Retail Salesperson salary in Pennsylvania
Retail Salespersons in Pennsylvania earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 141,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $23,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,130 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $35,410. Pennsylvania ranks 40th of 51 states for retail salespersons pay. There are 23 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,770 | $11.43 |
| 25th percentile | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| Median | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $36,700 | $17.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Average (mean) | $34,530 | $16.60 |
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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $34,810 | 63,990 |
| Reading, PA | $33,010 | 4,430 |
| Lebanon, PA | $32,960 | 1,420 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $32,310 | 9,060 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $31,090 | 1,630 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,840 | 28,700 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $30,500 | 7,640 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $30,480 | 4,680 |
| Williamsport, PA | $30,430 | 1,300 |
| Lancaster, PA | $30,280 | 7,400 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $30,020 | 6,330 |
| State College, PA | $29,240 | 1,710 |
| Erie, PA | $28,610 | 3,340 |
| Gettysburg, PA | $28,500 | 860 |
| Altoona, PA | $28,370 | 2,090 |
| Johnstown, PA | $27,960 | 1,370 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $29,220 | $14.05 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $42,910 | $20.63 |
| Parts Salesperson | $38,520 | $18.52 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $34,800 | $16.73 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $66,130 | $31.79 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $46,690 | $22.45 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $73,370 | $35.28 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $71,840 | $34.54 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $103,790 | $49.90 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $82,870 | $39.84 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $58,350 | $28.05 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $42,450 | $20.41 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for retail salespersons in Pennsylvania is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $23,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in Pennsylvania earn at least $46,130 a year. The top 25% earn $36,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $23,770 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $27,820 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Pennsylvania?
About 141,790 retail salespersons are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.