There are currently an estimated 4,602,500 retail salespeople in the United States. The retail salesperson job market is expected to grow by 1.7% between 2016 and 2026.

How employable are retail salespeople?

CareerExplorer rates retail salespeople with a B employability rating, meaning this career should provide good employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 87,500 retail salespeople. That number is based on 79,600 additional retail salespeople, and the retirement of 7,900 existing retail salespeople.

What’s the supply of retail salespeople?

The retail salesperson industry is concentrated in California, Texas, Florida

Retail Salesperson job market by state

State Name Employed Retail Salespeople
California 444,820
Texas 390,710
Florida 338,810
New York 317,720
Illinois 169,460
Pennsylvania 167,480
Ohio 152,410
Michigan 142,870
Georgia 140,480
North Carolina 139,160
New Jersey 126,760
Virginia 114,870
Massachusetts 103,720
Washington 100,540
Indiana 89,600
Tennessee 88,970
Arizona 88,290
Colorado 86,720
Minnesota 84,240
Wisconsin 80,920
Missouri 78,550
South Carolina 69,360
Maryland 68,120
Oregon 61,170
Louisiana 59,480
Alabama 58,220
Kentucky 56,740
Nevada 48,650
Oklahoma 47,480
Connecticut 47,280
Utah 44,600
Iowa 43,310
Mississippi 39,380
Puerto Rico 38,690
Kansas 37,370
Arkansas 37,050
Nebraska 28,550
New Mexico 27,610
New Hampshire 24,940
Idaho 24,460
Hawaii 22,970
West Virginia 20,620
Maine 19,490
Delaware 16,130
South Dakota 16,130
Montana 15,430
Rhode Island 14,380
North Dakota 13,020
Alaska 10,000
Vermont 8,890
Wyoming 8,210
District of Columbia 5,950
Virgin Islands, U.S. 1,910
Guam 1,710