Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified updated details of associate retailer salary by state for the United States in 2026:
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Washington continues to have the highest associate retailer salary at $36,307
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New Mexico has the lowest associate retailer salary at $24,438
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The national average salary for associate retailers is $28,763
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The national hourly pay for associate retailers stands at $13.83
You can read more about our specific methodology.
Background
In 2026, salary remains a top priority for job seekers across all demographics. Understanding how much associate retailers earn in your area is crucial for making informed career decisions.
While individual salaries can vary based on location, experience, and company, the following averages provide a helpful overview of what to expect in terms of compensation for associate retailers across the country.
Washington remains the state with the highest salary for associate retailers.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for associate retailer salaries in 2026:
Let’s take a closer look at the rankings and how we arrived at these figures.
Highest-Paid Associate Retailers By State
| Rank | State | Average Associate Retailer Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $36,307 | $29,000 | $44,000 |
| 2 | Vermont | $35,259 | $29,000 | $42,000 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $34,277 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 4 | New York | $34,101 | $27,000 | $42,000 |
| 5 | Oregon | $33,761 | $27,000 | $41,000 |
| 6 | California | $33,512 | $27,000 | $40,000 |
| 7 | Maine | $32,608 | $27,000 | $39,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $32,229 | $26,000 | $39,000 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $31,861 | $28,000 | $35,000 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $31,751 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 11 | Colorado | $31,473 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $31,055 | $25,000 | $38,000 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $30,892 | $25,000 | $37,000 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $30,561 | $25,000 | $37,000 |
| 15 | Idaho | $30,478 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 16 | Illinois | $30,358 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 17 | Nevada | $30,231 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $30,130 | $24,000 | $37,000 |
| 19 | New Jersey | $29,845 | $23,000 | $37,000 |
| 20 | Michigan | $29,475 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 21 | Utah | $29,330 | $24,000 | $35,000 |
| 22 | Delaware | $29,130 | $23,000 | $36,000 |
| 23 | Ohio | $28,727 | $22,000 | $36,000 |
| 24 | Arizona | $28,614 | $23,000 | $35,000 |
| 25 | Alaska | $28,511 | $25,000 | $32,000 |
| 26 | Montana | $28,497 | $23,000 | $34,000 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $28,409 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $28,406 | $23,000 | $34,000 |
| 29 | Missouri | $28,171 | $22,000 | $35,000 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $28,137 | $22,000 | $34,000 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | $27,516 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 32 | Maryland | $27,154 | $21,000 | $34,000 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $27,126 | $22,000 | $33,000 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $26,909 | $21,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $26,725 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 36 | Iowa | $26,586 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $26,436 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $26,422 | $20,000 | $33,000 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $26,298 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $26,200 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 41 | Virginia | $26,107 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 42 | Texas | $26,068 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 43 | Indiana | $25,731 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 44 | Florida | $25,700 | $20,000 | $32,000 |
| 45 | Kansas | $25,699 | $20,000 | $31,000 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $25,112 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| 47 | Alabama | $25,052 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | Georgia | $25,039 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $24,968 | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $24,438 | $19,000 | $29,000 |
Methodology: Associate Retailer Salary By State
To gain insight into associate retailer compensation by state, Zippia has gathered data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This information is then supplemented with real-time salary data from job postings. Our data science team computes a weighted average of these figures to establish the average pay for associate retailers by state.
The average annual salary data for associate retailers is ranked, with the state with the highest average salary positioned at the top.
Associate Retailer Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for associate retailers?
The highest-paid state for associate retailers is Washington with an average salary of $36,307 per year.
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What city pays associate retailers the most?
Seattle, WA offers the highest average salary for associate retailers at $36,395 per year.
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What is the worst state for associate retailers?
The state with the lowest average salary for associate retailers is New Mexico, with an average salary of $24,438 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
