Retail Salesperson Salary in St. Louis, MO
Retail Salespersons in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $33,820 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,702 take-home, or $2,392 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,878
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,097
- Medicare (1.45%)$490
- Missouri income tax$652
- Take-home pay$28,702
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $338 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $28,364 ($2,364 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,670 | $14.26 | $25,563 | $2,130 |
| 25th percentile | $30,990 | $14.90 | $26,561 | $2,213 |
| Median (50th) | $33,820 | $16.26 | $28,702 | $2,392 |
| 75th percentile | $37,420 | $17.99 | $31,426 | $2,619 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,490 | $22.83 | $39,044 | $3,254 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $33,820 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $28,702 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,185 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #59 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 |
| 59 | St. Louis, MO | $33,820 | $28,702 | $30,185 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $34,320
- Joplin, MO — $30,740
- Springfield, MO — $31,760
- Columbia, MO — $31,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in St. Louis, MO?
The median retail salesperson salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $33,820 a year, or about $16.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $30,990 and $37,420.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $33,820 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $28,702 a year ($2,392 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $652 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,185 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #59 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $79,300
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $64,590
- Insurance Sales Agent — $62,080
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $60,860
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,020
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $38,290
- Cashier — $32,380