Retail Salespersons
SOC: 41-2031.00

Description:

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
4,624,900 employed

Projected (2024):
4,939,100 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Agent
  • Art Dealer
  • Art Objects Salesperson
  • Associate Sales
  • Attendant Sales
  • Auto Dealer
  • Automobile Accessories Salesperson
  • Automobile Salesman
  • Automobiles Salesperson
  • Automotive Salesperson
  • Bakery Clerk
  • Bargain Table Clerk
  • Beauty Advisor
  • Beauty Consultant
  • Beauty Counselor
  • Boats and Marine Supplies Sales Representative
  • Books Salesperson
  • Bridal Consultant
  • Car Dealer
  • Car Salesman
  • Car Salesperson
  • Cashier
  • Cashier and Salesperson
  • China and Silverware Salesperson
  • Cigarette Seller
  • Clerk
  • Clothier
  • Clothing Consultant
  • Commission Sales Associate
  • Consultant
  • Corsetier
  • Corsets Salesperson
  • Cosmetic Consultant
  • Cosmetic Counselor
  • Cosmetics and Toiletries Salesperson
  • Coupon Redemption Clerk
  • Curtains and Draperies Salesperson
  • Customer Assistant
  • Customer Service Associate
  • Dairy Clerk
  • Department Store Salesperson
  • Design Consultant
  • Drapery Counselor
  • Drapery Estimator
  • Dry Goods Clerk
  • Electric Motors Salesperson
  • Fashion Consultant, Selling
  • Fitter
  • Fitting Room Associate
  • Floor Clerk
  • Floor Coverings Salesperson
  • Flowers Salesperson
  • Flying Squad Salesperson
  • Food Sales Clerk
  • Furniture Salesperson
  • Furs Salesperson
  • Garden Consultant
  • General Hardware Salesperson
  • General Merchandise Salesperson
  • Haberdasher
  • Home Planning Consultant Salesperson
  • Horticultural and Nursery Products Salesperson
  • Hourly Sales Staff
  • Household Appliances Salesperson
  • Infants' and Children's Wear Salesperson
  • Internet Sales Manager
  • Jewelry Salesperson
  • Layaway Clerk
  • Leather and Suede Apparel and Accessories Salesperson
  • Major Sales Associate
  • Meat Clerk
  • Meat Hostess
  • Men's and Boys' Clothing Salesperson
  • Men's Furnishings Salesperson
  • Menswear Salesperson
  • Merchandise Coordinator
  • Merchandise Manager
  • Merchandising Assistant
  • Millinery Salesperson
  • Musical Instruments and Accessories Salesperson
  • New Car Salesperson
  • Orthopedic Shoe Fitter
  • Orthopedic Shoes Salesperson
  • Paint Mixer
  • Pet Counselor
  • Pet Supplies Salesperson
  • Pets and Pet Supplies Salesperson
  • Pets Salesperson
  • Phonograph Records and Tape Recordings Salesperson
  • Photographic Supplies and Equipment Salesperson
  • Pianos and Organs Salesperson
  • Platform Attendant
  • Retail Associate
  • Retail Clerk
  • Retail Sales Associate
  • Retail Sales Clerk
  • Retail Sales Representative
  • Retail Salesman
  • Retail Salesperson
  • Retail Salesworker
  • Sales And Leasing Consultant
  • Sales Assistant
  • Sales Associate
  • Sales Attendant
  • Sales Clerk
  • Sales Consultant
  • Sales Person
  • Sales Professional
  • Sales Representative
  • Sales Specialist
  • Sales Support Associate
  • Sales Trainee
  • Salesman
  • Selling Manager
  • Service Advisor
  • Sewing Machines Salesperson
  • Sheet Music Salesperson
  • Shoe Clerk
  • Shoe Fitter
  • Shoe Salesman
  • Shoe Salesperson
  • Shoes Salesperson
  • Shop Girl
  • Shop Worker
  • Sporting Goods Salesperson
  • Stamp Redemption Clerk
  • Stamps or Coins Salesperson
  • Stereo Equipment Salesperson
  • Store Associate
  • Store Clerk
  • Store Manager
  • Surgical Corsetier
  • Toy Consultant
  • Toy Trains and Accessories Salesperson
  • Trailers and Motor Homes Salesperson
  • Used Car Salesperson
  • Vendette
  • Wallpaper Consultant
  • Wardrobe Image Consultant
  • Wig Sales Consultant
  • Wigs Salesperson
  • Women's Apparel and Accessories Salesperson
  • Women's Apparel Salesperson
  • Yard Goods Salesperson

    • Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

    Education:

    These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Technology Design
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Troubleshooting
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Therapy and Counseling
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Philosophy and Theology
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
  • Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits.
  • Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
  • Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
  • Maintain records related to sales.
  • Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations.
  • Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
  • Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
  • Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
  • Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
  • Prepare sales slips or sales contracts.
  • Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items.
  • Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
  • Clean shelves, counters, and tables.
  • Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns.
  • Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts.
  • Help customers try on or fit merchandise.
  • Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
  • Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
  • Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise.
  • Estimate and quote trade-in allowances.
  • Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise.
  • Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required, such as paint or floor covering.
  • Rent merchandise to customers.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Barcode scanners
  • Cash registers
  • Clothing irons
  • Clothing steamers
  • Computerized cash registers
  • Credit card processing machines
  • Desktop computers
  • Electronic funds transfer EFT terminals
  • Gas consoles
  • Hammers
  • Handheld calculators
  • Ladders
  • Lottery machines
  • Magnetic card readers
  • Personal computers
  • Point of sale POS computer terminals
  • Price guns
  • Screwdrivers
  • Sewing machines
  • Tape measures
  • Telecheck processing terminals
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Advanced Retail Management Systems Retail Pro
  • American Precision Instruments Regit
  • ASI Complete software
  • Attitude POS itive AccuPOS Retail
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Bibase 4POS Retail
  • Borderland software
  • CAP Automation SellWise
  • ComCash software
  • CompuTant CounterPoint
  • CyberMatrix software
  • DacEASY software
  • Datasym SYMFINITE
  • Eclipse software
  • Exact Software
  • EZ software
  • FileMaker Pro software
  • Gift registry software
  • Handheld computer device software
  • IBM Notes
  • ICVERIFY software
  • Infocorp Computer Solutions $mart System
  • Infocorp Softwear/POS
  • Internet browser software
  • Intuit QuickBooks software
  • iQmetrix RQ4 Retail Management System
  • LOB RetailPoint
  • Logisoft Positive Pos System
  • ManageMore Cellular Manager
  • Master Merchant Systems Music Store
  • MicroBiz software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft SharePoint software
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • Millennium Software Atrex
  • Plexis Software Plexis POS
  • Point of sale POS bookstore software
  • Point of sale POS parts and services software
  • Point of sale POS software
  • RiscStation POSSum
  • Sage 50 Accounting
  • SAP software
  • SBS Keystroke
  • Semicron Systems software
  • Sixth Sense software
  • Softpedia ShopInvo
  • SureSELL software
  • System 3 POS software
  • The General Store software
  • The Retail Solution software
  • TokenWorks Magnetic Card Reader
  • True North Computer Retail Plus
  • VeriFone PC Charge Pro
  • Vigilant software
  • Visual Retail Plus software

    • sales and related

    industry stats

    SOC: 41-0000

    Total Employed: 14,462,120

    Average Annual Salary: $39,320