Summary
Please enable javascript to play this video.
Quick Facts: Retail Sales Workers | |
---|---|
$23,370 per year
$11.24 per hour |
|
No formal educational credential | |
None | |
See How to Become One | |
4,854,300 | |
2% (Slower than average) | |
92,400 |
What Retail Sales Workers Do
Retail sales workers help customers find products they want and process customers’ payments. There are two types of retail sales workers: retail salespersons, who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles; and parts salespersons, who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts.
Work Environment
Most retail sales workers work in clean, well-lit stores. Many sales workers work evenings and weekends. About 1 in 3 retail salespersons worked part time in 2016.
How to Become a Retail Sales Worker
Typically, there are no formal education requirements for retail sales workers. Most receive on-the-job training, which usually lasts a few days to a few months.
Pay
The median hourly wage for parts salespersons was $14.13 in May 2017.
The median hourly wage for retail salespersons was $11.16 in May 2017.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of retail sales workers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2016 to 2026, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite the low projected employment growth there should still be plenty of job opportunities over the next ten years since many workers leave this occupation each year.
State & Area Data
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for retail sales workers.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of retail sales workers with similar occupations.
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about retail sales workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.