First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers (SOC 41-1011) earn a median $48,520 a year ($23.33 an hour) in the United States, with 1,121,800 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What first-line supervisors of retail sales workers do
First-line supervisors of retail sales workers lead the sales staff of a store or one of its departments. They direct employees who sell, count inventory, reconcile cash receipts, or provide services to customers, assign people to specific duties, and coach staff on handling hard or complicated sales. They keep watch on sales activity so customers get satisfying service and quality goods, and they check that merchandise is priced and displayed correctly and works as advertised. They also welcome and help customers, answer inquiries and complaints, record purchases, sales, and requisitions, and take over subordinates' jobs, such as tidying shelves and displays or selling, when necessary. In some settings the job also takes on purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work. Titles under the code range from art gallery director to auto parts manager and bakery manager.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 52 percent).
Also called: Art Gallery Director, Auto Leasing Manager, Auto Parts Manager, Auto Rental Supervisor, Automobile Leasing Supervisor.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.92 | $18.55 | $23.33 | $29.87 | $37.06 | $25.66 | 1,121,800 |
| Annual | $33,120 | $38,590 | $48,520 | $62,130 | $77,080 | $53,380 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where first-line supervisors of retail sales workers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $21.58 | $23.61 | $29.21 | $36.46 | $41.76 | $31.04 | 27,640 | 7.78 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $44,890 | $49,110 | $60,750 | $75,830 | $86,860 | $64,570 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $17.76 | $22.24 | $28.16 | $35.76 | $40.39 | $29.77 | 3,880 | 7.73 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $46,250 | $58,570 | $74,380 | $84,020 | $61,920 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $21.66 | $22.82 | $28.11 | $36.50 | $39.15 | $29.80 | 1,470 | 2.09 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $45,060 | $47,470 | $58,470 | $75,920 | $81,430 | $61,990 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.67 | $22.02 | $28.03 | $34.59 | $42.62 | $29.75 | 50,830 | 5.25 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $38,840 | $45,800 | $58,300 | $71,950 | $88,640 | $61,870 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $18.96 | $22.61 | $27.98 | $34.08 | $41.50 | $29.61 | 26,390 | 9.18 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $39,440 | $47,020 | $58,200 | $70,890 | $86,320 | $61,600 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.69 | $21.60 | $26.38 | $30.37 | $37.30 | $27.47 | 109,180 | 5.99 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $38,860 | $44,920 | $54,870 | $63,160 | $77,590 | $57,140 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $13.84 | $16.71 | $22.25 | $29.27 | $35.98 | $23.76 | 103,410 | 7.35 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $28,780 | $34,750 | $46,280 | $60,870 | $74,840 | $49,420 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $16.69 | $18.17 | $23.28 | $29.83 | $36.64 | $25.35 | 80,470 | 8.10 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $34,710 | $37,800 | $48,410 | $62,050 | $76,200 | $52,730 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.67 | $22.02 | $28.03 | $34.59 | $42.62 | $29.75 | 50,830 | 5.25 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $38,840 | $45,800 | $58,300 | $71,950 | $88,640 | $61,870 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $14.82 | $18.03 | $22.45 | $28.88 | $35.52 | $24.18 | 40,970 | 6.76 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $30,830 | $37,500 | $46,690 | $60,070 | $73,880 | $50,300 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $22.67 | $25.46 | $29.89 | $37.59 | $45.20 | $32.69 | 15,250 | 7.31 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $47,150 | $52,960 | $62,170 | $78,190 | $94,010 | $67,990 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $22.48 | $24.40 | $29.67 | $34.67 | $40.46 | $31.28 | 4,810 | 4.23 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $46,760 | $50,750 | $61,710 | $72,100 | $84,150 | $65,050 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $20.72 | $23.18 | $29.10 | $35.70 | $44.98 | $30.73 | 1,590 | 8.27 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $43,100 | $48,210 | $60,530 | $74,250 | $93,560 | $63,920 | ||||
