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Salary comparison

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers vs. Retail Salespersons: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss out-earn Retail Salespersonss by $13K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss land at $48,520 and Retail Salespersonss at $35,410. The education gap is real: first-line supervisors of retail sales worker programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while retail salesperson programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss is Washington ($60,750); for Retail Salespersonss it's Washington ($39,560).

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Retail Salespersons
Median salary
$48,520
$35,410
Hourly rate
$23.33/hr
$17.03/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$33,120
$27,210
Senior level (90th %)
$77,080
$47,890
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
1,121,800
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 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers median pay.

State
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
Retail Salespersons
Washington
$60,750
$39,560
District of Columbia
$58,470
$38,500
New York
$58,300
$37,720
Colorado
$58,200
$37,950
Massachusetts
$57,490
$36,610
New Jersey
$57,320
$36,520
Alaska
$57,080
$37,290
Connecticut
$56,510
$36,490
Hawaii
$55,850
$37,790
Vermont
$55,760
$37,400
California
$54,870
$38,440
Maine
$53,580
$36,640
Oregon
$50,660
$36,770
Montana
$49,300
$36,270
Minnesota
$48,770
$36,370

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

Common questions

Who earns more, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss or Retail Salespersonss?

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $48,520 for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss versus $35,410 for Retail Salespersonss, a difference of $13K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 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, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers or Retail Salespersons?

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 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 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss at $60,750/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers vs. Retail Salespersons pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss earn $60,750 vs. $39,560 for Retail Salespersonss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers salary breakdownView →Full Retail Salespersons salary breakdownView →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Retail Salespersonss by take-home payExplore →How to become a first-line supervisors of retail sales workersGuide →How to become a retail salespersonsGuide →