Retail Salespersons pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,260 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Boston earn between $35,410 and $42,180.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $42K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,320 | $3,360 | $19.38 |
| Median | $36,850 | $3,071 | $17.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,410 | $2,951 | $17.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,180 | $3,515 | $20.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($39,970) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $40,320 | $36,850 | $34,000 | $48,260 | 64,150 |
| Massachusetts | $39,970 | $36,610 | $33,310 | $47,980 | 86,860 |
| United States | $37,310 | $35,410 | $27,210 | $47,890 | 3,897,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Retail Salespersons salary after taxes in Boston
On the average salary of $40,320, a single filer in Boston takes home about $32,881 a year, or $2,740 a month and $1,265 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $34,577 | $2,881 |
| Working in MA | $32,881 | $2,740 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $40,320 buys what about $37,242 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 18.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($41,020).
- Barnstable$41,020
- Boston$40,320
- Worcester$39,170
- Amherst$39,020
- Pittsfield$38,830
- Springfield$38,740
Highest-paying cities for retail salespersons
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,420).
- San Jose, CA$47,420
- San Francisco, CA$47,290
- Napa, CA$45,630
- Seattle, WA$45,020
- Mount Vernon, WA$44,690
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Retail Salespersons salary in Boston: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Boston?
$19.39 an hour on average, and $17.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Boston?
About $32,881 a year ($2,740 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,320. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,310).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 41-2031; area Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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