How to hire a retail clerk

How to hire a retail clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step retail clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a retail clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new retail clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a retail clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the retail clerk you need to hire. Certain retail clerk roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A retail clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, retail clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of retail clerk salaries for various roles:

   Type of Retail Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Retail Clerk	Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment, especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both types of workers help customers find the products they want and process customers’ payments.	$11-18
   Sales Team Member	A sales team member is responsible for selling goods and services to the customers, responding to their inquiries and concerns, and updating them with new services and promotional offers. Sales team members play a huge role in generating revenues for the business by maintaining existing clients and attracting potential customers... Show more	$12-21
   Cashier	A cashier is one of the most visible positions in the retail industry. Cashiers are the last direct point of contact with customers and play a key role in service, retail, and wholesale establishments... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Stock Shelves
   • Groceries
   • Retail Sales
   • Product Knowledge
   • Basic Math
   • POS
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Math
   • Customer Complaints
   • Ladders
   • Retail Environment
   • Inventory Control
   • Customer Service
   • Sales Floor

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish upselling goals to contribute to company's success.
   • Handle sales and returns through a POS software system and inventory database, and train new employees on the same tools.
   • Collect and process payments including accurate maintenance of sales register and jewelry inventory following close of daily business.
   • Provide excellent customer service while upselling promotional products

   More retail clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your retail clerk job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A retail clerk can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, retail clerks' average salary in louisiana is 39% less than in rhode island.
   • Seniority. Entry-level retail clerks 39% less than senior-level retail clerks.
   • Certifications. A retail clerk with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a retail clerk's salary.

   Average retail clerk salary

   $14.45hourly

   $30,046 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level retail clerk salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average retail clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$36,169	$17
   2	California	$34,640	$17
   3	New York	$34,236	$16
   4	Colorado	$31,220	$15
   5	Wisconsin	$30,266	$15
   6	Utah	$29,962	$14
   7	New Jersey	$29,325	$14
   8	Nevada	$29,304	$14
   9	Michigan	$27,795	$13
   10	Indiana	$27,561	$13
   11	Missouri	$27,068	$13
   12	Oklahoma	$26,651	$13
   13	Arkansas	$26,549	$13
   14	North Carolina	$26,541	$13
   15	Iowa	$26,521	$13
   16	Kansas	$26,360	$13
   17	Texas	$25,985	$12
   18	Virginia	$25,064	$12
   19	Georgia	$24,975	$12
   20	Ohio	$24,785	$12

   Average retail clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bellevue Jr/Sr High School	$39,806	$19.14
   2	Steel Dynamics	$39,295	$18.89	14
   3	University of Washington	$37,025	$17.80
   4	Hyatt Hotels	$36,958	$17.77	6
   5	Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort	$34,523	$16.60
   6	Santa Rosa High School	$34,426	$16.55
   7	Sierra Nevada	$33,874	$16.29	5
   8	Compass Group USA	$33,178	$15.95	383
   9	Fruit of the Loom	$33,083	$15.91	2
   10	Hudson Group	$32,883	$15.81
   11	NOVAworks	$32,744	$15.74
   12	Anastasia Beverly Hills	$32,576	$15.66	3
   13	In-N-Out Burger	$32,534	$15.64	2
   14	Morgan	$32,383	$15.57
   15	League City Planning	$32,247	$15.50	1
   16	Vintage Wine Estates	$32,181	$15.47
   17	Montage Hotels & Resorts	$32,174	$15.47	5
   18	Mirabito	$31,796	$15.29	25
   19	Nike	$31,512	$15.15	234
   20	Polaris	$31,391	$15.09

4. Writing a retail clerk job description

   A retail clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a retail clerk job description:

   Retail clerk job description example

   If you're passionate about a great guest experience and true hospitality, this is the role for you! Whether you're helping a guest find the perfect birthday gift or showing off your favorite items from the new collection, you'll make sure every guest feels at home.
   Responsibilities:
   In this role, you will run the roost when it comes to the retail shop - from the cash stand to the product displays and everything in between, you'll keep the shelves stocked while displaying world-class guest service. As a Retail Sales team member, you will have flexible hours (full or part time) and the opportunity for promotion and continued development!
   Qualifications:
   You will need to be able to stand for long periods, work in a variety of environments, be expected to lift, load and carry up to 40 pounds, and work with hot and cold food items. You must be able to understand and carry out instructions while working effectively with co-workers and managers to please our guests.
   
   We'd love to get to know you! Text " CBJOBS " to 97211 to start your application or click "Apply for the job online" above.
   
   NOTE: Racism, either overt or perpetuated through unconscious bias, has no place at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and both our Mission and People Promise are firmly rooted in the principle of valuing what everyone brings to the table. Our employees work hard to ensure that our brand, which is grounded in genuine hospitality and nostalgia, represents only what is good about those things. While our d cor and food may harken back to earlier times, our inclusive culture and beliefs about equality and diversity do not.
   
   Come for the biscuits and stay for the perks- Cracker Barrel offers our employees:
   Culture of Belonging: We believe in Family. We care about your wellbeing and your success. We foster an atmosphere where employees care for each other like family. Our employees are encouraged to be themselves, and this means we accept and celebrate our differences. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Top Notch Training: PAR Training program: our hourly employee training program is built to help you grow and succeed. Earn your stars and be rewarded with pay increases We have a unique role of the Employee Training Coordinator at each location and their purpose is to help you be successful in your role Cross Training- If you thrive in an environment where no day is the same, you can cross train and work in a variety of roles for your store Diverse Career Paths: Cracker Barrel values internal development- whether you want to become an Employee Training Coordinator, a Shift Leader, a Restaurant or Retail Manager, or come join us at our Home Office in Lebanon, TN to work in corporate support for our stores; we are committed to helping you reach your personal career goals. Competitive Pay and Benefits: Competitive pay based on your experience with opportunities to earn additional pay increases with the PAR Training program Paychecks weekly or daily - You can access the pay you have earned throughout the week! Flexible Schedules Health, Vision, and Dental Benefits starting on day 1 401K with company matching starting at 90 days Vacation Time 35% off restaurant and retail items Employee Stock Purchasing Program

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right retail clerk for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your retail clerk job on Zippia to find and attract quality retail clerk candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting retail clerks requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new retail clerk

   Once you've decided on a perfect retail clerk candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new retail clerk. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a retail clerk?