Retail Salespersons Salary in California
Median annual wage in California: $38,440 +8.6% vs national
California vs United States
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $38,440 | $35,410 |
| Median hourly | $18.48 | $17.03 |
| Employment | 376,460 | 3,897,860 |
| Location quotient | 0.82 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (California) · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
What this means
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $35,240, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $54,310 — a 1.5x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average retail salespersons salary in California?
The median annual wage in California is $38,440 ($18.48 per hour), per BLS OES May 2024 data.
How does California compare to the national average for retail salespersons?
The California median of $38,440 is 8.6% higher than the U.S. median of $35,410.
How many retail salespersons work in California?
Approximately 376,460 are employed in California, per BLS OES.