Retail Salesperson Salary in Louisville, KY
Retail Salespersons in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $30,660 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,860 take-home, or $2,155 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,499
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,901
- Medicare (1.45%)$445
- Kentucky income tax$956
- Take-home pay$25,860
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. 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 Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,210 | $11.16 | $20,029 | $1,669 |
| 25th percentile | $27,430 | $13.19 | $23,356 | $1,946 |
| Median (50th) | $30,660 | $14.74 | $25,860 | $2,155 |
| 75th percentile | $36,580 | $17.59 | $30,409 | $2,534 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,510 | $21.88 | $37,272 | $3,106 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,660 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $25,860 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,784 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 Louisville, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #194 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 |
| 194 | Louisville, KY | $30,660 | $25,860 | $27,784 |
*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 Kentucky
- Lexington, KY — $30,100
- Bowling Green, KY — $28,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Louisville, KY?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $30,660 a year, or about $14.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,430 and $36,580.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $30,660 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $25,860 a year ($2,155 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $956 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,784 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #194 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.