Retail Salespersons
Sales and Related
On the floor, the work starts with greeting people and figuring out what they need, then recommending items, locating stock, and showing how something works or how to care for it. Prices get totaled, cash or cards are processed, and goods are prepared for purchase or rental. Staying current on promotions, payment and exchange rules, and store security is part of the job, as is answering questions about the store itself. The setting is a retail floor selling things like furniture, vehicles, appliances, or clothing. It suits people who like talking customers through choices, working through complaints, and moving between the sales floor and the register.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$35'410
Median Wage Market Position
$35'410
What you might do
- Greet shoppers and learn what they need
- Recommend items and help shoppers find them
- Total purchases and process cash or cards
- Answer questions about products and store policies
- Show customers how merchandise works
- Get merchandise ready for sale or rental
Skills that matter
- Finding out what each shopper needs
- Recommending and locating merchandise for them
- Demonstrating how merchandise works
- Explaining use, operation, and care
- Adding up prices and processing payment
- Working through questions on exchanges and policy
AI & the future of this role
Recommendation engines and self-service checkout may handle more straightforward purchases and product discovery. Complex fittings, persuasion on higher-ticket goods, and in-store trust still matter, though overall floor staffing pressure is likely to stay elevated.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details