Retail Salesperson Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Retail Salespersons in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $34,810 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,081 take-home, or $2,423 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,997
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,158
- Medicare (1.45%)$505
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,069
- Take-home pay$29,081
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $1,302 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $27,779 ($2,315 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. 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 Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,760 | $13.35 | $23,618 | $1,968 |
| 25th percentile | $29,830 | $14.34 | $25,233 | $2,103 |
| Median (50th) | $34,810 | $16.74 | $29,081 | $2,423 |
| 75th percentile | $37,830 | $18.19 | $31,415 | $2,618 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,000 | $23.08 | $39,274 | $3,273 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $34,810 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $29,081 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,357 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 Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #154 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 |
| 154 | Philadelphia, PA | $34,810 | $29,081 | $28,357 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Reading, PA — $33,010
- Pittsburgh, PA — $30,840
- Allentown, PA — $32,310
- Scranton, PA — $30,020
- York, PA — $30,480
- Erie, PA — $28,610
- Harrisburg, PA — $30,500
- Lancaster, PA — $30,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median retail salesperson salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $34,810 a year, or about $16.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $29,830 and $37,830.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $34,810 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $29,081 a year ($2,423 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,069 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,357 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #154 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 63% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $121,180
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $92,510
- Insurance Sales Agent — $81,540
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $77,760
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,580
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $71,020
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $54,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $50,130
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $45,310
- Parts Salesperson — $40,860
- Cashier — $33,050