Sales and retail assistants Salary — UK & US Data (2025)
ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional) · BLS OES May 2025As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links below are affiliate links.
UK Salary Overview
The median salary for a sales and retail assistants in the UK is £14,491 per year (gross, before tax), based on ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data for 2025 (provisional). Pay in this occupation ranges from around £5,709 at the 10th percentile (typically entry-level or part-time roles) to £27,733 at the 90th percentile (senior or specialist roles). There are approximately 895,000 jobs in this occupation across the UK. If you're heading into a pay review or a new offer, a good salary negotiation guide can help you land nearer the top of these ranges.
UK Salary Percentiles
Where you land in these bands is partly negotiable — many people use interview preparation books to push toward the upper percentiles.
| Percentile | Annual (gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | £5,709 | Entry level / lowest decile |
| 25th | £9,734 | Early career |
| 50th (median) | £14,491 | Typical pay |
| 75th | £21,774 | Experienced |
| 90th | £27,733 | Senior / highest decile |
Career Essentials
Role-specific interview prep for this occupation.
Check Price →UK Regional Breakdown
| Region | Median salary | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| London | £15,417 | +6.4% |
| South East | £15,246 | +5.2% |
| East | £15,065 | +4.0% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £14,657 | +1.1% |
| West Midlands | £14,582 | +0.6% |
| Wales | £14,568 | +0.5% |
| East Midlands | £14,531 | +0.3% |
| North West | £14,443 | -0.3% |
| South West | £14,278 | -1.5% |
| North East | £14,015 | -3.3% |
| Scotland | £13,717 | -5.3% |
Regions without published data for this occupation are omitted (ONS suppresses small samples).
US Salary Overview
In the United States, the equivalent occupation (Retail Salespersons, SOC 41-2031) has a national median wage of $35,410 per year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Around 3.9M people are employed in this occupation in the US. Figures are shown in local currency and are not converted.
US Top States by Median Salary
| State | Median salary | Mean salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 | $43,530 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 | $42,380 |
| California | $38,440 | $42,950 |
| Colorado | $37,950 | $41,540 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 | $40,520 |
| New York | $37,720 | $42,580 |
| Vermont | $37,400 | $42,450 |
| Alaska | $37,290 | $39,890 |
| Oregon | $36,770 | $40,360 |
| Maine | $36,640 | $40,050 |
See the full US state-by-state breakdown for sales and retail assistants →
Recommended Gear & Prep
Related Jobs
Work out what this salary means after tax with our take-home pay calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a sales and retail assistants in the UK?
The UK median is £14,491 per year (gross, before tax), based on ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional) data. The mean is £16,086.
How much do the highest-paid sales and retail assistants earn?
The 90th percentile earns around £27,733 a year, while the 10th percentile is around £5,709 — typically the difference between senior specialist roles and entry-level or part-time positions.
How does the US salary compare?
The equivalent US occupation (Retail Salespersons) has a national median of $35,410 per year (BLS OES May 2025). Figures are in local currency and not converted.
Data: ONS ASHE Table 14/15, 2025 provisional · BLS OES, May 2025 · Page built 2026-07-18