Salaries › Retail Sales Associate › North Carolina
Retail Sales Associate Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$15.08 per hour · take-home ≈ $26,643/year ($2,220/month) for a single filer
Retail Sales Associate pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $23,040 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $27,720 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $31,370 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $36,930 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $46,070 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 127,540 Retail Sales Associate jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 41-2031, “Retail Salespersons”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Retail Sales Associate salary of $31,370 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $26,643 — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
| Gross (median) | $31,370 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,584 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,400 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$743 |
| Take-home (annual) | $26,643 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,220 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Retail Sales Associate make in North Carolina?
- The median Retail Sales Associate salary in North Carolina is $31,370 per year ($15.08 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $27,720 and $36,930.
- What is the take-home pay for a Retail Sales Associate in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $31,370, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $26,643 per year ($2,220 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
- How many Retail Sales Associate jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 127,540 Retail Sales Associate jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Retail Sales Associates
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.