Retail Salespersons pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,190 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in Madison earn between $30,030 and $38,970.
- $28K10th
- $30K25th
- $36KMedian
- $39K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,950 | $3,162 | $18.25 |
| Median | $35,830 | $2,986 | $17.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,030 | $2,502 | $14.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,970 | $3,248 | $18.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in Madison earn 4% more than the Wisconsin average ($36,400) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $37,950 | $35,830 | $28,310 | $49,190 | 8,330 |
| Wisconsin | $36,400 | $34,480 | $27,300 | $47,870 | 67,640 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $37,950, a single filer in Madison takes home about $31,690 a year, or $2,641 a month and $1,219 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 (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $37,950 buys what about $39,008 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 11.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 13 Wisconsin metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Madison$37,950
- Sheboygan$37,200
- Janesville$36,410
- Green Bay$36,340
- Appleton$36,310
- Milwaukee$36,300
- Wausau$35,840
- Oshkosh$35,630
- Eau Claire$35,580
- La Crosse$35,540
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 Madison: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in Madison?
$18.25 an hour on average, and $17.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in Madison?
About $31,690 a year ($2,641 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,950.
Do retail salespersons earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Madison, WI (31540). 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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