Retail Sales Workers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$34,730
~$17/hr · ~$2,894/mo
US Jobs
4.2M
Little or no change
AI & Automation Risk
4/10
Low Risk
AI & Automation Risk
Low Risk 4/10
Retail sales involve a mix of physical tasks (stocking shelves, demonstrating products) and interpersonal interaction that provides a barrier to full automation. However, AI is increasingly handling the information-heavy aspects of the job, such as personalized product recommendations, answering technical questions via kiosks/mobile apps, and automating inventory management and checkout processes, which reduces the total human labor required per store.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDBEST VALUE | $36,150 | Below avg (89.4) | $40,457 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $35,360 | Below avg (87.9) | $40,233 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $34,370 | Below avg (85.9) | $40,007 |
| Minot, ND | $35,450 | Below avg (88.7) | $39,973 |
| Napa, CA | $44,680 | Above avg (111.8) | $39,955 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $35,450 | Below avg (89.1) | $39,771 |
| Mankato, MN | $34,570 | Below avg (87.6) | $39,442 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $36,190 | Below avg (91.9) | $39,399 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $34,540 | Below avg (89.3) | $38,678 |
| Yuma, AZ | $33,970 | Below avg (88.1) | $38,565 |
| Carson City, NV | $36,540 | Below avg (94.9) | $38,509 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $33,480 | Below avg (87.2) | $38,403 |
| Billings, MT | $34,670 | Below avg (90.3) | $38,373 |
| Bangor, ME | $35,240 | Below avg (92.3) | $38,163 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $34,490 | Below avg (90.5) | $38,119 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
No formal educational credential
10-Year Growth
0% (Little or no change)
Hourly Rate
~$17/hr
Monthly Income
~$2,894/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)