How Much Does a Sales Associate Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$35,410
Sales associates in the U.S. earn a median of $35,410 a year, or $17.03 an hour. Half of sales associates earn more than $35,410 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $47,890.
Pay percentiles for sales associates
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $13.08 | $27,210 |
| 25th | $14.38 | $29,900 |
| 50th (median) | $17.03 | $35,410 |
| 75th | $18.59 | $38,670 |
| 90th | $23.02 | $47,890 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Retail Salespersons (SOC 41-2031). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for sales associates
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 | $19.02 | +12% |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 | $18.51 | +9% |
| California | $38,440 | $18.48 | +9% |
| Colorado | $37,950 | $18.25 | +7% |
| Hawaii | $37,790 | $18.17 | +7% |
| New York | $37,720 | $18.13 | +7% |
| Vermont | $37,400 | $17.98 | +6% |
| Alaska | $37,290 | $17.93 | +5% |
| Oregon | $36,770 | $17.68 | +4% |
| Maine | $36,640 | $17.61 | +3% |
| United States | $35,410 | $17.03 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many sales associates are there?
BLS counts about 3,897,860 sales associates employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Retail Salespersons”. The most jobs are in California (376,460), Texas (341,640) and Florida (333,460).
The mean (average) annual wage is $37,310, higher than the median of $35,410.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $2,951
- Biweekly
- $1,362
- Weekly
- $681
- Daily (8 hours)
- $136
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do sales associates make an hour?
The median hourly wage for sales associates is $17.03. The middle 50% earn between $14.38 and $18.59 an hour.
Which state pays sales associates the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for sales associates at $39,560, +12% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for sales associates?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of sales associates earn less than $27,210 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.