Retail Salesperson salary in California
Retail Salespersons in California earn a median of $38,440 a year ($18.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 376,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,310 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $35,410. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for retail salespersons pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 21 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $42,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| 25th percentile | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| Median | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| 75th percentile | $45,460 | $21.86 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,310 | $26.11 |
| Average (mean) | $42,950 | $20.65 |
Half of retail salespersons earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,203.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,601.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,478.46 |
| Weekly | $739.23 |
| Hourly | $18.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Retail Salesperson salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $44,220 | 18,340 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,850 | 39,460 |
| Napa, CA | $40,780 | 2,150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $39,570 | 5,720 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $38,620 | 2,430 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,420 | 4,110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,100 | 22,970 |
| Salinas, CA | $37,970 | 4,110 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $37,900 | 920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $37,810 | 34,390 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $37,780 | 3,390 |
| Merced, CA | $37,740 | 1,480 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $37,700 | 130,650 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,660 | 5,680 |
| Modesto, CA | $37,430 | 5,140 |
| Yuba City, CA | $37,310 | 1,080 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,200 | 4,490 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $36,880 | 8,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $36,720 | 41,270 |
| Chico, CA | $36,680 | 2,010 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,460 | 9,290 |
| Redding, CA | $36,450 | 1,880 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $36,320 | 6,050 |
| Visalia, CA | $35,990 | 3,920 |
| El Centro, CA | $35,490 | 1,900 |
Highest-paying states for retail salespersons
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 |
| California | $38,440 |
| Colorado | $37,950 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 |
| New York | $37,720 |
| Vermont | $37,400 |
| Alaska | $37,290 |
| Oregon | $36,770 |
| Maine | $36,640 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Parts Salesperson | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $37,350 | $17.96 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $80,850 | $38.87 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $79,730 | $38.33 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $76,120 | $36.60 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $124,220 | $59.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $81,140 | $39.01 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $57,560 | $27.68 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in California?
The median salary for retail salespersons in California is $38,440 a year, or $18.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in California?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in California earn at least $54,310 a year. The top 25% earn $45,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,240 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $36,350 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in California?
About 376,460 retail salespersons are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.