Retail Salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
SOC: 41-2031.00
Common Job Titles
- Sales Associate
- Sales Clerk
- Sales Consultant
- Sales Person
What You'll Need to Succeed
AI-generatedKey competencies for this occupation at a glance
- MindsetIntegrate conflict resolution strategies with customer service principles when negotiating returns, exchanges, or service complaints to maintain customer satisfaction.Proficient
- MindsetEngage customers to identify needs and recommend appropriate merchandise in retail environments, building rapport through active listening and social perceptiveness.Developing
- KnowledgeApply persuasion and negotiation techniques to close sales while addressing customer objections and offering value-added solutions.Developing
- KnowledgeExplain product features, benefits, and pricing to customers using sales and marketing knowledge across diverse merchandise categories.Developing
- MindsetRespond to customer inquiries and concerns with service-oriented professionalism, establishing and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships in high-traffic retail settings.Developing
- Hands-onOperate point-of-sale systems, barcode scanners, and credit card processing equipment to complete transactions accurately and efficiently.Developing
- KnowledgeAssess inventory levels and merchandise displays, monitoring stock availability and arranging products to maximize customer appeal.Developing
- KnowledgeAnalyze customer preferences and purchasing behavior to identify cross-selling and upselling opportunities that meet individual needs.Developing
- Hands-onHandle merchandise for display, inventory management, and customer presentation, maintaining product quality and store organization standards.Developing
- KnowledgeApply product knowledge and industry trends by updating and using relevant knowledge to provide expert recommendations to customers.Developing
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Retail Salespersons (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
3,800,250
Wage Distribution by Percentile
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $25,600. 25th percentile: U.S. $29,140. 50th percentile: U.S. $34,580. 75th percentile: U.S. $37,850. 90th percentile: U.S. $47,930. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
- U.S.
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $25,600 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $47,930 |
| Workers on average earn | $37,150 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Sales and Marketing4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- English Language3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Eclipse IDE
- Google Docs
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- SAP software
- Salesforce software
Technology Skills
- ASI Point of Sale
- Advanced Retail Management Systems Retail Pro
- American Precision Instruments Regit
- Attitude POS itive AccuPOS Retail
- Bibase 4POS Retail
- Blink
- CAP Automation SellWise
- Comcash ERP
Tools & Equipment
- Adjustable widemouth pliers
- Adjustable wrenches
- Barcode scanners
- Cash registers
- Clothing irons
- Clothing steamers
- Computerized cash registers
- Credit card processing machines