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Retail Salesperson

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All About Retail Salespersons

Retail Salesperson Job Description Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

Retail Salesperson Responsibilities

  • Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.
  • Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
  • Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
  • Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
  • Rent merchandise to customers.
  • Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.

Qualities of a Retail Salesperson

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.

  • Meat Clerk
  • Pet Counselor
  • Orthopedic Shoe Fitter
  • Sales Trainee
  • Consultant

What Kind of Retail Salesperson Job Opportunities Are There?

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. There will be an estimated 670,300 positions for Retail Salesperson per year.

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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.

Do Retail Salespersons Make A Lot Of Money?

The salary for Retail Salespersons ranges between about $18,400 and $41,530 a year.

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Retail Salespersons who work in District of Columbia, Washington, or Hawaii, make the highest salaries.

How much do Retail Salespersons make in each U.S. state?

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
  • Facebook
  • IBM Notes
  • Google Docs
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
  • Intuit QuickBooks

Becoming a Retail Salesperson

What education is needed to be a Retail Salesperson?

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Retail Salesperson?

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Who Employs Retail Salespersons?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Retail Salespersons employed by various industries.

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Career changers with experience as a Retail Salesperson sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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