Retail Salesperson Salary in San Francisco, CA
Retail Salespersons in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $43,850 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,100 take-home, or $3,008 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median retail salesperson salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,082
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,719
- Medicare (1.45%)$636
- California income tax$743
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$570
- Take-home pay$36,100
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Retail Salesperson pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,270 | $18.40 | $31,912 | $2,659 |
| 25th percentile | $40,010 | $19.24 | $33,218 | $2,768 |
| Median (50th) | $43,850 | $21.08 | $36,100 | $3,008 |
| 75th percentile | $47,900 | $23.03 | $39,121 | $3,260 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,960 | $28.35 | $47,201 | $3,933 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,850 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median retail salesperson's $36,100 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,225 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 San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for retail salespersons, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #20 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 |
| 20 | San Francisco, CA | $43,850 | $36,100 | $31,225 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $44,220
- Santa Rosa, CA — $39,570
- Visalia, CA — $35,990
- Bakersfield, CA — $36,320
- Modesto, CA — $37,430
- Stockton, CA — $37,660
- Fresno, CA — $36,460
- Sacramento, CA — $38,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a retail salesperson make in San Francisco, CA?
The median retail salesperson salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $43,850 a year, or about $21.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,010 and $47,900.
What is a retail salesperson’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $43,850 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,100 a year ($3,008 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,313 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a retail salesperson?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $35,410. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,225 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #20 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a retail salesperson afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 87% of a median retail salesperson’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $130,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $105,130
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $102,290
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $96,960
- Insurance Sales Agent — $95,640
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $93,100
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $60,050
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $58,950
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $47,740
- Cashier — $41,270