Retail Salesperson Salary in Houston, TX
Retail Salespersons in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $31,340 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $27,362 take-home, or $2,280 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,581
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,943
- Medicare (1.45%)$454
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$27,362
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,350 | $11.23 | $20,839 | $1,737 |
| 25th percentile | $28,000 | $13.46 | $24,668 | $2,056 |
| Median (50th) | $31,340 | $15.07 | $27,362 | $2,280 |
| 75th percentile | $36,820 | $17.70 | $31,765 | $2,647 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,670 | $21.96 | $38,876 | $3,240 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,340 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $27,362 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,742 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 Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #197 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 |
| 197 | Houston, TX | $31,340 | $27,362 | $27,742 |
*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 Texas
- Austin, TX — $33,860
- Beaumont, TX — $29,810
- Killeen, TX — $29,970
- Longview, TX — $29,130
- San Antonio, TX — $30,960
- Brownsville, TX — $27,780
- Waco, TX — $29,810
- McAllen, TX — $27,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Houston, TX?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $31,340 a year, or about $15.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,000 and $36,820.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $31,340 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $27,362 a year ($2,280 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,742 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #197 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $100,980
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $77,550
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $76,360
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $73,030
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $63,090
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $49,250
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,970
- Insurance Sales Agent — $46,460
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $38,820
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $37,710
- Parts Salesperson — $34,010
- Cashier — $29,350