Retail Salespersons pay range in Reading
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,250 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Reading earn between $28,200 and $37,090.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $33KMedian
- $37K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,970 | $2,914 | $16.81 |
| Median | $33,010 | $2,751 | $15.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,200 | $2,350 | $13.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,090 | $3,091 | $17.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Reading vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Reading earn about the same as the Pennsylvania average ($34,530) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $34,970 | $33,010 | $23,580 | $46,250 | 4,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $34,530 | $31,200 | $23,770 | $46,130 | 141,790 |
| 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 Reading
On the average salary of $34,970, a single filer in Reading takes home about $29,205 a year, or $2,434 a month and $1,123 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Reading a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $34,970 buys what about $36,029 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Reading ranks 4th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($36,970).
- Philadelphia$36,970
- Allentown$35,410
- Lebanon$35,370
- Reading$34,970
- Lancaster$34,360
- Pittsburgh$33,990
- Harrisburg$33,890
- Chambersburg$33,690
- Scranton$33,550
- York$33,460
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 Reading: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Reading?
$16.81 an hour on average, and $15.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Reading?
About $29,205 a year ($2,434 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,970. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Reading than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less 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 Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.01, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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