| Longview-Kelso, WA | Hourly | $21.24 | $23.07 | $28.84 | $35.42 | $38.97 | $29.49 | 380 | 9.22 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $44,170 | $47,990 | $59,980 | $73,670 | $81,070 | $61,340 | ||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $19.37 | $23.14 | $28.68 | $33.82 | $38.27 | $29.21 | 400 | 11.10 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $40,290 | $48,130 | $59,660 | $70,350 | $79,590 | $60,750 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $19.88 | $22.72 | $28.33 | $35.54 | $43.82 | $30.57 | 52,270 | 5.51 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $41,350 | $47,260 | $58,930 | $73,930 | $91,140 | $63,580 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.57 | $21.44 | $24.71 | $29.76 | $37.15 | $27.09 | 36,580 | 5.83 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $38,620 | $44,600 | $51,390 | $61,890 | $77,280 | $56,350 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $14.44 | $17.73 | $22.75 | $29.48 | $36.15 | $24.43 | 28,540 | 7.05 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $30,040 | $36,870 | $47,320 | $61,320 | $75,190 | $50,800 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.71 | $20.38 | $23.51 | $30.14 | $38.20 | $26.65 | 26,770 | 5.93 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $36,830 | $42,390 | $48,900 | $62,700 | $79,460 | $55,440 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $14.05 | $17.04 | $22.58 | $29.50 | $36.75 | $24.35 | 22,730 | 6.91 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $29,210 | $35,450 | $46,970 | $61,360 | $76,440 | $50,640 | ||||
Top industries employing first-line supervisors of retail sales workers
General Merchandise Retailers employ 18.5% of first-line supervisors of retail sales workers nationally (207,480 jobs) at a median $47,190 a year ($22.69 an hour), followed by Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) (15.3%) and Gasoline Stations (9.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Merchandise Retailers NAICS 455000 | 207,480 | 18.5% | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) NAICS 4450A1 | 171,090 | 15.3% | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| Gasoline Stations NAICS 457100 | 101,500 | 9.0% | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers NAICS 458100 | 89,770 | 8.0% | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers NAICS 444100 | 84,010 | 7.5% | $53,880 | $25.91 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,121,800). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $39,230 for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers in May 2021 and $48,520 in May 2025, with employment of 1,143,260 and 1,121,800.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $39,230 | $18.86 | 1,143,260 |
| May 2022 | $45,250 | $21.75 | 1,097,160 |
| May 2023 | $46,730 | $22.47 | 1,087,890 |
| May 2024 | $47,320 | $22.75 | 1,113,160 |
| May 2025 | $48,520 | $23.33 | 1,121,800 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $29.21 | $60,750 | $44,890 | $86,860 | 27,640 | 7.78 | 1.08 |
| 2 | Rhode Island profile | $28.16 | $58,570 | $36,950 | $84,020 | 3,880 | 7.73 | 1.07 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $28.11 | $58,470 | $45,060 | $81,430 | 1,470 | 2.09 | 0.29 |
| 4 | New York profile | $28.03 | $58,300 | $38,840 | $88,640 | 50,830 | 5.25 | 0.73 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $27.98 | $58,200 | $39,440 | $86,320 | 26,390 | 9.18 | 1.27 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $27.64 | $57,490 | $39,740 | $81,300 | 20,240 | 5.56 | 0.77 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $27.56 | $57,320 | $39,200 | $82,750 | 31,160 | 7.27 | 1.01 |
