Jetted FoxCareers · Stores & retail
Retail salespersons
Help customers find and buy products in a store, from clothes and electronics to furniture and cars. No college degree needed.
Start now · nothing needed
Starting pay ranges from about $11.29/hr in Mississippi to $18.18/hr in Washington, DC.
Pay in every state
| State | Start | 2 years |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $10.90–13.05/hr | $14.44/hr |
| Alaska | $14.76–15.46/hr | $17.93/hr |
| Arizona | $14.82–15.62/hr | $17.18/hr |
| Arkansas | $11.46–12.97/hr | $14.07/hr |
| California | $16.94–17.48/hr | $18.48/hr |
| Colorado | $15.45–17.18/hr | $18.25/hr |
| Connecticut | $16.42–16.84/hr | $17.54/hr |
| Delaware | $15/hr | $17/hr |
| Florida | $13.62–14.16/hr | $16.35/hr |
| Georgia | $10.86–13.27/hr | $14.83/hr |
| Hawaii | $14.74–16.82/hr | $18.17/hr |
| Idaho | $12.66–14/hr | $16.87/hr |
| Illinois | $15–15.51/hr | $17/hr |
| Indiana | $11.26–13.33/hr | $15.16/hr |
| Iowa | $12.12–13.74/hr | $15.08/hr |
| Kansas | $11.11–13.50/hr | $15.47/hr |
| Kentucky | $10.77–12.59/hr | $14.26/hr |
| Louisiana | $10.55–12.51/hr | $14.18/hr |
| Maine | $15.05–16.69/hr | $17.61/hr |
| Maryland | $15–16.05/hr | $17.07/hr |
| Massachusetts | $16.01–16.81/hr | $17.60/hr |
| Michigan | $13.35–14.09/hr | $16.65/hr |
| Minnesota | $13.80–15.85/hr | $17.49/hr |
| Mississippi | $10.63–11.29/hr | $13.77/hr |
| Missouri | $13.75–14.35/hr | $16.09/hr |
| Montana | $13.76–14.67/hr | $17.44/hr |
| Nebraska | $13.50–13.92/hr | $15.32/hr |
| Nevada | $12.95–13.62/hr | $16.44/hr |
| New Hampshire | $14.23–15.09/hr | $17.41/hr |
| New Jersey | $15.49–16.46/hr | $17.56/hr |
| New Mexico | $13.40–14.10/hr | $16.01/hr |
| New York | $16.18–17.15/hr | $18.13/hr |
| North Carolina | $11.08–13.33/hr | $15.08/hr |
| North Dakota | $13.53–14.59/hr | $17.33/hr |
| Ohio | $11.64–13.46/hr | $14.81/hr |
| Oklahoma | $10.76–12.61/hr | $14.26/hr |
| Oregon | $15.25–16.71/hr | $17.68/hr |
| Pennsylvania | $11.43–13.38/hr | $15/hr |
| Rhode Island | $15–15.16/hr | $16.76/hr |
| South Carolina | $10.74–13.12/hr | $14.75/hr |
| South Dakota | $13.55–14.19/hr | $16.52/hr |
| Tennessee | $11.40–13.50/hr | $15.36/hr |
| Texas | $11.22–13.34/hr | $14.81/hr |
| Utah | $12.70–13.97/hr | $16.30/hr |
| Vermont | $14.94–16.60/hr | $17.98/hr |
| Virginia | $13.24–14/hr | $16.46/hr |
| Washington | $17.24–17.85/hr | $19.02/hr |
| Washington, DC | $17.50–18.18/hr | $18.51/hr |
| West Virginia | $10.70–12.11/hr | $13.92/hr |
| Wisconsin | $13.12–13.99/hr | $16.58/hr |
| Wyoming | $11.90–13.99/hr | $16.50/hr |
Estimates, May 2025. Start = what the lowest-paid 10–25% earn; 2 years = the median. US Bureau of Labor Statistics
What it takes
Before you're hired
Once you're hired
A normal day
You work the sales floor greeting customers, answering questions and showing products. You restock, fold, set up displays, ring up sales, and push store credit cards or warranties. Busy weekends and holidays mean nonstop customers.
The good parts
Easy to get hired, often at 16. Commission jobs in cars, furniture and electronics pay more. Leads into store management or outside sales.
The hard parts
Low base pay at most stores. Nights, weekends and holidays, especially in December. Sales goals for credit cards and add-ons.
Where it leads
Retail store supervisor (after 1–2 years). floor sales stays similar, but it leads to shift lead, store manager, or commission sales in cars, furniture or wholesale.
Quick answers
Do retail salespersons need a college degree?
No. You can start now: nothing needed.
How long is the training for retail salespersons?
1–2 weeks.
How much do retail salespersons make?
About $13.08–14.38 an hour to start and $17.03 an hour at the median across the US (May 2025).
Is it a fit for you?
Answer a few questions and see your paths. Free, about 7 minutes.
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Last updated October 13, 2026. Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Jobs: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Training, costs and requirements: Jetted Fox research (estimates). This site includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Jetted Fox has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Facts, not advice.