JobAfterNext

Retail Salespersons

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

Wages

Median annual wage, U.S.$35,410
Employment, U.S.3,897,860
Median hourly wage$17.03
Annual wage percentiles, U.S., May 2025
10th25thMedian75th90th
$27,210$29,900$35,410$38,670$47,890
By state (51)
StateEmploymentMedian annualLocation quotient
Alabama60,880$30,0401.15
Alaska7,890$37,2900.97
Arizona93,920$35,7201.16
Arkansas35,510$29,2701.09
California376,460$38,4400.82
Colorado76,660$37,9501.06
Connecticut42,410$36,4901.00
Delaware13,400$35,3601.10
District of Columbia4,660$38,5000.26
Florida333,460$34,0101.34
Georgia143,120$30,8401.17
Hawaii19,180$37,7901.22
Idaho20,180$35,0800.94
Illinois126,610$35,3700.83
Indiana83,670$31,5301.04
Iowa41,000$31,3601.05
Kansas33,360$32,1800.93
Kentucky51,250$29,6501.02
Louisiana49,570$29,4901.02
Maine18,450$36,6401.15
Maryland79,320$35,5101.15
Massachusetts86,860$36,6100.95
Michigan111,010$34,6401.01
Minnesota74,840$36,3701.01
Mississippi38,400$28,6401.32
Missouri67,140$33,4600.91
Montana13,490$36,2701.05
Nebraska22,780$31,8700.89
Nevada43,920$34,1901.13
New Hampshire23,880$36,2001.39
New Jersey72,530$36,5200.68
New Mexico23,800$33,3001.09
New York238,540$37,7200.98
North Carolina127,540$31,3701.03
North Dakota11,320$36,0401.05
Ohio137,370$30,8000.99
Oklahoma43,830$29,6601.02
Oregon48,090$36,7700.98
Pennsylvania141,790$31,2000.93
Rhode Island12,830$34,8601.02
South Carolina67,310$30,6901.16
South Dakota14,180$34,3701.24
Tennessee87,380$31,9501.06
Texas341,640$30,8000.97
Utah47,570$33,9001.09
Vermont8,250$37,4001.08
Virginia100,290$34,2400.97
Washington84,850$39,5600.95
West Virginia19,050$28,9501.08
Wisconsin67,640$34,4800.92
Wyoming8,770$34,3101.25

Similar occupations

Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.

#OccupationJob ZoneSimilarity
1Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products40.967
2Counter and Rental Clerks1-20.964
3Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers1-20.961
4Real Estate Sales Agents1-20.960
5Advertising Sales Agents30.957
6Demonstrators and Product Promoters1-20.956
7Customer Service Representatives1-20.955
8First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers1-20.952
9Cashiers1-20.951
10Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers1-20.950

One skill away

Among the 50 occupations most similar to Retail Salespersons, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.

OccupationSkill to buildLevel gapSimilarity
Demonstrators and Product PromotersSpeaking0.760.956
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksManagement of Personnel Resources0.880.948

Software to learn next

Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Retail Salespersons, excluding software Retail Salespersons already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.

SoftwareSimilar jobs using itLift
Microsoft Publisher9 of 204.4x
LogMeIn GoToMeeting5 of 209.6x
Google Ads5 of 207.7x
Zoom6 of 205.3x
Yardi software5 of 207.2x
Delphi Technology5 of 205.4x
Tax software4 of 205.4x
LogMeIn GoToWebinar3 of 208.1x
HubSpot software3 of 207.7x
Google Analytics4 of 204.6x

Skills

From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.

