Sales
Retail Salespersons
Also called: Car Salesman, Customer Assistant, Retail Salesperson, Sales Associate
US median pay
$35,410
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
-0.3%
declining
Openings a year (US)
520,600
3,998,100 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
What they do day to day
- Greet customers and ascertain what each customer wants or needs.
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment.
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental.
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise.
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices.
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise.
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers.
- Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales.
- Inventory stock and requisition new stock.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Persuasion3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.8/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Negotiation3.5/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.9/5
- Instructing2.9/5
Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- English Language3.7/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Mathematics3.0/5
- Administrative3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma63%
- Less than high school19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.