Life As a Retail Salesperson
Occupation Description Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
Life as a Retail Salesperson: What Do They Do?
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
- Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.
- Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
What a Retail Salesperson Should Know
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.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Related Job Titles
- Haberdasher
- Electric Motors Salesperson
- Jewelry Salesperson
- Horticultural and Nursery Products Salesperson
- Women’s Apparel Salesperson
Job Demand for Retail Salespersons
There were about 4,602,500 jobs for Retail Salespersons in 2016 (in the United States).
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 1.7% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 79,700 new jobs for Retail Salespersons by 2026. There will be an estimated 670,300 positions for Retail Salesperson per year.
The states with the most job growth for Retail Salespersons are Texas, Florida, and Georgia.
Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Kansas, or Minnesota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Retail Salespersons Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Retail Salespersons is somewhere between $18,400 and $41,530. The median salary for this occupation is $24,200.
How much do Retail Salespersons make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
District of Columbia |
$37,510 |
|
Washington |
$34,500 |
|
Connecticut |
$32,910 |
|
North Dakota |
$32,830 |
|
Rhode Island |
$31,630 |
|
California |
$31,460 |
|
Vermont |
$30,930 |
|
Colorado |
$30,860 |
|
Oregon |
$30,590 |
|
Hawaii |
$30,530 |
|
Massachusetts |
$30,290 |
|
New York |
$30,100 |
|
Alaska |
$30,060 |
|
South Dakota |
$29,450 |
|
Minnesota |
$29,190 |
|
New Jersey |
$29,180 |
|
Illinois |
$28,710 |
|
New Hampshire |
$28,610 |
|
Montana |
$28,500 |
|
Maine |
$28,310 |
|
Wyoming |
$28,280 |
|
Ohio |
$28,260 |
|
Nevada |
$28,180 |
|
Missouri |
$28,030 |
|
Oklahoma |
$27,940 |
|
Tennessee |
$27,790 |
|
Maryland |
$27,740 |
|
Idaho |
$27,710 |
|
Utah |
$27,570 |
|
Michigan |
$27,440 |
|
Kansas |
$27,390 |
|
Nebraska |
$27,380 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$27,350 |
|
Virginia |
$27,310 |
|
New Mexico |
$27,060 |
|
Arizona |
$27,050 |
|
Iowa |
$26,870 |
|
Texas |
$26,840 |
|
Florida |
$26,790 |
|
Alabama |
$26,770 |
|
Wisconsin |
$26,540 |
|
South Carolina |
$26,420 |
|
Delaware |
$26,330 |
|
North Carolina |
$26,190 |
|
Indiana |
$26,040 |
|
Mississippi |
$25,780 |
|
Kentucky |
$25,700 |
|
Arkansas |
$25,610 |
|
Georgia |
$25,510 |
|
Louisiana |
$25,420 |
|
West Virginia |
$25,400 |
What Tools & Technology do Retail Salespersons Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Retail Salespersons:
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Intuit QuickBooks
- SmugMug Flickr
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
How to Become a Retail Salesperson
What education or degrees do I need to become a Retail Salesperson?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Retail Salespersons Are Employed
You May Also Be Interested In…
Are you already one of the many Retail Salespersons in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
- Tour Guides and Escorts
- Gaming and Sports Book Writers and Runners
- Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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