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Salary comparison

Advertising Sales Agents vs. Retail Salespersons: Who Earns More?

Advertising Sales Agentss out-earn Retail Salespersonss by $29K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Advertising Sales Agentss land at $64,820 and Retail Salespersonss at $35,410. The education gap is real: advertising sales agent programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while retail salesperson programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Advertising Sales Agentss is Washington ($101,320); for Retail Salespersonss it's Washington ($39,560).

Advertising Sales Agents
Retail Salespersons
Median salary
$64,820
$35,410
Hourly rate
$31.16/hr
$17.03/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,240
$27,210
Senior level (90th %)
$146,010
$47,890
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
91,700
3,897,860
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
-1%
Category
Sales
Sales
Top-paying state
Washington
Washington

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Advertising Sales Agents median pay.

State
Advertising Sales Agents
Retail Salespersons
Washington
$101,320
$39,560
New York
$98,360
$37,720
Massachusetts
$80,500
$36,610
California
$80,360
$38,440
District of Columbia
$75,030
$38,500
Colorado
$73,420
$37,950
New Jersey
$69,620
$36,520
Oregon
$62,810
$36,770
Minnesota
$62,660
$36,370
Connecticut
$61,820
$36,490
Hawaii
$61,290
$37,790
Vermont
$58,750
$37,400
Maine
$48,780
$36,640
Montana
$46,040
$36,270
Alaska
$43,840
$37,290

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Advertising Sales Agentss or Retail Salespersonss?

Advertising Sales Agentss earn more nationally. The median is $64,820 for Advertising Sales Agentss versus $35,410 for Retail Salespersonss, a difference of $29K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Advertising Sales Agents or Retail Salespersons?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Advertising Sales Agents or Retail Salespersons?

Advertising Sales Agents typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Retail Salespersons requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Advertising Sales Agentss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Advertising Sales Agentss at $101,320/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Advertising Sales Agents vs. Retail Salespersons pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Advertising Sales Agentss earn $101,320 vs. $39,560 for Retail Salespersonss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Advertising Sales Agents salary breakdownView →Full Retail Salespersons salary breakdownView →Best cities for Advertising Sales Agentss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Retail Salespersonss by take-home payExplore →How to become a advertising sales agentsGuide →How to become a retail salespersonsGuide →