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Job outlook for retail specialists in the United States
Retail specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected retail specialist job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About 1,900 new jobs for retail specialists are projected over the next decade.
Retail specialist salaries have increased 19% for retail specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,506 retail specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 269,690 active retail specialist job openings in the US.
The average retail specialist salary is $31,114.
Are retail specialist jobs in demand?
Retail specialist job and salary trends over time
Retail specialist jobs over time
Retail specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,506 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,446 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,606 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,835 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,825 | 0.00% |
Average retail specialist salary over time
Retail specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $31,114 | $14.96 | +7.2% |
| 2025 | $29,011 | $13.95 | +4.3% |
| 2024 | $27,805 | $13.37 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $26,667 | $12.82 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $26,058 | $12.53 | +4.1% |
Retail specialist jobs by state
Most common states for retail specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 974 | 73% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 688 | 52% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 499 | 52% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,494 | 51% |
| 5 | Vermont | 623,657 | 304 | 49% |
| 6 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,379 | 44% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,671 | 43% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 4,341 | 42% |
| 9 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 2,846 | 42% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 314 | 42% |
| 11 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,503 | 41% |
| 12 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 1,817 | 41% |
| 13 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 2,646 | 40% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,253 | 40% |
| 15 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,991 | 40% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,137 | 39% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 4,892 | 38% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 2,146 | 38% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 3,696 | 37% |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 2,117 | 37% |
Most common cities for retail specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daly City | 6 | 6% | $36,960 |
| 2 | Alameda | 5 | 6% | $36,795 |
| 3 | Concord | 6 | 5% | $36,594 |
| 4 | Richmond | 5 | 5% | $36,814 |
| 5 | San Mateo | 5 | 5% | $36,914 |
| 6 | Hayward | 7 | 4% | $36,721 |
| 7 | Berkeley | 5 | 4% | $36,782 |
| 8 | Bellevue | 4 | 3% | $35,942 |
| 9 | Kent | 4 | 3% | $35,937 |
| 10 | Vallejo | 4 | 3% | $36,702 |
| 11 | Oakland | 7 | 2% | $36,783 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 7 | 1% | $36,924 |
| 13 | Aurora | 4 | 1% | $29,353 |
| 14 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $35,833 |
| 15 | Saint Paul | 4 | 1% | $33,115 |
| 16 | Seattle | 4 | 1% | $35,977 |
| 17 | New York | 6 | 0% | $35,674 |
| 18 | Phoenix | 5 | 0% | $31,219 |
| 19 | Indianapolis | 4 | 0% | $28,319 |
Retail Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of retail specialist experts
University of Northwestern Ohio
Florida State University
Saint Xavier University - Chicago, IL
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Mount Union
Landmark College
Franklin and Marshall College
California State University Channel Islands
University of North Carolina at Asheville
What Retail Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Scott Lail PhD, MBA, CPA, CFE, CGMA, SPHR: Some skills that will become more important will be very specific to a certain role. However,
some of the more general skills that will impact most roles to at least some degree will
include:
Being proficient with technology and keeping updated with the latest technical tools
Knowing how to utilize and interpret data into useful and reliable information
Communicating in ways that are respectful, while also efficient and effective
Showing flexibility in regards to working with people and with processes
Developing self-management skills, which will help deal with stress and build up
resilience/determination to succeed
Respecting personal time
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.
Assistant Department Chair and Executive Director, Center for Human Resource ManagementFlorida State University
Department of Management and the Center for Human Resource Management
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Retail Specialists?
C. Darren Brooks Ph.D.: As jobs become more complex and require additional knowledge and skills, more advanced qualifications are becoming more the norm. However, this will largely be determined by the type of work a job prospect is seeking. Professional and technical positions often require advanced certifications, licenses, or degrees in certain areas such as a certified public accountant or a certified professional in human resources or a course in SQL. In order to be competitive in a post-pandemic job market, job seekers should research the field(s) of interest to understand what would be considered minimum requirements for a job to evaluate if they should invest in additional licensure or preparation.
Margie Bernard MBA
Faculty - Graduate Healthcare AdministrationSaint Xavier University - Chicago, IL
Graham School of Management MBA Program
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Margie Bernard MBA: Because our COVID-19 pandemic is the worst challenge now facing Americans, our U.S. health care industry is transforming all systems and staff to better meet diverse patient population needs today. Across the U.S., students should expect that demand for qualified health care professionals and leaders will increase 17% to 24% yearly through 2030 since the supply of talented team members is shrinking due to retirements.
It's important to know that 30% of individuals now living in our country will be age 65 or older in the next seven years. This segment of our society will require truly compassionate teams of medical assistants, therapists, nurses, pharmacists, doctors, financial personnel and leaders who can seamlessly come together to deliver community-based care. Children and adults will need expedited team support to access timely appointments for wellness exams and treatment of pre-existing conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Across the U.S., we will see a 56% jump in patients newly diagnosed with all types of cancer in the next 10 years.
