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Job outlook for store representatives in the United States
Store representative job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected store representative job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About 1,900 new jobs for store representatives are projected over the next decade.
Store representative salaries have increased 19% for store representatives in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,622 store representatives currently employed in the United States.
There are 97,946 active store representative job openings in the US.
The average store representative salary is $34,092.
Are store representative jobs in demand?
Store representative job and salary trends over time
Store representative jobs over time
Store representative job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,622 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,314 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,157 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,281 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,343 | 0.00% |
Average store representative salary over time
Store representative salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,092 | $16.39 | +7.2% |
| 2024 | $31,788 | $15.28 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $30,466 | $14.65 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $29,220 | $14.05 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $28,552 | $13.73 | +4.1% |
Store representative jobs by state
Most common states for store representatives
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 375 | 35% |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,570 | 28% |
| 3 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,481 | 28% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,907 | 28% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 359 | 27% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 155 | 25% |
| 7 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 661 | 23% |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 439 | 23% |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 159 | 23% |
| 10 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 688 | 22% |
| 11 | Delaware | 961,939 | 215 | 22% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 189 | 22% |
| 13 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,471 | 21% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 442 | 21% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,235 | 20% |
| 16 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,140 | 20% |
| 17 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,000 | 20% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 588 | 20% |
| 19 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 149 | 20% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 114 | 20% |
Most common cities for store representatives
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joplin | 1 | 2% | $33,261 |
| 2 | Lancaster | 1 | 2% | $39,212 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City | 1 | 1% | $32,248 |
| 4 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $26,222 |
| 5 | Urban Honolulu | 1 | 0% | $40,031 |
Store Representative job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of store representative experts
University of Maryland - College Park
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Valparaiso University
University of Mount Union
Franklin and Marshall College
California State University Channel Islands
Penn State Behrend
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Lloyd Wilson
Professor and Center DirectorWhat general advice would you give to a Store Representative?
Lloyd Wilson: Be a strong communicator. Make yourself so valuable that the company will lose business if you decide to accept a position with another company. Show your value by being able to improve the company’s bottom line. Earn the company’s respect by earning the respect of the crop consultants, growers, extension agents, and specialists. Be willing to ask for pay increases once you have reached the point that you believe your knowledge separates you from the pack, so-to-speak. Be wiling to change jobs is necessary, but never burn bridges. Be willing to accept leadership roles, even if it means you have to relocate.
What will help Store Representatives increase their earning potential?
Lloyd Wilson: Communication. A person who is willing to learn by doing. A person who learns the ins and out of all aspect of production of each crop you work with from varietal selection to planting, fertilizing, irrigating, pest management and harvesting will be highly prized. Growers and consultants respect chemical reps who have a strong understanding of all aspects of production and management. Growers and consultants are certainly interested in knowing how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of their chemical options. But don’t b.s. about what you do and don’t know. Nothing wrong with saying I don’t know and will get back to you. Working for a chemical company means you need to know how to calibrate spray equipment, evaluate efficacy, determine cost-efficacy of the array of management options, and know how to work safely with potentially dangerous chemicals. Drone technology is quickly taking off. Obtain a license to operate drones with attachments that allow liquid, granular, and powder payloads application. Know the ins and outs of labels. Know the flexibility that your company provides you in terms of chemical pricing, assume there is a sales side to the position. At times, you will have to recommend other company’s chemistries. But if that happens too often, find a better company to work for. Learn how to work closely with your crop consultants, growers, university researchers, extension specialists, and local extension agents.
What Store Representative 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.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What Store Representative 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 Store Representatives 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.
Jon-Paul McCool
Associate Professor of Geography; Environmental Science Program CoordinatorValparaiso University
Natural Resources Conservation And Research
What will help Store Representatives increase their earning potential?
Jon-Paul McCool: Utilize your time as an undergraduate student to set yourself apart. Do some kind of research project that can show your ability to do more than only the assigned work in classes. Utilize your summers to gain additional experience by working relevant jobs and internships. To all extents possible, do not limit yourself spatially. Be willing to travel to far flung locations, at least for a few years, to gain relevant experience after graduating rather than being tied to one specific location or region. You are far more employable with a couple years experience rather than straight out of school.
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 Store Representatives?
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 Store Representatives?
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's a good job out of college for Store Representatives?
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's a good job out of college for Store Representatives?
Linda Hajec: I guess that depends what you mean by "good." Business students are earning great salaries across many industries and in different disciplines, but when I hear "good" I am also thinking about enjoying the work, learning every day, and having an employer who wants to make sure you have those things, too. Since everyone's definition of that kind of "good" is a little different, I'll leave that up to the individual as to what is a 'good' job. If you mean where is the market 'hot'? Students that seem to be the most sought after right now have a strong information systems background.
Yes, a Management Information Systems degree is of course a great degree, but there's a shortage of accountants in the country right now and the ones with a minor in information systems are being snapped up sooner by employers. Marketing students have so much creative talent, but the ones that can also show background in data analytics are the stronger candidates. Any of the business disciplines are made stronger by adding in classes in technology - extra courses in Excel, data analytics, and even light programming. Employers see the value of having people on the team that can translate data into information.
What soft skills should all Store Representatives 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.