Retail Salespersons pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,800 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Washington earn between $34,350 and $39,730.
- $31K10th
- $34K25th
- $37KMedian
- $40K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,600 | $3,300 | $19.04 |
| Median | $36,610 | $3,051 | $17.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,350 | $2,862 | $16.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $39,730 | $3,311 | $19.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Washington earn 7% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($42,380) and 6% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39,600 | $36,610 | $30,640 | $47,800 | 66,920 |
| Washington, D.C. | $42,380 | $38,500 | $36,400 | $49,530 | 4,660 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $39,600, a single filer in Washington takes home about $32,789 a year, or $2,732 a month and $1,261 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $32,968 | $2,747 |
| Working in DC | $32,789 | $2,732 |
| Working in VA | $32,536 | $2,711 |
| Working in MD | $32,329 | $2,694 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $39,600 buys what about $36,369 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 14.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$35,120
- Baltimore, MD$37,320
- Winchester, VA$34,230
- Lexington Park, MD$36,240
- Gettysburg, PA$31,390
- Chambersburg, PA$33,690
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 Washington: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Washington?
$19.04 an hour on average, and $17.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Washington?
About $32,789 a year ($2,732 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,600.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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