Retail Salesperson salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Retail Salespersons in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $44,220 a year ($21.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,300 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $35,410. Pay here is 15% higher than the California statewide median of $38,440. There are 16 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $47,420, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| 25th percentile | $40,980 | $19.70 |
| Median | $44,220 | $21.26 |
| 75th percentile | $47,010 | $22.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Average (mean) | $47,420 | $22.80 |
Half of retail salespersons earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,685 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,842.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,700.77 |
| Weekly | $850.38 |
| Hourly | $21.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,220 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Retail Salesperson salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $43,850 | 39,460 |
| Napa, CA | $40,780 | 2,150 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $39,570 | 5,720 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $38,620 | 2,430 |
| Vallejo, CA | $38,420 | 4,110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $38,100 | 22,970 |
| 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 |
Highest-paying states for retail salespersons
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 |
| California | $38,440 |
| Colorado | $37,950 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 |
| New York | $37,720 |
| Vermont | $37,400 |
| Alaska | $37,290 |
| Oregon | $36,770 |
| Maine | $36,640 |
See Retail Salesperson pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $42,960 | $20.65 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Parts Salesperson | $50,200 | $24.14 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $48,950 | $23.54 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $116,510 | $56.01 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $103,670 | $49.84 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $100,030 | $48.09 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $167,630 | $80.59 |
| Sales Engineer | $177,490 | $85.33 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $73,250 | $35.22 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $84,800 | $40.77 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,060 | $22.14 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-2031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for retail salespersons in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $44,220 a year, or $21.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,300 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $58,300 a year. The top 25% earn $47,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,300 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $40,980 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 18,340 retail salespersons are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.