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Retail clerk education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, retail clerks don't need a college education. The most common degree for retail clerks is bachelor's degree with 35% graduates, with only 31% retail clerk graduates earning high school diploma. Retail clerks who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Central State University. Some good skills to have in this position include stock shelves, groceries and retail sales.

Popular retail clerk certifications include Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Automotive Sales Professional, or Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM). To improve retail clerk qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in retail clerk education paths.

What education do you need to become a retail clerk?

What degree do you need to be a retail clerk?

The most common degree for retail clerks is bachelor's degree, with 35% of retail clerks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 31% and high school diploma degree at 20%.
  • Bachelor's, 35%
  • High School Diploma, 31%
  • Associate, 20%
  • Diploma, 7%
  • Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a retail clerk?

You should major in business to become a retail clerk. 24% of retail clerks major in business. Other common majors for a retail clerk include general studies and psychology.

Best majors for retail clerks

RankMajorPercentages
1Business23.7%
2General Studies9.3%
3Psychology6.7%
4Criminal Justice6.2%
5Accounting5.5%

20 best online courses for retail clerks

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Average retail clerk salary by education level

According to our data, retail clerks with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $32,792 annually. Retail clerks with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $32,584.
Retail clerk education levelRetail clerk salary
Master's Degree$32,792
High School Diploma or Less$29,818
Bachelor's Degree$32,584
Some College/ Associate Degree$30,400

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.