Retail Sales Workers
Description OES Code: 49011
Sell to the public any of a wide variety of merchandise, such as furniture, motor vehicles, appliances, or apparel. Include workers who sell less expensive merchandise where a knowledge of the item sold is not a primary requirement. Exclude Cashiers.

Wages, California
Entry-Level Hourly Wage $6.66
25th Percentile $7.18
50th Percentile $8.52
75th Percentile $11.24

Wages, San Joaquin County
Entry-Level Hourly Wage minimum
25th Percentile $6.64
50th Percentile $7.98
75th Percentile $10.50

Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey

Hours & Benefits
Many sales positions are part time only with schedules of 20-35 hours per week. These employees are on duty during peak selling hours, including evenings and weekends. Because weekends are busy days in retailing, almost all employees work at least one of these days and have a weekday off. Friday and Saturday are usually the busiest sales days of the week.

There aren't many employee benefits in smaller stores, but many retail outfits offer employees (and sometimes their family members) a discount of as much as 10-25 percent on the goods in stock. Large department stores and retail chains offer life insurance policies, and health and pension plans.

Employment Trends, California
Employment 1998 423,100
Projected Employment 2008 500,900
Percent Change 1998-2008 18.4%
Separations 1998-2008 156,600

Employment Trends, San Joaquin County
Employment 1999 5,920
Projected Employment 2006 6,940
Percent Change 1999-2006 17.2%
Separations 1999-2006 1,550

Employment Trends by California County

Working Conditions
Most Salespersons work in clean, comfortable, well-lit retail stores or showrooms. Some Salespersons may spend all or part of the working day outdoors, depending on the items sold. Salespersons are on their feet a lot. Often, they must bend, lift, and stretch in order to arrange, store, or display merchandise.

Advancement
Promotions are possible into manager positions, such as assistant manager, department manager, or regional sales manager, but a college education is important for these positions. Large retail businesses generally prefer to hire college graduates as management trainees. There aren't many opportunities for promotion in small stores, where one person, often the owner, does most of the managerial work. Though not a promotion, some salespersons earn enough to become store or franchise owners or partners.

Getting the Job & Other Information
Most beginning jobs are filled from applications made directly to the retail stores. Job announcements for salespeople can be found in the classified ad section of most newspapers, or by visiting a office of the California Employment Development Department. College graduates can apply to stores through their campus placement office, since many major retail stores and chains recruit on campuses for their management trainee positions. Retail outlet shopping centers provide another good way to enter the retail sales industry

The months of November and December are usually the busiest for the retail trade industry, and many temporary hires occur during that time. Although people are often hired on as a "temporary", retail's high turnover rate makes it likely that permanent positions will become available. Different products have different peak sales seasons (for example, summer for garden supplies, and winter for wood-burning stoves and ski equipment), when a job seeker's chance to be hired is better in those sales areas

For a list of current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank.

Education and Training
For most sales jobs, no specific training is needed. Some sales jobs do require detailed knowledge of the product, and perhaps, as is the case with some furniture, antiques, or art work, a knowledge of the history of the item. Some sales positions require a specific expertise, such as carpentry for tool sales, or interior design for furniture sales. However, the average beginning sales job will require no more than a high-school education, good verbal communication skills, an out-going and courteous disposition, cleanliness, neatness of dress and grooming, and practical math. Salespersons may receive on-the-job training on sales techniques, store policies, how to record sales, and classes on the store operations.

Skills & Other Requirements
A medium amount of stamina, strength, and flexibility is often needed. Salespersons will sometimes have to deal with impatient, rude, and other difficult customers. They should have tact, patience, and be able to deal with these situations peacefully in order to make a sale or handle a complaint or return.

References
California Occupational Guide #536

Related Occupation: Purchasers & Buyers, Retail Store Managers

Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)