Retail Salespersons

Also Called: Sales Associate, Sales Clerk, Sales Consultant, Sales Person

High School Diploma/GED

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$23,740

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Retail Salespersons do

Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.

  • 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.
Industry Areas:

Automotive & Machine Repair • Retail Sales and Services

Training Program Areas:

Auto Collision • Automobile Technician • OCT-Only Automotive & Machine Repair • OCT-Only Retail Sales & Service • Retail Sales

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Contact With Others
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Deal With External Customers
  • Telephone
  • Work With Work Group or Team

Tools

  • Electronic funds transfer point of sale equipment
  • Point of sale payment terminal
  • Ticket dispensing machines
  • Bar code reader equipment
  • Domestic sewing machines

Technology

Graphics or photo imaging software
Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
SmugMug Flickr
Word processing software
Google Docs
Microsoft Word
Point of sale POS software
Plexis Software Plexis POS
TokenWorks Magnetic Card Reader

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Persuasion
  • Active Listening
  • Service Orientation
  • Speaking
  • Negotiation

Knowledge

Business
sales and marketing
customer service
Arts and Humanities
English language
Math and Science
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Education

  • 63% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 19% Less than high school diploma
  • 10% Associate's degree

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Retail Salespersons Currently Selected

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Opticians, Dispensing

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Sales Representatives, Wholesale & Manufacturing, Technical & Scientific Products

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

 Job Training Match

Self-Enrichment Teachers

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

  • Clearfield - Job Corps

    Clearfield, Utah

  • Earle C. Clements - Job Corps

    Morganfield, Kentucky

ACT & College

  • Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg

    Harrisburg, PA

  • Orlando Tech

    Orlando, FL

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Conventional (Organizer)
    • Enterprising (Persuader)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Adaptability/Flexibility

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Retail Salespersons across the country typically make.

$11.42 / hour
$23,740 /year

Entry Level

$16.19 / hour
$33,680 /year

Median Level

$23.13 / hour
$48,110 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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