Retail Sales Workers
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Retail sales workers help customers find products they want and process customers' payments.
Work Environment: Most retail sales workers work in clean, well-lit stores. Many sales workers work evenings and weekends. Some retail salespersons work part time.
How to Become One: Typically, there are no formal education requirements for retail sales workers. Most receive on-the-job training, which usually lasts a few days to a few months.
Salary: The median hourly wage for parts salespersons was $18.57 in May 2025. The median hourly wage for retail salespersons was $17.03 in May 2025.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of retail sales workers is projected to decline 0 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of retail sales workers with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a retail sales worker with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Retail Associate Jobs
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retail associate
- Distribution Center
- Fort Worth,TX
At DICK'S Sporting Goods, we believe in how positively sports can change lives. On our team, everyone plays a critical role in creating confidence and excitement by personally equipping all athletes to achieve their...
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Seasonal Merchandise Associate
- TJX
- Dallas,TX
At TJX Companies, every day brings new opportunities for growth, exploration, and achievement. You'll be part of our vibrant team that embraces diversity, fosters collaboration, and prioritizes your development.
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Retail Sales Associate
- Macy’s
- Grapevine,TX
*Be Part of an Amazing Story* Macy's is more than just a store. We're a story. One that's captured the hearts and minds of America for more than 160 years. A story about innovations and traditions…about inspiring stores and irresistible...
What Retail Sales Workers Do[About this section] [To Top]
Retail sales workers help customers find products they want and process customers' payments. There are two types of retail sales workers: retail salespersons, who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles; and parts salespersons, who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts.
Duties of Retail Sales Workers
Retail sales workers typically do the following:
- Greet customers and offer them assistance
- Recommend merchandise based on customers' wants and needs
- Explain the use and benefit of merchandise to customers
- Answer customers' questions
- Show how merchandise works, if applicable
- Add up customers' total purchases and accept payment
- Inform customers about current sales, promotions, and policies about payments and exchanges
The following are examples of types of retail sales workers:
Retail salespersons work in stores where they sell goods, such as books, cars, clothing, cosmetics, electronics, furniture, lumber, plants, shoes, and many other types of merchandise.
In addition to helping customers find and select items to buy, many retail salespersons process the payment for the sale, which typically involves operating cash registers.
After taking payment for the purchases, retail salespersons may bag or package the purchases.
Depending on the hours they work, retail salespersons may have to open or close cash registers. This includes counting the money in the register and separating charge slips, coupons, and exchange vouchers. They may also make deposits at a cash office.
For information about other workers who receive and disburse money, see the profile on cashiers.
In addition, retail salespersons may help stock shelves or racks, arrange for mailing or delivery of purchases, mark price tags, take inventory, and prepare displays.
For some retail sales jobs, particularly those involving expensive and complex items, retail sales workers need special knowledge or skills. For example, those who sell cars must be able to explain the features of various models, manufacturers' specifications, different types of options on the car, financing available, and the details of associated warranties.
In addition, retail sales workers must recognize security risks and thefts and understand their organization's procedures for handling thefts, which may include notifying security guards or calling police.
Parts salespersons sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts. Most work in either automotive parts stores or automobile dealerships. They take customers' orders, inform customers of part availability and price, and take inventory.
Work Environment for Retail Sales Workers[About this section] [To Top]
Parts salespersons hold about 270,500 jobs. The largest employers of parts salespersons are as follows:
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire stores | 45% |
| Automobile dealers | 21% |
| Wholesale trade | 20% |
| Other motor vehicle dealers | 4% |
| Repair and maintenance | 4% |
Retail salespersons hold about 3.9 million jobs. The largest employers of retail salespersons are as follows:
| Clothing and clothing accessories stores | 17% |
| Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers | 13% |
| Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book stores | 7% |
| Automobile dealers | 6% |
| Electronics and appliance stores | 3% |
Most retail sales work is performed in clean, well-lit stores. Retail sales workers spend most of their time interacting with customers, answering questions, and assisting them with purchases.
Workers often stand for long periods and may need permission from a supervisor to leave the sales floor. If they sell items such as cars, plants, or lumberyard materials, they may work outdoors.
Retail Sales Worker Schedules
Many sales workers work evenings and weekends, particularly during holidays and other peak sales periods. Because the end-of-year holiday season is often the busiest time for retail stores, many employers limit retail sales workers' use of vacation time between November and the beginning of January.
