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The average retail clerk salary in the United States is approximately $30,046 annually or about $14.45 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific retail sector. Retail clerks in states like Washington, California, and Massachusetts often see higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other regions.
Retail clerks play an essential role in customer service, and their salaries reflect the demand for their skills. Entry-level positions typically offer lower wages, while experienced clerks can command higher pay, particularly in specialized sectors such as electronics or luxury goods.
Some of the highest-paying states for retail clerks include:
These states tend to have a higher cost of living, which is often reflected in the wages offered. Retail clerks can also enhance their earning potential by seeking positions in larger retail chains or by gaining additional certifications that highlight their skills.
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The average retail clerk salary in Rhode Island, Alaska, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average retail clerk salary states are Alabama, Georgia, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $34,812 | $16.74 |
| 2 | Vermont | $36,044 | $17.33 |
| 3 | Maine | $30,680 | $14.75 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $37,299 | $17.93 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $34,996 | $16.82 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $34,394 | $16.54 |
| 7 | Washington | $35,942 | $17.28 |
| 8 | Alaska | $37,214 | $17.89 |
| 9 | New York | $33,472 | $16.09 |
| 10 | Oregon | $33,701 | $16.20 |
| 11 | Idaho | $33,153 | $15.94 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $29,632 | $14.25 |
| 13 | Utah | $29,994 | $14.42 |
| 14 | Michigan | $27,679 | $13.31 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $30,580 | $14.70 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $32,168 | $15.47 |
| 17 | California | $33,513 | $16.11 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $37,137 | $17.85 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $27,323 | $13.14 |
| 20 | Indiana | $27,750 | $13.34 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $30,087 | $14.46 |
| 22 | Colorado | $31,179 | $14.99 |
| 23 | Illinois | $29,328 | $14.10 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $30,575 | $14.70 |
| 25 | Delaware | $29,801 | $14.33 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $26,454 | $12.72 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $26,618 | $12.80 |
| 28 | Nevada | $29,423 | $14.15 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $29,884 | $14.37 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $25,582 | $12.30 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $25,531 | $12.27 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $26,613 | $12.79 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $25,341 | $12.18 |
| 34 | Missouri | $26,967 | $12.96 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $26,382 | $12.68 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $31,572 | $15.18 |
| 37 | Arizona | $28,247 | $13.58 |
| 38 | Montana | $28,378 | $13.64 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $26,048 | $12.52 |
| 40 | Ohio | $25,079 | $12.06 |
| 41 | Kansas | $26,251 | $12.62 |
| 42 | Iowa | $26,464 | $12.72 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $26,605 | $12.79 |
| 44 | Maryland | $26,117 | $12.56 |
| 45 | Alabama | $24,929 | $11.99 |
| 46 | Texas | $24,834 | $11.94 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $22,773 | $10.95 |
| 48 | Georgia | $24,861 | $11.95 |
| 49 | Florida | $24,056 | $11.57 |
| 50 | Virginia | $25,336 | $12.18 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $24,637 | $11.84 |
The highest-paying cities for retail clerks are Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, and Buffalo, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $36,169 | $17.39 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $34,640 | $16.65 |
| 3 | Buffalo, NY | $34,236 | $16.46 |
| 4 | Westminster, CO | $31,220 | $15.01 |
| 5 | Stevens Point, WI | $30,266 | $14.55 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $29,962 | $14.40 |
| 7 | Mount Laurel, NJ | $29,325 | $14.10 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $29,304 | $14.09 |
| 9 | Sterling Heights, MI | $27,795 | $13.36 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $27,561 | $13.25 |
| 11 | Kansas City, MO | $27,068 | $13.01 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $26,651 | $12.81 |
| 13 | Little Rock, AR | $26,549 | $12.76 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $26,541 | $12.76 |
| 15 | Davenport, IA | $26,521 | $12.75 |
| 16 | Kansas City, KS | $26,360 | $12.67 |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $25,985 | $12.49 |
| 18 | Chesapeake, VA | $25,064 | $12.05 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $24,975 | $12.01 |
| 20 | Columbus, OH | $24,785 | $11.92 |
A retail clerk's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $30,046 | $2,504 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
The highest paying types of retail clerks are retail sales specialist, retail sales consultant, and retail sales lead.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Team Member | $33,827 | $2,819 | $16.26 | 585,314 |
| Cashier | $28,144 | $2,345 | $13.53 | 456,110 |
| Retail Sales Representative | $37,907 | $3,159 | $18.22 | 391,763 |
| Retail Sales Consultant | $42,323 | $3,527 | $20.35 | 290,980 |
| Retail Representative | $31,790 | $2,649 | $15.28 | 402,132 |
| Shop Clerk | $34,468 | $2,872 | $16.57 | 106,275 |
Top companies hiring retail clerks now:
Retail clerk salaries at Bellevue Jr/Sr High School and Steel Dynamics are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average retail clerk salary at companies like University of Washington and Hyatt Hotels are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bellevue Jr/Sr High School | $39,806 | $19.14 |
| 2 | Steel Dynamics | $39,295 | $18.89 |
| 3 | University of Washington | $37,025 | $17.80 |
| 4 | Hyatt Hotels | $36,958 | $17.77 |
| 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 |
| 8 | Compass Group USA | $33,178 | $15.95 |
| 9 | Fruit of the Loom | $33,083 | $15.91 |
| 10 | Hudson Group | $32,883 | $15.81 |
| 11 | NOVAworks | $32,744 | $15.74 |
| 12 | Anastasia Beverly Hills | $32,576 | $15.66 |
| 13 | In-N-Out Burger | $32,534 | $15.64 |
| 14 | Morgan | $32,383 | $15.57 |
| 15 | League City Planning | $32,247 | $15.50 |
| 16 | Vintage Wine Estates | $32,181 | $15.47 |
| 17 | Montage Hotels & Resorts | $32,174 | $15.47 |
| 18 | Mirabito | $31,796 | $15.29 |
| 19 | Nike | $31,512 | $15.15 |
| 20 | Polaris | $31,391 | $15.09 |
The average retail clerk salary has risen by $6,735 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average retail clerk earned $23,311 annually, but today, they earn $30,046 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for retail clerks over the last decade.
Compare retail clerk salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare retail clerk salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,000 | $14.45 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $28,000 | $13.47 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $26,900 | $12.91 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $25,800 | $12.38 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $25,200 | $12.10 | +4.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meijer, Inc. | Retail Merchandise Clerk | Olde West Chester, OH | 06/29/2025 | $29,218 |
| Bridgestone Corporation | Retail Salesperson | Pearl, MS | 06/28/2025 | $29,114 |
| Guest Services | Retail Clerk-Sunrise Day Lodge-Summer Seasonal | Pony, MT | 06/28/2025 | $36,001 |
| Meijer Stores LP | Retail Merchandise Clerk | Olde West Chester, OH | 06/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| Nordstrom Inc. | Retail Sales-Indochino Shop Salesperson | Spokane, WA | 06/27/2025 | $35,375 |
| Bridgestone Corporation | Retail Salesperson | Hooksett, NH | 06/27/2025 | $32,349 |
| Bridgestone Corporation | Retail Salesperson | Muscle Shoals, AL | 06/27/2025 | $30,742 |
| Bridgestone Corporation | Retail Salesperson | Columbia, SC | 06/27/2025 | $29,114 |
| Compass Group, North America | Retail Clerk-TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, OH | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Napa Auto Parts | Retail Salesperson | Twin Falls, ID | 06/27/2025 | $33,392 |
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