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
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 #335 of 387 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minot, ND | $35,290 | $30,536 | $35,087 |
| 2 | Bismarck, ND | $36,730 | $31,693 | $34,818 |
| 3 | Wildwood, FL | $34,290 | $29,732 | $34,805 |
| 4 | Grand Forks, ND | $34,440 | $29,853 | $34,447 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $35,860 | $30,994 | $34,107 |
| 6 | Longview, WA | $38,680 | $33,259 | $34,096 |
| 7 | Lewiston, ID | $37,010 | $31,064 | $34,077 |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $34,860 | $29,144 | $33,257 |
| 335 | 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 387 metros →
Retail Salesperson salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Asheville, NC — $34,110
- Hickory, NC — $30,520
- Charlotte, NC — $33,580
- Pinehurst, NC — $30,020
- Goldsboro, NC — $29,960
- Raleigh, NC — $33,100
- Greenville, NC — $29,250
- Fayetteville, NC — $30,440
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 #335 of 387 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%.
Related jobs in Durham, NC
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $131,120
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $102,300
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $72,460
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $70,870
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $62,070
- Insurance Sales Agent — $59,120
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,720
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $38,480
- Parts Salesperson — $31,890
- Cashier — $29,920