How to become a Retail Salesperson
Official title: Retail Salespersons
Also called: Car Salesman, Customer Assistant, Retail Salesperson, Sales Associate, Sales Clerk, Sales Consultant, Sales Person, Sales Representative, Salesman
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
Main tasks
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
How to become one
Retail sales workers typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. However, some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Most retail sales workers learn on the job.
Typical education to start: No formal educational credential
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Licence: A licence is required in 25 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $35,410 a year The middle half earn $29,900 to $38,670.
- About 3,998,100 people work in this job now, and about 3,984,100 are projected by 2035. (-0.3%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Related jobs
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Retail Salesperson?
Retail sales workers typically do not need formal education to enter the occupation. However, some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Most retail sales workers learn on the job.
How much does a Retail Salesperson earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $35,410 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $29,900 to $38,670.
Is a Retail Salesperson a growing career in the US?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 3,998,100 people now and 3,984,100 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Retail Salesperson?
Not always. 29% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Retail Salesperson?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.