Retail Salesperson salary in Washington
Retail Salespersons in Washington earn a median of $39,560 a year ($19.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 84,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,660 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $35,410. Washington ranks 1st of 51 states for retail salespersons pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 24 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $43,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| 25th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| Median | $39,560 | $19.02 |
| 75th percentile | $45,170 | $21.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,660 | $26.28 |
| Average (mean) | $43,530 | $20.93 |
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 | $3,296.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,648.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,521.54 |
| Weekly | $760.77 |
| Hourly | $19.02 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $42,080 | 46,620 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $39,240 | 1,730 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $38,680 | 1,120 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $38,470 | 2,770 |
| Bellingham, WA | $37,840 | 2,830 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $37,700 | 1,620 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $37,600 | 3,580 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $37,350 | 3,180 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $37,340 | 28,230 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $37,010 | 680 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $36,880 | 7,400 |
| Yakima, WA | $36,640 | 2,680 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $36,620 | 640 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Parts Salesperson | $46,830 | $22.51 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $61,040 | $29.34 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $127,390 | $61.24 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $75,510 | $36.31 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $79,130 | $38.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $95,150 | $45.75 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $101,320 | $48.71 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for retail salespersons in Washington is $39,560 a year, or $19.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Washington?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in Washington earn at least $54,660 a year. The top 25% earn $45,170 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,860 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $37,130 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Washington?
About 84,850 retail salespersons are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.