Retail Salespersons pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,060 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Memphis earn between $28,110 and $37,080.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $33KMedian
- $37K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,140 | $2,928 | $16.89 |
| Median | $32,580 | $2,715 | $15.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,110 | $2,342 | $13.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,080 | $3,090 | $17.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($35,010) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $35,140 | $32,580 | $23,760 | $47,060 | 17,050 |
| Tennessee | $35,010 | $31,950 | $23,720 | $47,720 | 87,380 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $35,140, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $30,415 a year, or $2,535 a month and $1,170 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $30,415 | $2,535 |
| Working in MS | $29,741 | $2,478 |
| Working in AR | $29,602 | $2,467 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $35,140 buys what about $38,121 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($36,600).
- Nashville$36,600
- Memphis$35,140
- Knoxville$34,990
- Morristown$34,960
- Chattanooga$34,400
- Jackson$34,240
- Cleveland$34,220
- Kingsport$33,700
- Clarksville$33,270
- Johnson City$33,020
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 Memphis: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Memphis?
$16.89 an hour on average, and $15.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,110, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Memphis?
About $30,415 a year ($2,535 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,140. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Memphis 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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