How much do retail salespersons make in California?

The median wage for retail salespersons in California is $38,440 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 376,460 jobs in the state.

Where in California do retail salespersons earn the most?

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $44,220 a year.

Checked Oct 23, 2026

Retail Salespersons Salary in California

Retail Salespersons in California earn a median $38,440 a year, 9% above the U.S. median.

Median in CA: $38,440 a year
U.S. median: $35,410 a year
Employment: 376,460
Location quotient: 0.82; Share of jobs vs. U.S. (1.00 = same)

Pay range in California

10%: $35,240Median: $38,44090%: $54,310

Median (50%): $38,440 · $18.48 an hour
Mean (average): $42,950 · $20.65 an hour (estimate error ±0.5%)
10th percentile: $35,240 · $16.94 an hour
25th percentile: $36,350 · $17.48 an hour
75th percentile: $45,460 · $21.86 an hour
90th percentile: $54,310 · $26.11 an hour
Employment: 376,460 (estimate error ±1.3%)
Jobs per 1,000: 20.67
Location quotient: 0.82 (1.00 = national share)

Retail Salespersons pay by metro area in California

Includes metro areas that cross into this state and nonmetropolitan areas

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

Area	Median wage	Employment
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$44,220	18,340
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$43,850	39,460
Napa, CA	$40,780	2,150
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$39,570	5,720
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$38,900	1,980
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$38,620	2,430
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$38,520	2,580
Vallejo, CA	$38,420	4,110
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$38,100	22,970
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$38,000	1,370
Salinas, CA	$37,970	4,110
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$37,900	920
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$37,810	34,390
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$37,780	3,390
Merced, CA	$37,740	1,480
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$37,700	130,650
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$37,660	5,680
Modesto, CA	$37,430	5,140
Yuba City, CA	$37,310	1,080
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$37,200	4,490
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$36,880	8,270
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$36,720	41,270
Chico, CA	$36,680	2,010
Fresno, CA	$36,460	9,290
Redding, CA	$36,450	1,880
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$36,320	6,050
Visalia, CA	$35,990	3,920
El Centro, CA	$35,490	1,900

Frequently asked questions

How much do retail salespersons make in California?: The median wage for retail salespersons in California is $38,440 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). There are about 376,460 jobs in the state.
Where in California do retail salespersons earn the most?: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median wage in the state for this occupation at $44,220 a year.

Data sources

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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