Salaries › Retail Sales Associate › Tennessee
Retail Sales Associate Salary in Tennessee (2026)
$15.36 per hour · take-home ≈ $27,852/year ($2,321/month) for a single filer
Retail Sales Associate pay range in Tennessee
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $23,720 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $28,070 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $31,950 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $36,660 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $47,720 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 87,380 Retail Sales Associate jobs in Tennessee (occupation code 41-2031, “Retail Salespersons”).
Gross vs. take-home in Tennessee
A median Retail Sales Associate salary of $31,950 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in Tennessee), a single filer keeps about $27,852 — an effective tax rate of 12.8%.
| Gross (median) | $31,950 |
| Federal income tax | −$1,654 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,444 |
| Tennessee state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $27,852 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,321 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Tennessee paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Retail Sales Associate make in Tennessee?
- The median Retail Sales Associate salary in Tennessee is $31,950 per year ($15.36 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $28,070 and $36,660.
- What is the take-home pay for a Retail Sales Associate in Tennessee?
- On the median salary of $31,950, a single filer in Tennessee takes home about $27,852 per year ($2,321 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 12.8%.
- How many Retail Sales Associate jobs are there in Tennessee?
- BLS counts 87,380 Retail Sales Associate jobs in Tennessee in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Retail Sales Associates
Other salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.