All About Retail Salespersons
Position Description Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
What Do Retail Salespersons Do On a Daily Basis?
- Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.
- Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
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Things a Retail Salesperson Should Know How to Do
Retail Salespersons state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Other Retail Salesperson Job Titles
- Customer Service Associate
- Fashion Consultant
- New Car Salesperson
- Cosmetic Consultant
- Meat Clerk
Is There Going to be Demand for Retail Salespersons?
In the United States, there were 4,602,500 jobs for Retail Salesperson in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.7% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 79,600 new jobs for Retail Salesperson by 2026. The BLS estimates 670,300 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Retail Salesperson are Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Retail Salesperson Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Retail Salespersons is somewhere between $18,400 and $41,530.
Retail Salespersons who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Retail Salespersons in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $26,770 |
| Alaska | $30,060 |
| Arizona | $27,050 |
| Arkansas | $25,610 |
| California | $31,460 |
| Colorado | $30,860 |
| Connecticut | $32,910 |
| Delaware | $26,330 |
| District of Columbia | $37,510 |
| Florida | $26,790 |
| Georgia | $25,510 |
| Hawaii | $30,530 |
| Idaho | $27,710 |
| Illinois | $28,710 |
| Indiana | $26,040 |
| Iowa | $26,870 |
| Kansas | $27,390 |
| Kentucky | $25,700 |
| Louisiana | $25,420 |
| Maine | $28,310 |
| Maryland | $27,740 |
| Massachusetts | $30,290 |
| Michigan | $27,440 |
| Minnesota | $29,190 |
| Mississippi | $25,780 |
| Missouri | $28,030 |
| Montana | $28,500 |
| Nebraska | $27,380 |
| Nevada | $28,180 |
| New Hampshire | $28,610 |
| New Jersey | $29,180 |
| New Mexico | $27,060 |
| New York | $30,100 |
| North Carolina | $26,190 |
| North Dakota | $32,830 |
| Ohio | $28,260 |
| Oklahoma | $27,940 |
| Oregon | $30,590 |
| Pennsylvania | $27,350 |
| Rhode Island | $31,630 |
| South Carolina | $26,420 |
| South Dakota | $29,450 |
| Tennessee | $27,790 |
| Texas | $26,840 |
| Utah | $27,570 |
| Vermont | $30,930 |
| Virginia | $27,310 |
| Washington | $34,500 |
| West Virginia | $25,400 |
| Wisconsin | $26,540 |
| Wyoming | $28,280 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Retail Salespersons
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Retail Salespersons may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Google Docs
- FileMaker Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Intuit QuickBooks
How do I Become a Retail Salesperson?
Are there Retail Salespersons education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Retail Salesperson?
Who Employs Retail Salespersons?
The table below shows the approximate number of Retail Salespersons employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those who work as a Retail Salesperson sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Tour Guides and Escorts
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
- Gaming and Sports Book Writers and Runners
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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