Retail Salesperson Salary in New York, NY
Retail Salespersons in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $38,280 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,468 take-home, or $2,622 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,414
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,373
- Medicare (1.45%)$555
- New York income tax$1,470
- Take-home pay$31,468
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,060 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $30,408 ($2,534 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,680 | $16.67 | $28,770 | $2,397 |
| 25th percentile | $36,560 | $17.58 | $30,179 | $2,515 |
| Median (50th) | $38,280 | $18.40 | $31,468 | $2,622 |
| 75th percentile | $45,080 | $21.67 | $36,564 | $3,047 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,940 | $29.30 | $48,452 | $4,038 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,280 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $31,468 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,956 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 New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #183 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 |
| 183 | New York, NY | $38,280 | $31,468 | $27,956 |
*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 New York
- Utica, NY — $34,530
- Binghamton, NY — $34,460
- Syracuse, NY — $35,250
- Buffalo, NY — $34,910
- Rochester, NY — $34,650
- Albany, NY — $35,420
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $36,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in New York, NY?
The median retail salesperson salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $38,280 a year, or about $18.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,560 and $45,080.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $38,280 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $31,468 a year ($2,622 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,470 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,956 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #183 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 91% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New York, NY
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $167,890
- Sales Engineer — $147,570
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $133,690
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $116,980
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $103,550
- Advertising Sales Agent — $99,010
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $93,750
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $81,140
- Insurance Sales Agent — $80,620
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $74,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $58,930
- Travel Agent — $58,430