Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

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)
4,155,190 0.4 % $12.02 $25,000 0.2 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $7.75 $8.58 $9.94 $13.29 $18.54
Annual Wage (2) $16,120 $17,850 $20,670 $27,640 $38,570

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)
Clothing Stores 720,410 66.70 $10.38 $21,580
Department Stores 477,510 31.45 $10.45 $21,730
Building Material and Supplies Dealers 388,140 37.62 $13.31 $27,690
Other General Merchandise Stores 352,270 23.18 $9.79 $20,360
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 268,830 56.72 $10.46 $21,760

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 130,160 71.75 $10.20 $21,220
Clothing Stores 720,410 66.70 $10.38 $21,580
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores 88,450 65.50 $12.75 $26,520
Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Stores 268,830 56.72 $10.46 $21,760
Home Furnishings Stores 105,600 46.78 $13.61 $28,300

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing 120 0.11 $24.75 $51,480
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors 490 0.07 $20.69 $43,040
Automobile Dealers 226,280 22.49 $20.40 $42,430
Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 3,120 1.42 $20.09 $41,790
Other Information Services 330 0.24 $19.93 $41,460

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 429,730 30.69 0.94 $12.41 $25,810
Texas 350,210 34.71 1.06 $11.48 $23,880
New York 268,830 32.22 0.99 $12.80 $26,630
Florida 263,010 37.02 1.13 $12.53 $26,070
Pennsylvania 186,160 33.95 1.04 $12.39 $25,770




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)
Hawaii 23,210 40.60 1.24 $12.83 $26,680
Delaware 15,800 39.72 1.22 $11.74 $24,410
Georgia 141,690 37.84 1.16 $11.14 $23,180
New Hampshire 22,470 37.24 1.14 $12.31 $25,600
Florida 263,010 37.02 1.13 $12.53 $26,070




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 6,470 10.11 0.31 $13.62 $28,330
Washington 91,070 33.82 1.03 $13.24 $27,540
Colorado 73,190 33.92 1.04 $13.16 $27,380
Connecticut 49,670 31.07 0.95 $12.91 $26,860
North Dakota 11,680 32.85 1.01 $12.91 $26,850

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-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 156,740 31.46 0.96 $13.04 $27,130
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 115,400 32.58 1.00 $12.17 $25,310
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 113,190 29.65 0.91 $12.37 $25,730
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 81,880 37.21 1.14 $11.47 $23,860
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 81,740 32.72 1.00 $11.24 $23,380
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 66,880 33.41 1.02 $12.69 $26,380
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 60,360 26.37 0.81 $12.72 $26,450
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 56,650 33.65 1.03 $12.25 $25,480
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 54,250 30.06 0.92 $13.22 $27,490
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 50,630 30.17 0.92 $11.18 $23,260




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

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Mankato-North Mankato, MN 3,950 69.96 2.14 $9.85 $20,490
Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC 7,490 69.96 2.14 $10.16 $21,130
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI 3,340 59.42 1.82 $11.42 $23,740
Barnstable Town, MA 5,440 58.27 1.78 $12.82 $26,660
Rapid City, SD 3,400 58.17 1.78 $10.92 $22,700
Taunton-Norton-Raynham, MA NECTA Division 2,480 57.65 1.76 $11.20 $23,290
Lawrence-Methuen-Salem, MA-NH NECTA Division 3,150 56.83 1.74 $11.95 $24,860
Leominster-Fitchburg-Gardner, MA 2,650 55.53 1.70 $11.38 $23,670
Peabody, MA NECTA Division 5,330 53.89 1.65 $14.78 $30,750
Hot Springs, AR 1,890 52.76 1.61 $10.98 $22,840