Retail Salesperson salary in Illinois
Retail Salespersons in Illinois earn a median of $35,370 a year ($17.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 126,610 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,010 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $35,410. Illinois ranks 20th of 51 states for retail salespersons pay. There are 21 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $32,250 | $15.51 |
| Median | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| 75th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Average (mean) | $38,680 | $18.60 |
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 | $2,947.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,473.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,360.38 |
| Weekly | $680.19 |
| Hourly | $17.00 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,820 | 96,950 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,870 | 2,180 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,870 | 3,710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $33,820 | 29,750 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,650 | 950 |
| Rockford, IL | $33,540 | 2,970 |
| Springfield, IL | $33,450 | 2,570 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,650 | 1,140 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $32,030 | 4,760 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,670 | 1,910 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,250 | 1,460 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $28,390 | 1,800 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Parts Salesperson | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $32,200 | $15.48 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $66,900 | $32.17 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $73,510 | $35.34 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $64,280 | $30.90 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $107,570 | $51.72 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $88,820 | $42.70 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,550 | $17.57 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for retail salespersons in Illinois is $35,370 a year, or $17.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Illinois?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in Illinois earn at least $48,010 a year. The top 25% earn $37,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $32,250 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Illinois?
About 126,610 retail salespersons are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.