Retail Salesperson salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Retail Salespersons in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $31,790 a year ($15.28 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,620 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,410. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $31,370. There are 17 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $34,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,990 | $11.53 |
| 25th percentile | $28,240 | $13.58 |
| Median | $31,790 | $15.28 |
| 75th percentile | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,620 | $21.93 |
| Average (mean) | $34,360 | $16.52 |
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 | $2,649.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,324.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,222.69 |
| Weekly | $611.35 |
| Hourly | $15.28 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Retail Salesperson salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $34,110 | 5,570 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,580 | 35,150 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $33,100 | 18,660 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $30,820 | 20,890 |
| Wilmington, NC | $30,790 | 6,310 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,750 | 9,510 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $30,520 | 4,000 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $30,440 | 4,240 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $30,100 | 6,790 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $30,020 | 1,370 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $29,960 | 1,460 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,630 | 2,570 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $29,480 | 2,040 |
| Greenville, NC | $29,250 | 2,370 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,830 | 1,380 |
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 |
See Retail Salesperson pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| Parts Salesperson | $31,890 | $15.33 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $72,460 | $34.84 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $131,120 | $63.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $70,870 | $34.07 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $102,300 | $49.19 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| Sales Engineer | $175,310 | $84.29 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $61,680 | $29.66 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $37,290 | $17.93 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for retail salespersons in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $31,790 a year, or $15.28 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $45,620 a year. The top 25% earn $37,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,990 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $28,240 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 5,850 retail salespersons are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.