Retail Salespersons pay range in Watertown
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,930 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Watertown earn between $32,240 and $37,010.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $34KMedian
- $37K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,780 | $3,232 | $18.64 |
| Median | $34,280 | $2,857 | $16.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,010 | $3,084 | $17.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Watertown vs. New York and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Watertown earn 9% less than the New York average ($42,580) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown | $38,780 | $34,280 | $32,240 | $48,930 | 1,490 |
| New York | $42,580 | $37,720 | $33,650 | $58,630 | 238,540 |
| 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 Watertown
On the average salary of $38,780, a single filer in Watertown takes home about $31,812 a year, or $2,651 a month and $1,224 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Watertown a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Watertown area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $38,780 buys what about $44,224 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Watertown ($47,600). A typical home costs $230,401, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other New York cities
Watertown ranks 10th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($43,950).
- New York$43,950
- Kingston$40,180
- Kiryas Joel$40,150
- Albany$39,590
- Glens Falls$39,510
- Syracuse$39,480
- Buffalo$39,370
- Rochester$39,340
- Binghamton$38,780
- Watertown$38,780
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 Watertown: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Watertown?
$18.65 an hour on average, and $16.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Watertown?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Watertown?
About $31,812 a year ($2,651 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,780. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Watertown than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY (48060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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