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Retail Salespersons

General Information

Description

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

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit89.20%
  2. Self-employed7.42%
  3. Private, not for profit2.04%
  4. State and local government0.64%
  5. Federal government0.33%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Marketing

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
-2%
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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of retail sales workers is projected to decline 2 percent from 2022 to 2032. Despite declining employment, about 563,000 openings for retail sales workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$30,600

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$19,960
$35,880
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 63%
  • Less than high school 19%
  • Associate's degree 9%
  • Bachelor's degree 4%
  • Post-secondary certificate 2%
  • Some college 1%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Enterprising — You have an interest in managing, negotiating and marketing, or leading and advising others.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Administrative
  • Computers and Electronics

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.