Some retail salespersons work part time.
How to Become a Retail Sales Worker[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Retail Sales Workers near you!
Typically, there are no formal education requirements for retail sales workers. Most receive on-the-job training, which usually lasts a few days to a few months.
Education for Retail Sales Workers
Although retail or parts sales positions usually have no formal education requirements, some employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma or equivalent, especially employers who sell technical products or "big-ticket" items, such as electronics or cars.
Retail Sales Worker Training
Most retail sales workers receive on-the-job training, which usually lasts a few days to a few months. In small stores, an experienced employee often trains newly hired workers. In large stores, training programs are more formal and usually conducted over several days.
During training sessions, topics often include customer service, security, the store's policies and procedures, and how to operate the cash register.
Depending on the type of product they are selling, employees may be given additional specialized training. For example, salespersons working in cosmetics get instruction on the types of products the store offers and for whom the cosmetics would be most beneficial. Likewise, those who sell auto parts may be instructed on the technical functions of various parts, in addition to sales technique.
Because providing exceptional service to customers is a priority for many employers, employees often get periodic training to update and refine their skills.
Advancement for Retail Sales Workers
Retail sales workers typically have opportunities to advance to supervisory or managerial positions. Some employers want candidates for managerial positions to have a college degree.
As sales workers gain experience and seniority, they often move into positions that have greater responsibility and may be given their choice of departments in which to work. This opportunity often means moving to positions with higher potential earnings and commissions. The highest earnings potential usually involves selling "big-ticket" items, such as cars, jewelry, furniture, and electronics. These positions often require workers with extensive knowledge of the product and excellent sales skills.
Important Qualities for Retail Sales Workers
Customer-service skills. Retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers. They should explain the product options available to customers and make appropriate recommendations.
Interpersonal skills. A friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people.
Math skills. Retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers.
Persistence. A large number of attempted sales may not be successful, so sales workers should not be discouraged easily. They must start each new sales attempt with a positive attitude.
Selling skills. Retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers. They must clearly and effectively explain the benefits of the merchandise.
Retail Sales Worker Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
Salary and job outlook data updated October 2026 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2025 wages, 2025-35 employment projections).
The median hourly wage for parts salespersons was $18.57 in May 2025. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.58, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $30.24.
The median hourly wage for retail salespersons was $17.03 in May 2025. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.08, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $23.02.
In May 2025, the median hourly wages for parts salespersons in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Wholesale trade | $23.75 |
| Repair and maintenance | 23.59 |
| Automobile dealers | 22.08 |
| Other motor vehicle dealers | 20.52 |
| Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers | 17.04 |
In May 2025, the median hourly wages for retail salespersons in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Motor vehicle and parts dealers | $19.83 |
| Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers | 17.82 |
| Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers | 16.61 |
| General merchandise retailers | 16.58 |
| Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers | 16.43 |
Wage data are from nonfarm establishments. The data exclude self-employed workers and owners and partners in unincorporated businesses. Tips, sales commissions, and bonuses for meeting production targets are included in wages; premium pay, such as overtime and shift differentials, is not.
Many sales workers are employed full time. Schedules may vary to include evenings and weekends. Workers sometimes pick up additional shifts or part-time employment, particularly during holidays and other peak sales periods.
Job Outlook for Retail Sales Workers[About this section] [To Top]
Overall employment of retail sales workers is projected to decline 0 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Despite declining employment, about 550,600 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.
Employment
The increase in online sales is expected to continue over the projections decade, limiting growth in the number of physical retail stores and reducing demand for retail sales workers.
Competition from e-commerce is expected to reduce demand for retail salespersons. However, because retail salespersons provide a versatile range of customer service tasks, and because many consumers are still expected to visit physical stores, retail salespersons should continue to be needed to help customers and to complete sales.
Demand for car parts and parts salespersons is expected to continue as many older cars require repairs.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2025 | Projected Employment, 2035 | Change, 2025-35 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Retail sales workers | 4,271,400 | 4,265,700 | 0 | -5,700 |
| Parts salespersons | 273,300 | 281,600 | 3 | 8,300 |
| Retail salespersons | 3,998,100 | 3,984,100 | 0 | -14,000 |
More Retail Sales Worker Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about the retail industry, visit
Retail Industry Leaders Association
For more information about training for a career in automobile sales, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.