Retail Salespersons Salary in State College, PA
Retail Salespersons in State College, PA make a median of $29,350 a year, or about $14.11 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $43K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.76), that's roughly $30,333 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,406/month — about 66.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $29K get you in State College?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by State College’s Regional Price Parity (96.76). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About retail salespersons
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, State College, PA
Entry-level retail salespersons (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $29K. Top earners bring in $43K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Retail Salespersons pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $38K | +11% | 86,050 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +9% | 4,470 |
| California | $37K | +8% | 352,860 |
| New York | $37K | +7% | 233,740 |
| Alaska | $37K | +7% | 7,790 |
| Vermont | $37K | +6% | 7,930 |
| Maine | $36K | +5% | 17,210 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +5% | 86,410 |
| Oregon | $36K | +5% | 47,930 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +4% | 18,140 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +3% | 10,450 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +3% | 87,760 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +2% | 20,460 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +2% | 41,890 |
| Arizona | $35K | +2% | 88,490 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +2% | 69,640 |
| Montana | $35K | +1% | 13,500 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +1% | 11,460 |
| Illinois | $34K | -0% | 132,880 |
| Maryland | $34K | -1% | 72,010 |
| Utah | $34K | -1% | 39,580 |
| South Dakota | $34K | -1% | 13,070 |
| Delaware | $34K | -1% | 13,470 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | -3% | 67,610 |
| Nevada | $33K | -3% | 41,880 |
| Idaho | $33K | -3% | 20,670 |
| Michigan | $33K | -4% | 111,210 |
| Virginia | $33K | -5% | 101,260 |
| Florida | $32K | -8% | 325,960 |
| Kansas | $32K | -8% | 30,390 |
| Wyoming | $31K | -9% | 9,190 |
| New Mexico | $31K | -9% | 23,260 |
| Missouri | $31K | -10% | 63,100 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -11% | 85,810 |
| Ohio | $30K | -12% | 127,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -12% | 143,460 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -12% | 22,820 |
| Indiana | $30K | -12% | 82,400 |
| Texas | $30K | -13% | 329,520 |
| North Carolina | $30K | -13% | 126,060 |
| Iowa | $30K | -13% | 37,600 |
| Georgia | $30K | -14% | 142,520 |
| Oklahoma | $30K | -14% | 41,590 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -15% | 47,680 |
| South Carolina | $29K | -15% | 69,010 |
| Alabama | $29K | -15% | 60,330 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -15% | 31,350 |
| Louisiana | $29K | -17% | 51,540 |
| West Virginia | $28K | -19% | 18,290 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -20% | 36,330 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track retail salespersons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when State College numbers change.
Related careers in Sales
Frequently asked questions
How much do retail salespersons make in State College, PA?
The median is $29,350 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,220, and experienced retail salespersons can clear $43,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $29K enough to live in State College?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,060/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,406/month, which eats 68.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a retail salespersons salary go in State College?
State College has a Regional Price Parity of 96.76 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median retail salespersons salary is worth about $30,333 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do retail salespersons get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.