California Median
$38,440
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.48
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $35,410
State Rank
#3 of 51
376,460 employed here
How much does a Retail Salesperson make in California?
Retail Salespersons in California take home a median of $38,440 annually — roughly $18.48 an hour — which runs 9% above the national median of $35,410.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $35,240 while the top 10% make $54,310 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $36,350 and $45,460 a year.
Retail Salesperson salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,240 | $16.94 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $36,350 | $17.48 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $38,440 | $18.48 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $45,460 | $21.86 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,310 | $26.11 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Retail Salesperson pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Retail Salesperson salary in other states
Washington $39,560District of Columbia $38,500Colorado $37,950Hawaii $37,790New York $37,720Vermont $37,400Alaska $37,290Oregon $36,770Maine $36,640Massachusetts $36,610New Jersey $36,520Connecticut $36,490Minnesota $36,370Montana $36,270New Hampshire $36,200North Dakota $36,040Arizona $35,720Maryland $35,510Illinois $35,370Delaware $35,360Idaho $35,080Rhode Island $34,860Michigan $34,640Wisconsin $34,480South Dakota $34,370Wyoming $34,310Virginia $34,240Nevada $34,190Florida $34,010Utah $33,900Missouri $33,460New Mexico $33,300Kansas $32,180Tennessee $31,950Nebraska $31,870Indiana $31,530North Carolina $31,370Iowa $31,360Pennsylvania $31,200Georgia $30,840Ohio $30,800Texas $30,800South Carolina $30,690Alabama $30,040Oklahoma $29,660Kentucky $29,650Louisiana $29,490Arkansas $29,270West Virginia $28,950Mississippi $28,640
Working as a Retail Salesperson in California
Nationally, about 3,898,000 people work as Retail Salespersons in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($38,440) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Retail Salesperson make in California?
The median Retail Salesperson salary in California is $38,440 per year, or about $18.48 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,240 at the entry level to $54,310 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Retail Salespersons about 9% more than the national median of $35,410. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Retail Salespersons?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $38,440 a year. About 376,460 Retail Salespersons are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Retail Salesperson salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.