These demographic changes underscore why our U.S. health care industry offers many students excellent career paths when young graduates realize that delivering quality team outcomes begins with prioritizing a 'we' rather than 'me' philosophy.
Saint Xavier University's (SXU) mission of serving wisely and compassionately is critical within the work of our Graham School of Management (GSM) and School of and Health Science (SONHS) students studying healthcare administration, especially because their future careers involve giving excellent service to diverse patients every day.
What's a good job out of college for Retail Specialists?
Margie Bernard MBA: A certificate on how to make Lean Process Improvements, which is something we offer to our graduate management students. This methodology teaches young graduates how to add value to every patient's experience while assuring that wasteful workflow actions or steps are driven out.
Team projects you have helped to complete look excellent on resumes. Make sure to emphasize why results achieved can enhance the lives of patients, family members or community residents this year.
Completed courses in accounting and finance show prospective employers that
you know how to save rather than spend organization resources on the job. Key principles covered
in such classes will also help to grow amounts you keep in your wallet and savings account as well.
Dr. Barbara Joyce
ACCESS Academic Advisor for undergraduate students in Sociology, Departmental advisorUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Sociology
What's a good job out of college for Retail Specialists?
Dr. Barbara Joyce: A good job out of college is one that the graduates want, a job that is meaningful, that uplifts and inspires them, a job in which they use, and continue to develop, their talents and skills, and, of course, a job that provides them with the material resources and benefits they need to enjoy life. Credit where credit is due, Stephen R. Covey writes of the importance of those elements in his book Principle-Centered Leadership. I like his work a lot.
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 Retail Specialists?
Michael Grossman Ph.D.: It is less about licenses or courses and more about experiences. In this regard, internships are crucial.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Retail Specialists?
Daniel Miller Ph.D.: It seems almost certain there will be enduring impacts, but it's difficult to predict exactly what they will be. One potential negative impact could be a lack of practice in the kinds of face-to-face interactions required in a formal business or work context. These kinds of interactions are develop through modeling and use, students graduating during the pandemic will have lacked some of this. The pandemic has also negatively impacted hands-on collaborative projects and hampered the placement of students into hand-on, face-to-face internships, all of which could adversely impact students trying to step into new jobs, particularly if those occur in face-to-face contexts post-Covid.
There may also be some positive impacts, however. Many students will have gained flexibility and versatility with regard to such things as interactions with co-workers, their willingness to explore and try out new technologies, with structuring projects and workdays, in the development of innovative models of collaboration, etc. While this also gestures toward the second question, to the degree that businesses, companies, non-profits, etc. retain remote-work policies moving forward, Covid graduates may also find employment opportunities opening up beyond their immediate geographical contexts.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Retail Specialists?
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.
What will help Retail Specialists increase their earning potential?
Cynthia Krom: Well, the things already mentioned. Certification, licensure, skills. You have to keep current in your field, whether or not continuing professional education is required. Just knowing accounting isn't enough anymore - you need to know data analysis. You must demonstrate that you are able to successfully work independently, lead a team, and have integrity. Many people are also cultivating a side hustle, but you want to be really certain that any moonlighting does not present a conflict of interest for your main job or you could find your side hustle as your only hustle.
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.
Associate Professor of MarketingCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.: Really depends on the sector. A common thread for all is relearning or rethinking how we communicate, determining the fine line between work-norms & home-norms and figuring the optimal ways to manage our time when we are missing the structure that a 9-5 office experience may normally provide. That being said, I envision there will be many jobs without significant changes, either because those jobs were already adaptable to the disruption the pandemic brought or because there simply is no feasible way of working differently.
What's a good job out of college for Retail Specialists?
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.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Retail Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Sonya DiPalma Ph.D.: Companies will offer more remote positions as cost-savings benefits and work hour flexibility provide a win-win situation. The upside brings more employment opportunities since geography isn't a major factor, however the downside brings more competition for the same reasons. You will be expected to use the online collaboration tools selected by the organization, such as Trello, SharePoint, or Slack. We should see an uptick in hiring by tourism and travel companies as more people receive the COVID-19 vaccination and travel increases domestically and then internationally.
What soft skills should all Retail Specialists possess?
Sonya DiPalma Ph.D.: Be personable and a person someone wants to talk with and work with on a continuing basis. Listening and note-taking skills will be critical. Great employees listen well and ask good follow up questions. Be versatile and adaptable. If you find some downtime between projects, ask how you may help with another project.
What's a day at work look like for a Retail Specialist?
Sonya DiPalma Ph.D.: With more positions going partially or totally remote, you'll need to be self-disciplined and proactive. Doing the bare minimum will not get you by in either a remote or a traditional professional work environment. You can expect more flexibility with remote work hours. For instance, if you have small children or you're an early riser, then working early mornings starting at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. may be possible, or if you're a night owl, late evenings may be an option. But once your schedule is set, your hours are likely to stay this way for some time. You will be expected to log into a portal to clock-in, and some online collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams can notify your supervisor when you're dormant. In-person meetings will probably occur on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.