Highest-Paying Sales Associate and Cashier Jobs in 2026
Research Summary. The Zippia data team has leveraged a combination of public government data, company reports, and current job postings to create average salary estimates for sales associate and cashier roles across the United States. Our findings highlight the highest-paying positions in these fields, crucial for anyone looking to advance their career in retail.
Here’s a summary of our findings for the highest-paying sales associate and cashier positions:
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Model/Sales Associate tops the list as the highest-paid role, with an average salary of $81,755 and an hourly rate of $39.31.
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The second highest-paying position is the Furniture Sales Associate, earning an average salary of $49,717.
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Overall, the average salary for sales associates and cashiers stands at $26,139 annually, equating to an average hourly wage of $12.57.
Table of Contents: Background | Salary Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging, and while salary shouldn’t be the sole consideration, it is undeniably important. If you aspire to be a sales associate or cashier, understanding the highest-paying roles can guide your career trajectory.
Below are the top salaries for various sales associate and cashier roles:
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Model/Sales Associate
Average Salary: $81,755
A Model/Sales Associate is responsible for selling retail products such as clothing, equipment, and vehicles. This role involves enhancing sales through effective communication and fostering positive customer relationships. Responsibilities include greeting customers, understanding their needs, providing product information, cross-selling, handling returns, and adhering to inventory management procedures.
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Furniture Sales Associate
Average Salary: $49,717
The Furniture Sales Associate focuses on selling furniture and must maintain a polished sales pitch. In addition to sales, they serve as advertisers to promote products and attract customers. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are vital in this role, as it involves direct interaction with customers.
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Commissioned Sales Associate
Average Salary: $36,949
Commissioned sales associates drive sales transactions that can yield additional compensation. Their responsibilities include collaborating with colleagues on sales and commission distribution while providing exceptional customer service to build long-lasting relationships. They also assist in visual merchandising and organizing stock to optimize product presentation.
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Designer and Sales Associate
Average Salary: $36,485
Designer and sales associates create visually appealing presentations for clients while delivering outstanding customer service. They must stay informed about product knowledge and selling techniques to enhance departmental sales, collaborating with design and development teams to meet client needs.
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Sales Associate
Average Salary: $32,167
Below is a comprehensive table detailing the average pay for various sales associate and cashier positions, followed by an explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types of Sales Associate and Cashiers
Methodology
Zippia utilizes publicly available data from various government sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to generate its salary estimates.
Our data science team also reviews job postings and company resources for the latest salary information for sales associates and cashiers.
After gathering this data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title. For more details on our salary estimates, you can refer to our detailed methodology.
FAQs on Highest-Paying Sales Associate and Cashier Jobs
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What is the highest-paid sales associate and cashier job?
The highest-paid sales associate and cashier position is a Model/Sales Associate. They earn an average salary of $81,755, which translates to $39.31 per hour.
A Model/Sales Associate is tasked with all sales duties for retail products, including clothing, equipment, and vehicles. They enhance sales through effective communication and build positive relationships with customers.
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What is a good salary for a sales associate and cashier?
A competitive salary for a sales associate and cashier is $26,139 or higher. This figure represents the average salary for this role, so those earning at least this amount are above average.
However, it’s important to note that salaries can vary based on location, as employers adjust their pay scales according to local living costs. Researching the average salary for your role in your area is beneficial for understanding your compensation.
For entry-level positions, the average starting salary is approximately $22,994, so it’s essential to contextualize your salary expectations based on your experience level.
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Do sales associate and cashier jobs pay well?
Generally, sales associate and cashier roles do not offer high pay. While some positions may provide better compensation, the overall average salary of $26,139 is below the average national salary, which is around $44,225 per year.
Nevertheless, many sales associate and cashier roles have significant earning potential, with the top 10% earning an average of $37,060 annually. Salaries may vary based on experience, industry, and location, so conducting thorough research on local salary rates and negotiating your compensation is recommended.
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Where do sales associates and cashiers earn the most?
Sales associates and cashiers earn the most in Maine. In Maine, the average annual salary for these roles is $31,152, with an hourly wage of $14.98.
Following Maine, the states with the highest-paid sales associates and cashiers include New Hampshire, California, and Illinois, with average annual salaries of $29,567, $34,624, and $29,586, respectively.
The cities offering the highest salaries for sales associates and cashiers are:
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Bristol, CT – $30,084
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Wausau, WI – $28,461
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Mount Pleasant, MI – $27,335
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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.
