Retail Salesperson Salary in Riverside, CA
Retail Salespersons in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $36,720 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,749 take-home, or $2,562 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,226
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,277
- Medicare (1.45%)$532
- California income tax$458
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$477
- Take-home pay$30,749
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,430 | $16.55 | $29,030 | $2,419 |
| 25th percentile | $35,330 | $16.99 | $29,706 | $2,475 |
| Median (50th) | $36,720 | $17.65 | $30,749 | $2,562 |
| 75th percentile | $44,460 | $21.38 | $36,558 | $3,046 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,110 | $23.13 | $39,275 | $3,273 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,720 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $30,749 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,888 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 about as common in Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #124 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 |
| 124 | Riverside, CA | $36,720 | $30,749 | $28,888 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $44,220
- San Francisco, CA — $43,850
- Santa Rosa, CA — $39,570
- Visalia, CA — $35,990
- Bakersfield, CA — $36,320
- Modesto, CA — $37,430
- Stockton, CA — $37,660
- Fresno, CA — $36,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Riverside, CA?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $36,720 a year, or about $17.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,330 and $44,460.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $36,720 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $30,749 a year ($2,562 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $935 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,888 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #124 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 69% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $72,100
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $62,230
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $61,790
- Insurance Sales Agent — $56,020
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $50,460
- Parts Salesperson — $44,310
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $43,130
- Cashier — $35,700