SkillTypeImportanceLevel
PersuasionTransferable skill 3.88 4.00
Service OrientationTransferable skill 3.75 3.88
Active ListeningEssential skill 3.75 3.75
SpeakingEssential skill 3.75 3.12
NegotiationTransferable skill 3.50 3.75
Social PerceptivenessTransferable skill 3.50 3.12
Critical ThinkingEssential skill 3.12 3.12
MonitoringEssential skill 3.00 3.12
Reading ComprehensionEssential skill 3.00 3.12
CoordinationTransferable skill 3.00 3.00
WritingEssential skill 3.00 3.00
Active LearningEssential skill 3.00 2.88
Time ManagementTransferable skill 3.00 2.88
InstructingTransferable skill 2.88 2.75
Judgment and Decision MakingTransferable skill 2.88 2.75
Complex Problem SolvingTransferable skill 2.75 2.50
Learning StrategiesEssential skill 2.62 2.25
MathematicsEssential skill 2.62 2.00
Management of Personnel ResourcesTransferable skill 2.38 2.12
Management of Financial ResourcesTransferable skill 2.12 1.25
Systems EvaluationTransferable skill 2.00 2.00
Systems AnalysisTransferable skill 2.00 1.88
Operations MonitoringTransferable skill 2.00 1.50
Operation and ControlTransferable skill 2.00 1.38
Quality Control AnalysisTransferable skill 2.00 1.25
Management of Material ResourcesTransferable skill 2.00 1.00
Technology DesignTransferable skill 1.88 1.00
TroubleshootingTransferable skill 1.75 0.88
Operations AnalysisTransferable skill 1.50 0.62
ProgrammingTransferable skill 1.25not rated
Equipment MaintenanceTransferable skill 1.00not rated
Equipment SelectionTransferable skill 1.00not rated
InstallationTransferable skill 1.00not rated
RepairingTransferable skill 1.00not rated
ScienceEssential skill 1.00not rated
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
Knowledge
NameImportanceLevel
Sales and Marketing 4.52 4.51
Customer and Personal Service 4.34 4.06
English Language 3.67 3.23
Administration and Management 3.04 2.92
Mathematics 3.03 2.98
Administrative 3.01 3.20
Psychology 2.89 2.92
Computers and Electronics 2.75 3.05
Education and Training 2.69 2.29
Communications and Media 2.45 2.21
Public Safety and Security 2.35 1.90
Economics and Accounting 2.28 1.69
Production and Processing 2.25 2.01
Telecommunications 2.05 1.09
Design 1.99 1.31
Law and Government 1.96 1.48
Transportation 1.95 1.23
Engineering and Technology 1.89 1.42
Sociology and Anthropology 1.87 1.59
Personnel and Human Resources 1.85 1.66
Mechanical 1.81 1.67
Medicine and Dentistry 1.75not rated
Foreign Language 1.74 1.28
Fine Arts 1.70 0.80
Therapy and Counseling 1.63 1.16
Geography 1.61 0.98
Philosophy and Theology 1.48not rated
Building and Construction 1.43not rated
Chemistry 1.39not rated
Physics 1.37not rated
Food Production 1.36not rated
History and Archeology 1.26not rated
Biology 1.17not rated
Abilities
NameImportanceLevel
Oral Expression 4.00 3.88
Oral Comprehension 3.88 3.62
Speech Recognition 3.62 3.62
Speech Clarity 3.62 3.12
Problem Sensitivity 3.12 3.25
Near Vision 3.00 3.00
Written Comprehension 3.00 3.00
Written Expression 3.00 3.00
Information Ordering 3.00 2.88
Deductive Reasoning 2.88 3.00
Category Flexibility 2.88 2.88
Fluency of Ideas 2.88 2.88
Inductive Reasoning 2.88 2.88
Originality 2.88 2.62
Selective Attention 2.88 2.62
Time Sharing 2.75 2.50
Memorization 2.75 2.25
Number Facility 2.62 2.62
Mathematical Reasoning 2.62 2.25
Trunk Strength 2.50 2.75
Perceptual Speed 2.50 2.12
Visualization 2.50 2.12
Far Vision 2.38 2.38
Finger Dexterity 2.38 2.25
Flexibility of Closure 2.25 2.12
Arm-Hand Steadiness 2.25 2.00
Auditory Attention 2.12 2.12
Speed of Closure 2.12 2.12
Visual Color Discrimination 2.12 2.00
Control Precision 2.00 2.00
Manual Dexterity 2.00 1.88
Gross Body Coordination 2.00 1.75
Hearing Sensitivity 2.00 1.75
Multilimb Coordination 2.00 1.75
Stamina 2.00 1.75
Gross Body Equilibrium 2.00 1.38
Static Strength 1.88 1.75
Extent Flexibility 1.88 1.62
Depth Perception 1.88 1.25
Dynamic Strength 1.88 1.12
Explosive Strength 1.50 0.75
Reaction Time 1.50 0.50
Speed of Limb Movement 1.50 0.50
Rate Control 1.38 0.38
Wrist-Finger Speed 1.38 0.38
Dynamic Flexibility 1.00not rated
Glare Sensitivity 1.00not rated
Night Vision 1.00not rated
Peripheral Vision 1.00not rated
Response Orientation 1.00not rated
Sound Localization 1.00not rated
Spatial Orientation 1.00not rated

Software used

Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.

All 80
  • Blink
  • CAP Automation SellWise
  • Comcash ERP
  • CompuTant CounterPoint
  • CyberMatrix
  • Data entry software
  • Database software
  • Datasym SYMFINITE
  • EZ Software Solutions
  • Exact business software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Gift registry software
  • Google Drive
  • Google Meet
  • GroupMe
  • Handheld computer device software
  • IBM Notes
  • Infocorp Computer Solutions $mart System
  • Infocorp Softwear/POS
  • Inventory management systems
  • LOB RetailPoint
  • LinkedIn
  • Logisoft Positive Pos System
  • ManageMore Cellular Manager
  • Master Merchant Systems Music Store
  • MicroBiz
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Millennium Software Atrex
  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • Point of sale POS bookstore software
  • Point of sale POS parts and services software
  • RiscStation POSSum
  • SBS Keystroke
  • Sage 50 Accounting
  • Sage 50 Accounting Software
  • Semicron Systems
  • SmugMug Flickr
  • Social media sites
  • Softpedia ShopInvo
  • System3 POS software
  • The General Store
  • The Retail Solution
  • TokenWorks Magnetic Card Reader
  • True North Computer Retail Plus
  • VeriFone PC Charge Pro
  • Vigilant
  • Visual Retail Plus
  • WinMan SureSell
  • YouTube
  • iQmetrix RQ4 Retail Management System

Where it concentrates

Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.

Metro areaEmploymentLocation quotientMedian annual
Arecibo, PR2,2602.59$22,390
Ponce, PR3,5802.25$22,030
Aguadilla, PR2,6602.17$21,950
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC7,7802.12$29,320
Guayama, PR6502.09$22,190
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL4,5502.08$29,600
Mayaguez, PR2,6102.00$22,090
Punta Gorda, FL2,7201.89$34,290
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL5,7601.84$33,920
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC3,7001.80$33,880

More metros, other thresholds