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Sales

Retail Salespersons

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

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Retail Salespersons
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Median pay

$34,580
Median annual pay for Retail Salespersons.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-0.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

555,800
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

3,936,700
Estimated U.S. employment for Retail Salespersons in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-19,600
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

No formal educational credential
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Active Learning
  5. 5Monitoring
  6. 6Reading Comprehension

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Sales and Marketing
  2. 2Customer and Personal Service
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Mathematics
  6. 6Administrative

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Speech Clarity
  4. 4Speech Recognition
  5. 5Problem Sensitivity
  6. 6Information Ordering

Career interests

  1. 1Enterprising
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Realistic
  4. 4Social
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Investigative

Work styles

  1. 1Social Orientation
  2. 2Optimism
  3. 3Dependability
  4. 4Cooperation
  5. 5Perseverance
  6. 6Empathy

Work activities

  1. 1Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  2. 2Selling or Influencing Others
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  5. 5Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  6. 6Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Work context

  1. 1Contact With Others
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3Telephone Conversations
  4. 4Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative tasks

  • Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
  • Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
  • 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.
  • Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
  • Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.

Software and tools

Adobe Acrobat · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMozilla Firefox · hot technologyOracle PeopleSoft · hot technologyGoogle Docs · hot technology

The short answer

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

The measurable national baseline is $34,580 median annual pay, -0.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034, and 555,800 projected openings per year. Use these figures as a national benchmark rather than a personal forecast; location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours can change individual outcomes.

Pay and the size of the opportunity

The national median-pay figure for Retail Salespersons is $34,580. Current employment is 3,936,700, with projected 2034 employment of 3,917,100. Pay describes the middle worker nationally, not a guaranteed starting salary, and the employment totals describe the occupation's scale rather than the number of jobs available to one applicant.

Demand, growth, and annual openings

BLS projects -0.5% employment growth for Retail Salespersons from 2024 to 2034 and about 555,800 openings per year. Growth measures whether the occupation is expanding, while annual openings also include replacement needs created when workers retire, change occupations, or leave the labor force.

Education and preparation

The typical BLS entry-education category is No formal educational credential. Related work experience is None, and the listed on-the-job training category is Short-term on-the-job training. These categories summarize a national pathway; licensing, certification, portfolios, apprenticeships, or local employer requirements may add to it.

What the work involves

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

A representative O*NET task is: Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs. The broader activity profile emphasizes Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Selling or Influencing Others, Getting Information.

Skills, knowledge, and tools

The strongest available O*NET skill signals are Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking. Leading knowledge areas are Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service, English Language. These are national occupational signals, so a specific employer may emphasize a different mix. Examples of software or tools associated with the occupation include Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook.

Common questions

What is the median pay for Retail Salespersons?

The national median annual pay in the current dataset is $34,580. Actual pay varies by location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Is demand growing for Retail Salespersons?

BLS projects -0.5% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 555,800 openings per year. Openings include both newly created positions and replacement demand.

What education is needed for Retail Salespersons?

The typical BLS entry-education category is No formal educational credential. Related experience, on-the-job training, licensing, or certification requirements may also apply.

What does Retail Salespersons involve?

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

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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