Retail Salesperson salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Retail Salespersons in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $30,820 a year ($14.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,890 workers.
Pay ranges from $26,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,570 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $35,410. Pay here is 10% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $34,240. There are 27 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $26,960 | $12.96 |
| 25th percentile | $28,010 | $13.47 |
| Median | $30,820 | $14.82 |
| 75th percentile | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Average (mean) | $34,180 | $16.44 |
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 | $2,568.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,284.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,185.38 |
| Weekly | $592.69 |
| Hourly | $14.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $30,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $36,610 | 66,920 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $34,210 | 2,540 |
| Asheville, NC | $34,110 | 5,570 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $33,580 | 35,150 |
| Richmond, VA | $33,580 | 16,210 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $33,440 | 1,520 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $33,350 | 1,980 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $33,100 | 18,660 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $31,790 | 5,850 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $31,780 | 1,690 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $31,200 | 3,620 |
| Wilmington, NC | $30,790 | 6,310 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $30,780 | 2,290 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $30,750 | 9,510 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $30,570 | 2,950 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $30,520 | 4,000 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $30,440 | 4,240 |
| Roanoke, VA | $30,440 | 4,230 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $30,100 | 6,790 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $30,020 | 1,370 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $29,960 | 1,460 |
| Burlington, NC | $29,630 | 2,570 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $29,480 | 2,040 |
| Greenville, NC | $29,250 | 2,370 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $28,830 | 1,380 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $29,320 | $14.10 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| Parts Salesperson | $36,350 | $17.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $56,270 | $27.05 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $61,780 | $29.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $91,080 | $43.79 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $56,490 | $27.16 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $58,000 | $27.88 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $62,940 | $30.26 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $119,270 | $57.34 |
| Real Estate Broker | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $30,640 | $14.73 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for retail salespersons in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $30,820 a year, or $14.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $26,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $44,570 a year. The top 25% earn $35,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $26,960 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $28,010 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 20,890 retail salespersons are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.