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Retail Salesperson Salary by State (2026): Complete Table + FAQs
Retail salespeople staff the stores we shop in, with pay that varies by state, store type and commission structure. This state-by-state table from the latest official U.S. BLS OEWS release shows hourly, monthly and yearly wages.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS (latest release) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Retail Salesperson pay by state at a glance
| State | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $20.93 | $3,628 | $43,530 |
| California | $20.65 | $3,579 | $42,950 |
| New York | $20.47 | $3,548 | $42,580 |
| Vermont | $20.41 | $3,538 | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $20.38 | $3,532 | $42,380 |
| New Jersey | $20.13 | $3,489 | $41,870 |
| Colorado | $19.97 | $3,462 | $41,540 |
| Connecticut | $19.53 | $3,384 | $40,610 |
| Hawaii | $19.48 | $3,377 | $40,520 |
| Oregon | $19.41 | $3,363 | $40,360 |
| Maine | $19.26 | $3,338 | $40,050 |
| Massachusetts | $19.22 | $3,331 | $39,970 |
| Alaska | $19.18 | $3,324 | $39,890 |
| South Dakota | $19.10 | $3,310 | $39,720 |
| New Hampshire | $18.86 | $3,270 | $39,240 |
| Illinois | $18.60 | $3,223 | $38,680 |
| North Dakota | $18.53 | $3,211 | $38,530 |
| Minnesota | $18.45 | $3,198 | $38,380 |
| Arizona | $18.36 | $3,183 | $38,190 |
| Montana | $18.35 | $3,181 | $38,170 |
| Maryland | $18.25 | $3,163 | $37,950 |
| Michigan | $18.19 | $3,153 | $37,830 |
| Rhode Island | $18.06 | $3,131 | $37,570 |
| Delaware | $17.98 | $3,116 | $37,390 |
| Idaho | $17.95 | $3,112 | $37,340 |
| Wyoming | $17.82 | $3,089 | $37,070 |
| Utah | $17.66 | $3,062 | $36,740 |
| Wisconsin | $17.50 | $3,033 | $36,400 |
| Nevada | $17.46 | $3,027 | $36,320 |
| Missouri | $17.46 | $3,026 | $36,310 |
| Virginia | $17.45 | $3,024 | $36,290 |
| Florida | $17.31 | $3,000 | $36,000 |
| New Mexico | $17.07 | $2,958 | $35,500 |
| Nebraska | $16.93 | $2,935 | $35,220 |
| Indiana | $16.92 | $2,933 | $35,200 |
| Tennessee | $16.83 | $2,918 | $35,010 |
| Kansas | $16.81 | $2,914 | $34,970 |
| Ohio | $16.63 | $2,882 | $34,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $16.60 | $2,878 | $34,530 |
| Iowa | $16.58 | $2,873 | $34,480 |
| North Carolina | $16.46 | $2,853 | $34,230 |
| Texas | $16.37 | $2,838 | $34,050 |
| Georgia | $16.34 | $2,832 | $33,980 |
| South Carolina | $16.25 | $2,816 | $33,790 |
| Alabama | $16.03 | $2,778 | $33,340 |
| Oklahoma | $15.90 | $2,755 | $33,060 |
| Kentucky | $15.66 | $2,714 | $32,570 |
| Louisiana | $15.63 | $2,709 | $32,510 |
| Arkansas | $15.55 | $2,696 | $32,350 |
| West Virginia | $15.01 | $2,603 | $31,230 |
| Mississippi | $14.98 | $2,596 | $31,150 |
The states that pay the most
Based on the data above, the top-paying states for this occupation are Washington, California, New York, Vermont, District of Columbia. Always compare pay against cost of living — a lower dollar wage in a cheaper state can win.
- Washington — $43,530 a year
- California — $42,950 a year
- New York — $42,580 a year
- Vermont — $42,450 a year
- District of Columbia — $42,380 a year
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays retail salespeople the most?
The table above ranks every published state and Washington currently leads. Commission-heavy categories like auto pay differently from general retail.
What is the average retail salesperson salary?
The U.S. mean retail sales wage is about $37,310 a year (about $17.94 per hour) in the latest BLS OEWS release, with a median near $35,410.
Does commission change these numbers?
Yes — the table covers base-plus-typical earnings; strong sellers can exceed it and slower periods undercut it.
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