North Carolina Median
$31,370
per year
Hourly Rate
$15.08
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $35,410
State Rank
#38 of 51
127,540 employed here
How much does a Retail Salesperson make in North Carolina?
A Retail Salesperson working in North Carolina earns a median salary of $31,370 per year, or about $15.08 per hour. That is 11% below the national median of $35,410 for this occupation.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $23,040 while the top 10% make $46,070 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $27,720 and $36,930 a year.
Retail Salesperson salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,040 | $11.08 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $27,720 | $13.33 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $31,370 | $15.08 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $36,930 | $17.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,070 | $22.15 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 38th 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 $38,500California $38,440Colorado $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 $31,530Iowa $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($31,370) 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 North Carolina?
The median Retail Salesperson salary in North Carolina is $31,370 per year, or about $15.08 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $23,040 at the entry level to $46,070 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Retail Salespersons about 11% less than the national median of $35,410. North Carolina ranks 38th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Retail Salespersons?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $31,370 a year. About 127,540 Retail Salespersons are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.