Retail Salespersons Held About 4.5 Million Wage and Salary Jobs In 2006
Employment
Retail Salespersons held about 4.5 million wage and salary jobs in 2006.They worked in stores ranging from small specialty shops employing a few workers to giant department stores with hundreds of salespersons. In addition, some were self-employed representatives of direct-sales companies and mail-order houses. The largest employers of Retail Salespersons are department stores,clothing and clothing accessories stores,building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers,other general merchandise stores, and motor vehicle and parts dealers.
This occupation offers many opportunities for part-time work and is especially appealing to students,retirees,and others seeking to supplement their income. However,most of those selling big-ticket items work full time and have substantial experience.
Job Outlook
As in the past,employment opportunities for Retail Salespersons are expected to be good because of the need to replace the large number of workers who transfer to other occupation or leave the labor force each year. In addition, many new jobs will be created for Retail Salespersons as business seek to expand operations and enhance customer service. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year of 2014,reflecting rising retail sales stemming from a growing population. Opportunities for part-time work should be abundant, and demand will be strong for temporary workers during peak selling periods,such as the end-of-year holiday season. The availability of part-time and temporary work attracts many people seeking to supplement their income.
Earnings
Median hourly earnings of Retail Salespersons, including commissions,were $9.50 in May 2006. The middle 50% earned between $7.81 and $12.83 an hour. The lowest 10% earned less than $6.79, and the highest 10% earned more than $18.48 an hour. Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of retail salespersons in May 2004 were as follows:
Automobile dealers ----$18.70
Building material and supplies dealers ----$11.37
Department stores ----$8.79
Other general merchandise stores ----$8.70
Clothing stores ----$8.53
Compensation systems vary by type of establishment and merchandise sold. Salespersons receive hourly wages,commissions,or a combination thereof. Under a commission system, salespersons receive a percentage of the sales they make. This system offers sales workers the opportunity to increase their earnings considerably, but they may find that their earnings strongly depend on their ability to sell their product and on the ups and downs of the economy.
Source Information: Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.org
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