# Retail Salespersons

> Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/retail-salespersons
- SOC code: 41-2031.00
- Career family: Sales
- Median annual pay: $35,410 (10th percentile $27,210, 90th percentile $47,890)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, -0.3%
- Openings a year: 520,600
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ECR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 37 |
| Investigative (I) | 0 |
| Artistic (A) | 16 |
| Social (S) | 33 |
| Enterprising (E) | 86 |
| Conventional (C) | 70 |

## What you'd do

- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 93/100)
- Selling or Influencing Others (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 77/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 75/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 72/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 66/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 65/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 64/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 62/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 61/100)

## Skills

Persuasion, Active Listening, Service Orientation, Speaking, Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Coordination, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administration and Management, Mathematics, Administrative, Psychology, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Communications and Media

## Also called

Art Dealer, Art Objects Salesperson, Auto Dealer, Automobile Accessories Salesperson, Automobile Salesman, Automobiles Salesperson, Automotive Salesperson, Bakery Clerk, Bargain Table Clerk, Beauty Advisor

## Related careers

- [Counter and Rental Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/counter-and-rental-clerks): $41,300 median pay
- [Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/door-to-door-sales-workers-news-and-street-vendors-and-related-workers): $41,380 median pay
- [Stockers and Order Fillers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/stockers-and-order-fillers): $37,330 median pay
- [Demonstrators and Product Promoters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/demonstrators-and-product-promoters): $39,320 median pay
- [First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/first-line-supervisors-of-retail-sales-workers): $48,520 median pay
- [Cashiers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cashiers): $32,880 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.