Sales & Retail Careers: Pay, Training & Outlook

Sales and retail is one of the largest and most accessible fields in the country. Retail roles such as sales associate, cashier and stock associate hire constantly and train on the job, which makes them a common first job and a flexible second one.

The field also has a high ceiling. People who learn to understand customers, explain products and close deals can move into store management, insurance or financial sales, account management and sales engineering, where commission and bonuses can push pay well past the median.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

18 sales and retail careers

Account Executive

Sell services and software to businesses and grow client accounts.

$69,990/yr median
+2.7% growth
1–6 months

Advertising Sales Agent

Sell advertising space and campaigns to businesses.

$64,820/yr median
-7.2% growth
1–6 months

Cashier

Ring up purchases, handle payments and give customers a friendly checkout.

$32,880/yr median
-6.5% growth
Several days

Financial Services Sales Agent

Help clients invest and buy financial products, from stocks to retirement plans.

$78,660/yr median
+1.4% growth
4 years plus licensing

Insurance Agent

Help people and businesses protect what matters with the right insurance.

$62,280/yr median
+3.3% growth
2–8 weeks for licensing

Marketing Manager

Plan campaigns and strategies that grow brands and bring in customers.

$166,790/yr median
+6.9% growth
4 years plus 5+ years of experience

Parts Salesperson

Help mechanics and customers find the right parts for vehicles and equipment.

$38,630/yr median
+3.0% growth
1–3 months on the job

Real Estate Broker

Lead real estate deals and agents, and run your own brokerage.

$73,220/yr median
+0.8% growth
2–3 years as an agent plus broker courses

Rental Agent

Rent cars, tools and equipment to customers and handle returns.

$41,300/yr median
+3.0% growth
1–2 weeks

Retail Sales Associate

Help shoppers find what they need and keep stores running smoothly.

$35,410/yr median
-0.3% growth
1–2 weeks

Retail Store Manager

Lead retail teams and run stores that hit their sales goals.

$48,520/yr median
-3.7% growth
2–5 years of retail experience

Sales Engineer

Combine engineering know-how and sales to design solutions for customers.

$124,900/yr median
+2.8% growth
4 years plus experience

Sales Manager

Lead sales teams, set goals and drive revenue growth.

$148,270/yr median
+4.5% growth
4 years plus 3–5 years in sales

Stock Associate

Keep shelves full and pick orders in stores and warehouses.

$37,330/yr median
+8.9% growth
Several days

Technical Sales Representative

Sell technical, medical and scientific products to professionals.

$104,920/yr median
+1.2% growth
4 years plus product training

Travel Agent

Plan and book trips, cruises and vacations for clients.

$50,160/yr median
+0.2% growth
1–3 months

Visual Merchandiser

Design store displays and windows that make shoppers stop and buy.

$39,390/yr median
+2.7% growth
1–6 months

Wholesale Sales Representative

Sell products from manufacturers and distributors to businesses in a territory.

$72,080/yr median
-0.9% growth
1–6 months

Compare sales and retail careers

#	Career	Median pay	Growth 2025–35	Training time	Typical entry education
1	Marketing Manager	$166,790	+6.9%	4 years plus 5+ years of experience	Bachelor's degree
2	Sales Manager	$148,270	+4.5%	4 years plus 3–5 years in sales	Bachelor's degree
3	Sales Engineer	$124,900	+2.8%	4 years plus experience	Bachelor's degree
4	Technical Sales Representative	$104,920	+1.2%	4 years plus product training	Bachelor's degree
5	Financial Services Sales Agent	$78,660	+1.4%	4 years plus licensing	Bachelor's degree
6	Real Estate Broker	$73,220	+0.8%	2–3 years as an agent plus broker courses	High school diploma or equivalent
7	Wholesale Sales Representative	$72,080	-0.9%	1–6 months	High school diploma or equivalent
8	Account Executive	$69,990	+2.7%	1–6 months	High school diploma or equivalent
9	Advertising Sales Agent	$64,820	-7.2%	1–6 months	High school diploma or equivalent
10	Insurance Agent	$62,280	+3.3%	2–8 weeks for licensing	High school diploma or equivalent
11	Travel Agent	$50,160	+0.2%	1–3 months	High school diploma or equivalent
12	Retail Store Manager	$48,520	-3.7%	2–5 years of retail experience	High school diploma or equivalent
13	Rental Agent	$41,300	+3.0%	1–2 weeks	No formal educational credential
14	Visual Merchandiser	$39,390	+2.7%	1–6 months	High school diploma or equivalent
15	Parts Salesperson	$38,630	+3.0%	1–3 months on the job	No formal educational credential
16	Stock Associate	$37,330	+8.9%	Several days	No formal educational credential
17	Retail Sales Associate	$35,410	-0.3%	1–2 weeks	No formal educational credential
18	Cashier	$32,880	-6.5%	Several days	No formal educational credential

Getting hired in sales and retail

Track your numbers. Sales hiring managers want to hear specifics, such as average ticket, quota attainment or customer reviews, even from a retail job.

What affects pay in this field

Commission, bonus and base-pay mix
Product type (technical, financial and B2B sales usually pay more)
Licenses such as state insurance or FINRA securities licenses
Territory, customer base and track record

Find your fit

Take the Sales & Retail career quiz to see which of these roles matches your interests best.

Sales & Retail careers FAQ

What is the highest-paying sales and retail career on this list?

Marketing Manager has the highest median pay among our sales and retail profiles at $166,790 per year (BLS, May 2025).

Which sales and retail career is fastest to start?

Cashier typically takes about Several days of training.

Which sales and retail career is growing fastest?

Stock Associate, with projected growth of +8.9% from 2025–35 (much faster than average).

How do I choose the right sales and retail career?

Compare day-to-day duties, training time and pay, then take our Sales & Retail career quiz for a personalized match. Reading a day in the life for your top two choices helps a lot.