $50,143
  • San Francisco: $49,650
  • Oakland: $48,549

What Skills Can Increase a Retail Sales Agent'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 Sales Agent'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
$58,837
48%
Outside Sales
$50,091
26%
Sales Training
$47,706
20%
Sales Presentation
$46,116
16%
Time Management
$42,538
7%
Problem Solving
$42,538
7%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Retail Sales Agent's Salary?

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

Retail Sales Agent Salaries by Degree Level

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

Understanding how a Retail Sales Agent'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Retail Sales Agent

Salaries for a Retail Sales Agent can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $40,774 in 2023 to around $40,264 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Retail Sales Agent salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Retail Sales Agent Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$40,774
2024
$40,506
2025
$40,264
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $40,774
2024 $40,506
2025 $40,264
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Retail Sales Agent

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 Sales Agent

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

Find Your Next Retail Sales Agent Job

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

United States
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.

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