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Job outlook for consumer sales associates in the United States
Consumer sales associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected consumer sales associate job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About 1,900 new jobs for consumer sales associates are projected over the next decade.
Consumer sales associate salaries have increased 19% for consumer sales associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 82,660 consumer sales associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 350,686 active consumer sales associate job openings in the US.
The average consumer sales associate salary is $79,429.
Are consumer sales associate jobs in demand?
Consumer sales associate job and salary trends over time
Consumer sales associate jobs over time
Consumer sales associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82,660 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 82,058 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 96,283 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 99,072 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 99,078 | 0.03% |
Average consumer sales associate salary over time
Consumer sales associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,429 | $38.19 | +7.2% |
| 2024 | $74,061 | $35.61 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $70,981 | $34.13 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $68,078 | $32.73 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $66,523 | $31.98 | +4.1% |
Consumer sales associate jobs by state
Most common states for consumer sales associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 1,407 | 105% |
| 2 | Delaware | 961,939 | 795 | 83% |
| 3 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 1,042 | 78% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 4,716 | 69% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 8,562 | 67% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 709 | 67% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 406 | 65% |
| 8 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 5,711 | 63% |
| 9 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 2,263 | 63% |
| 10 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 3,108 | 62% |
| 11 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,937 | 62% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 5,141 | 61% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 3,719 | 61% |
| 14 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 3,997 | 60% |
| 15 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 6,822 | 59% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 1,067 | 59% |
| 17 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 3,913 | 58% |
| 18 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 2,809 | 58% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 5,862 | 57% |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 3,289 | 57% |
Most common cities for consumer sales associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canton | 1 | 4% | $84,573 |
| 2 | Valrico | 1 | 3% | $77,250 |
| 3 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $86,881 |
| 4 | Pensacola | 1 | 2% | $77,321 |
| 5 | Plymouth | 1 | 1% | $105,504 |
| 6 | Oakland | 2 | 0% | $122,145 |
| 7 | San Diego | 2 | 0% | $99,972 |
| 8 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $84,341 |
| 9 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $74,906 |
Consumer Sales Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of consumer sales associate experts
University of Maryland - College Park
University of Southern Mississippi
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The University of Findlay
University of Mount Union
Franklin and Marshall College
California State University Channel Islands
San Diego Mesa College
What Consumer Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Maximizing your salary potential requires research, flexibility, and being your best advocate.
What general advice would you give to a Consumer Sales Associate?
Kevin Buckley: The biggest factor in earning potential is performance - salespeople get paid based on their ability to hit and exceed quotas through revenue generation. With a sales career, you have a lot of control over earnings. My advice is to be metrics-driven and have a plan to intentionally grow your sales skills through training, mentors, and personal development. Build a reputation for consistent over-achievement. It's also important to do research and understand typical compensation benchmarks. Some may offer higher base pay, while others offer more earnings leverage through aggressive commission/bonus structures.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What Consumer Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: All things social media are important, and so writing skills still matter.
What will help Consumer Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: With this major, probably the best salaries are from sales jobs, which many people shy away from because they think only of hustling used cars, but sales can be very good work.
What's a good job out of college for Consumer Sales Associates?
Amy Rogan: There are any number of ways to break into journalism. There is no one true path. If a journalist is interested in television I recommend they look for assistant producer positions or assignment editor positions. Many people who think they want to be on-air talent figure out they really enjoy producing much better.
Digital content producer is another good way to work a journalist way into on-air television work. It's also a way to work into newspapers as they are now more digitally dependent.
Larger organizations have more specialty digital positions in research or digital analytics. But starting out in a small market allows you to learn a lot and work your way into bigger markets and responsibilities.
Michael Grossman Ph.D.
Professor, Political Studies and International StudiesUniversity of Mount Union
Department of Political Science and International Studies
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Consumer Sales Associates?
Michael Grossman Ph.D.: It is less about licenses or courses and more about experiences. In this regard, internships are crucial.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Consumer Sales Associates?
Cynthia Krom: Professional certifications matter. If your profession has a certification, you need to have that certification to be competitive in this new world. So, a public accountant needs to have a CPA, and a corporate accountant needs to have their CMA. A fraud examiner needs their CFE. Find out what is available in your profession and take whatever courses or exams are needed to be at the top of your game, because everyone else will.
We don't really know what will be happening with professional licenses with remote work. A psychotherapist may be licensed in New York, but remotely treating a client in New Mexico. Technically, they probably need a license in New Mexico. But who will control that? Will it just be the professional responsibility of the therapist to only practice where licensed? Will their malpractice insurance only cover them if the client is where they are licensed? What about a physician operating on someone a thousand miles away using robotics?
In terms of courses not related to professional certification or licensure, technology is where it is at. First and foremost, polish your Zoom skills. Zoom is now your face-to-face workplace and you need to be a pro. YouTube has great videos about lighting for Zoom, even with reflective eyeglasses. Perhaps your IT department is able to help with connectivity issues and learning remote technologies. And, as we have all recently seen, you need to learn how to turn off filters that make you look like a kitten! For nearly every field, you have to know Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) or similar programs. You need to know how to work collaboratively on projects through things like Google Drive. If you are not fluent in the basics, you are showing up for a horse race with a little pony.
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.
Associate Professor of MarketingCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics
What technical skills for a Consumer Sales Associate stand out to employers?
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.: Our most recent survey with employers, really emphasize that technical skills are not the priority for most. Almost all mention communication and problem solving skills are the most desired, followed by critical thinking and professionalism. Given the nature of the digital economy, data literacy is one technical skill that would be relevant to almost anyone in the upcoming years. In certain areas learning automation (operations or marketing), and databases (SQL) would also benefit new graduates.
What's a good job out of college for Consumer Sales Associates?
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.: I think a description of a "good" job opportunity is dependent on so many factors, almost all subjective. What I recommend my students usually, is that they try different things before graduation and find something that makes them feel a purpose other than (and in addition to) making ends meet. For this reason we started a program on our campus where students are hired to help non-profits and small businesses in our area of service. In this program, students get to gain and practice skills that can help them succeed in a corporate or freelance capacity. The students get to experiment without fear of losing a job and find what they would like their entry level positions to look like. While doing this they also help organizations and individuals who have the need but not the resources to get the services from professionals.
Meegan Feori Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSan Diego Mesa College
Department is Business Department
What general advice would you give to a Consumer Sales Associate?
Meegan Feori Ph.D.: Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Consumer Sales Associate job market given the pandemic?
Meegan Feori Ph.D.: According to Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company (2020), the pandemic is accelerating the pre-existing trends of digital shopping and consumer support of social justice. This will impact the skills necessary to complete existing jobs; it may also introduce new job functions within the fashion industry. People will need to "learn, unlearn, and relearn" skills (Toffler; 1970, p. 414). At a foundational skill level, problem-solving, statistics, emotional intelligence, and collaboration are paramount. The fashion industry has a track record of adopting emerging technologies and anticipating cultural shifts. Therefore, I recommend making an effort to involve yourself with artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 3D prototyping, or other emerging technology. Also, being knowledgeable of sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical business practices will serve you well.