Retail Salespersons vs. Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel: Who Earns More?
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel out-earn Retail Salespersons by $35K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Retail Salespersons land at $35,410 and Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel at $69,990. The education gap is real: retail salesperson programs typically require no formal educational credential, while sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Retail Salespersons is Washington ($39,560); for Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel it's New York ($92,190).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Retail Salespersons median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Retail Salespersons or Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel?
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel earn more nationally. The median is $35,410 for Retail Salespersons versus $69,990 for Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel, a difference of $35K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Retail Salespersons or Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel?
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel has the better 10-year outlook at 3.1% projected growth, compared to -0.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Retail Salespersons or Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel?
Retail Salespersons typically requires no formal educational credential. Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Retail Salespersons get paid the most?
Washington is the top-paying state for Retail Salespersons at $39,560/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Retail Salespersons vs. Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Retail Salespersons earn $39,560 vs. $79,920 for Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.