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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018

41-2031 Retail Salespersons

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers. Excludes "Cashiers" (41-2011).


National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
4,448,120 0.5 % $13.61 $28,310 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $8.85 $10.05 $11.63 $14.59 $19.96
Annual Wage (2) $18,400 $20,910 $24,200 $30,350 $41,530


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
General Merchandise Stores 877,670 27.57 $11.92 $24,800
Clothing Stores 731,220 68.59 $12.48 $25,960
Building Material and Supplies Dealers 433,100 37.40 $14.55 $30,270
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 302,190 56.56 $12.04 $25,050
Automobile Dealers 271,060 20.97 $21.21 $44,120

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Shoe Stores 148,000 70.92 $11.88 $24,710
Clothing Stores 731,220 68.59 $12.48 $25,960
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores 84,270 61.47 $14.55 $30,270
Book Stores and News Dealers 44,800 57.03 $11.43 $23,770
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 302,190 56.56 $12.04 $25,050

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Insurance Carriers (8) (8) $36.27 $75,430
Plastics Product Manufacturing 220 0.04 $25.97 $54,020
Building Finishing Contractors 1,890 0.23 $23.20 $48,260
Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing 2,360 1.10 $22.65 $47,110
Automobile Dealers 271,060 20.97 $21.21 $44,120


Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 436,300 25.65 0.83 $15.13 $31,460
Texas 396,330 32.72 1.06 $12.90 $26,840
Florida 336,060 39.04 1.27 $12.88 $26,790
New York 301,670 32.14 1.05 $14.47 $30,100
Illinois 168,130 28.06 0.91 $13.80 $28,710




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Florida 336,060 39.04 1.27 $12.88 $26,790
Hawaii 24,560 38.26 1.25 $14.68 $30,530
New Hampshire 24,750 37.90 1.23 $13.75 $28,610
South Dakota 15,970 37.82 1.23 $14.16 $29,450
Idaho 24,670 34.94 1.14 $13.32 $27,710




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 6,450 9.06 0.29 $18.03 $37,510
Washington 103,220 31.67 1.03 $16.59 $34,500
Connecticut 44,710 26.93 0.88 $15.82 $32,910
North Dakota 13,330 32.00 1.04 $15.78 $32,830
Rhode Island 13,620 28.25 0.92 $15.21 $31,630





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 302,430 31.84 1.04 $14.56 $30,290
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 154,970 25.33 0.82 $15.38 $31,990
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 132,700 28.59 0.93 $13.63 $28,360
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 120,960 33.90 1.10 $12.80 $26,630
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 104,760 40.44 1.32 $13.10 $27,240
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 89,300 29.94 0.97 $12.42 $25,840
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 86,620 32.28 1.05 $12.68 $26,370
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 80,270 28.18 0.92 $14.07 $29,270
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 73,560 26.67 0.87 $14.50 $30,150
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 69,350 22.12 0.72 $14.25 $29,630