Retail Salesperson Salary in Durham, NC
Retail Salespersons in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $31,790 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,964 take-home, or $2,247 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,635
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,971
- Medicare (1.45%)$461
- North Carolina income tax$760
- Take-home pay$26,964
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,990 | $11.53 | $20,917 | $1,743 |
| 25th percentile | $28,240 | $13.58 | $24,248 | $2,021 |
| Median (50th) | $31,790 | $15.28 | $26,964 | $2,247 |
| 75th percentile | $37,190 | $17.88 | $31,087 | $2,591 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,620 | $21.93 | $37,524 | $3,127 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,790 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $26,964 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,635 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Retail Salesperson jobs are less concentrated in Durham, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #204 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fargo, ND | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| 2 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,860 | $29,144 | $33,257 |
| 3 | Yakima, WA | $36,640 | $31,620 | $33,095 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $34,600 | $29,981 | $33,080 |
| 5 | Rochester, MN | $36,000 | $29,999 | $33,030 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $44,220 | $36,378 | $32,944 |
| 7 | Duluth, MN | $34,650 | $28,986 | $32,654 |
| 8 | Rapid City, SD | $33,350 | $28,977 | $32,500 |
| 204 | Durham, NC | $31,790 | $26,964 | $27,635 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
About the job: retail salespersons
Sell merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel to consumers.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Retail Salesperson salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Asheville, NC — $34,110
- Hickory, NC — $30,520
- Charlotte, NC — $33,580
- Raleigh, NC — $33,100
- Greenville, NC — $29,250
- Fayetteville, NC — $30,440
- Greensboro, NC — $30,750
- Winston, NC — $30,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Durham, NC?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $31,790 a year, or about $15.28 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,240 and $37,190.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $31,790 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $26,964 a year ($2,247 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $760 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,635 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #204 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.