Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel vs. Retail Salespersons: 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. Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel land at $69,990 and Retail Salespersons at $35,410. The education gap is real: sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while retail salesperson programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel is New York ($92,190); for Retail Salespersons it's Washington ($39,560).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel or Retail Salespersons?
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel earn more nationally. The median is $69,990 for Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel versus $35,410 for Retail Salespersons, a difference of $35K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel or Retail Salespersons?
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, Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel or Retail Salespersons?
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 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 Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel get paid the most?
New York is the top-paying state for Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel at $92,190/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel vs. Retail Salespersons pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel earn $92,190 vs. $37,720 for Retail Salespersons. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.