Occupations · Sales
Retail Salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 41-2031.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 91% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $37,350 | 212,470 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $36,580 | 122,120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $34,910 | 102,320 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $31,820 | 94,100 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $32,820 | 90,630 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $30,890 | 83,160 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $30,260 | 75,920 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $35,730 | 65,060 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $33,630 | 64,820 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $35,550 | 64,030 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $36,570 | 62,540 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $32,370 | 49,610 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: No formal educational credential · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- Maintain records related to sales.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
- Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2018-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2018-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 9 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 38
No longer listed 14
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| specialised seller | 5223.7 | exact |
| sales assistant | 5223.4 | close |
| furniture specialised seller | 5223.7.20 | broader |
| floor and wall coverings specialised seller | 5223.7.17 | broader |
| hardware and paint specialised seller | 5223.7.21 | broader |
| second-hand goods specialised seller | 5223.7.30 | broader |
| building materials specialised seller | 5223.7.7 | broader |
| music and video shop specialised seller | 5223.7.26 | broader |
| toys and games specialised seller | 5223.7.37 | broader |
| domestic appliances specialised seller | 5223.7.14 | broader |
| ammunition specialised seller | 5223.7.1 | broader |
| audio and video equipment specialised seller | 5223.7.2 | broader |
| beverages specialised seller | 5223.7.5 | broader |
| bookshop specialised seller | 5223.7.6 | broader |
| clothing specialised seller | 5223.7.8 | broader |
| computer and accessories specialised seller | 5223.7.9 | broader |
| computer games, multimedia and software specialised seller | 5223.7.10 | broader |
| confectionery specialised seller | 5223.7.11 | broader |
| cosmetics and perfume specialised seller | 5223.7.12 | broader |
| delicatessen specialised seller | 5223.7.13 | broader |
| fish and seafood specialised seller | 5223.7.16 | broader |
| fruit and vegetables specialised seller | 5223.7.19 | broader |
| jewellery and watches specialised seller | 5223.7.22 | broader |
| orthopaedic supplies specialised seller | 5223.7.27 | broader |
| pet and pet food specialised seller | 5223.7.28 | broader |
| press and stationery specialised seller | 5223.7.29 | broader |
| shoe and leather accessories specialised seller | 5223.7.31 | broader |
| shop assistant | 5223.6 | broader |
| specialised antique dealer | 5223.7.32 | broader |
| sporting accessories specialised seller | 5223.7.33 | broader |
| telecommunications equipment specialised seller | 5223.7.34 | broader |
| textile specialised seller | 5223.7.35 | broader |
| tobacco specialised seller | 5223.7.36 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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