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Retail Sales Associate Salary by State (2026)
Retail Sales Associates (Retail Salespersons) hold 3,897,850 jobs across the US. Typical pay is $34,043 per year, but the median ranges from $28,640 in Mississippi to $39,560 in Washington. Pick your state for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Retail Sales Associate salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Washington | $39,560 | 84,850 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 | 4,660 |
| California | $38,440 | 376,460 |
| Colorado | $37,950 | 76,660 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 | 19,180 |
| New York | $37,720 | 238,540 |
| Vermont | $37,400 | 8,250 |
| Alaska | $37,290 | 7,890 |
| Oregon | $36,770 | 48,090 |
| Maine | $36,640 | 18,450 |
| Massachusetts | $36,610 | 86,860 |
| New Jersey | $36,520 | 72,530 |
| Connecticut | $36,490 | 42,410 |
| Minnesota | $36,370 | 74,840 |
| Montana | $36,270 | 13,490 |
| New Hampshire | $36,200 | 23,880 |
| North Dakota | $36,040 | 11,320 |
| Arizona | $35,720 | 93,920 |
| Maryland | $35,510 | 79,320 |
| Illinois | $35,370 | 126,610 |
| Delaware | $35,360 | 13,400 |
| Idaho | $35,080 | 20,180 |
| Rhode Island | $34,860 | 12,830 |
| Michigan | $34,640 | 111,010 |
| Wisconsin | $34,480 | 67,640 |
| South Dakota | $34,370 | 14,180 |
| Wyoming | $34,310 | 8,770 |
| Virginia | $34,240 | 100,290 |
| Nevada | $34,190 | 43,920 |
| Florida | $34,010 | 333,460 |
| Utah | $33,900 | 47,570 |
| Missouri | $33,460 | 67,140 |
| New Mexico | $33,300 | 23,800 |
| Kansas | $32,180 | 33,360 |
| Tennessee | $31,950 | 87,380 |
| Nebraska | $31,870 | 22,780 |
| Indiana | $31,530 | 83,670 |
| North Carolina | $31,370 | 127,540 |
| Iowa | $31,360 | 41,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,200 | 141,790 |
| Georgia | $30,840 | 143,120 |
| Ohio | $30,800 | 137,370 |
| Texas | $30,800 | 341,640 |
| South Carolina | $30,690 | 67,310 |
| Alabama | $30,040 | 60,880 |
| Oklahoma | $29,660 | 43,830 |
| Kentucky | $29,650 | 51,250 |
| Louisiana | $29,490 | 49,570 |
| Arkansas | $29,270 | 35,510 |
| West Virginia | $28,950 | 19,050 |
| Mississippi | $28,640 | 38,400 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average Retail Sales Associate salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Retail Sales Associate salary in the US is about $34,043 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 3,897,850 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Retail Sales Associates the most?
- Washington has the highest median Retail Sales Associate salary at $39,560 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Retail Sales Associates the least?
- Mississippi has the lowest median at $28,640 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Retail Salespersons, code 41-2031). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.