| 8 | Alaska profile | $27.44 | $57,080 | $38,180 | $77,990 | 3,030 | 9.29 | 1.29 |
| 9 | South Dakota profile | $27.25 | $56,680 | $38,270 | $91,620 | 3,660 | 8.01 | 1.11 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $27.17 | $56,510 | $37,110 | $82,140 | 13,910 | 8.20 | 1.14 |
| 11 | Hawaii profile | $26.85 | $55,850 | $38,770 | $78,270 | 6,580 | 10.49 | 1.45 |
| 12 | Vermont profile | $26.81 | $55,760 | $39,560 | $76,580 | 2,310 | 7.59 | 1.05 |
| 13 | Delaware profile | $26.79 | $55,710 | $38,220 | $76,620 | 4,200 | 8.67 | 1.20 |
| 14 | California profile | $26.38 | $54,870 | $38,860 | $77,590 | 109,180 | 5.99 | 0.83 |
| 15 | Maine profile | $25.76 | $53,580 | $41,600 | $76,070 | 5,760 | 8.99 | 1.25 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $24.83 | $51,650 | $36,290 | $81,070 | 6,610 | 9.68 | 1.34 |
| 17 | Oregon profile | $24.36 | $50,660 | $37,530 | $78,630 | 13,940 | 7.09 | 0.98 |
| 18 | Wisconsin profile | $23.82 | $49,550 | $35,040 | $76,060 | 17,750 | 6.04 | 0.84 |
| 19 | North Dakota profile | $23.73 | $49,350 | $37,710 | $77,790 | 2,640 | 6.15 | 0.85 |
| 20 | Montana profile | $23.70 | $49,300 | $35,360 | $77,320 | 5,830 | 11.39 | 1.58 |
| 21 | Minnesota profile | $23.45 | $48,770 | $36,550 | $75,900 | 21,530 | 7.30 | 1.01 |
| 22 | Florida profile | $23.28 | $48,410 | $34,710 | $76,200 | 80,470 | 8.10 | 1.12 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $23.08 | $48,010 | $36,640 | $69,400 | 20,260 | 6.25 | 0.87 |
| 24 | Illinois profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $35,360 | $77,550 | 36,940 | 6.06 | 0.84 |
| 25 | Virginia profile | $23.07 | $47,990 | $34,330 | $76,220 | 32,250 | 7.85 | 1.09 |
| 26 | Tennessee profile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $28,520 | $76,300 | 26,470 | 8.07 | 1.12 |
| 27 | Indiana profile | $22.98 | $47,790 | $31,630 | $73,410 | 22,090 | 6.90 | 0.96 |
| 28 | South Carolina profile | $22.97 | $47,770 | $29,280 | $76,960 | 19,390 | 8.41 | 1.17 |
| 29 | North Carolina profile | $22.96 | $47,760 | $32,030 | $77,110 | 39,890 | 8.07 | 1.12 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $22.82 | $47,470 | $34,610 | $76,050 | 10,270 | 5.92 | 0.82 |
| 31 | Maryland profile | $22.60 | $47,000 | $36,990 | $74,610 | 23,080 | 8.35 | 1.16 |
| 32 | Kansas profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $31,780 | $72,040 | 9,250 | 6.43 | 0.89 |
| 33 | Nevada profile | $22.55 | $46,900 | $33,360 | $74,980 | 10,500 | 6.77 | 0.94 |
| 34 | Missouri profile | $22.53 | $46,860 | $33,300 | $73,590 | 19,160 | 6.53 | 0.90 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.45 | $46,690 | $30,830 | $73,880 | 40,970 | 6.76 | 0.94 |
| 36 | Iowa profile | $22.41 | $46,610 | $32,160 | $74,030 | 9,970 | 6.40 | 0.89 |
| 37 | New Mexico profile | $22.38 | $46,550 | $34,490 | $72,510 | 7,660 | 8.80 | 1.22 |
| 38 | Michigan profile | $22.32 | $46,430 | $31,610 | $70,640 | 30,750 | 6.98 | 0.97 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $22.25 | $46,280 | $28,780 | $74,840 | 103,410 | 7.35 | 1.02 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $22.19 | $46,150 | $29,430 | $75,960 | 36,900 | 7.55 | 1.05 |
| 41 | Idaho profile | $22.18 | $46,140 | $33,120 | $74,300 | 7,330 | 8.55 | 1.19 |
| 42 | Wyoming profile | $22.11 | $45,980 | $30,620 | $77,810 | 3,060 | 10.90 | 1.51 |
| 43 | Mississippi profile | $22.00 | $45,760 | $28,100 | $72,550 | 13,020 | 11.19 | 1.55 |
| 44 | Ohio profile | $21.96 | $45,680 | $30,410 | $70,400 | 39,110 | 7.05 | 0.98 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $21.84 | $45,430 | $28,460 | $75,000 | 15,340 | 8.98 | 1.25 |
| 46 | Nebraska profile | $21.77 | $45,280 | $34,290 | $70,690 | 7,010 | 6.84 | 0.95 |
| 47 | Alabama profile | $21.57 | $44,860 | $27,960 | $75,330 | 25,020 | 11.84 | 1.64 |
| 48 | Louisiana profile | $21.09 | $43,860 | $27,720 | $71,290 | 16,910 | 8.74 | 1.21 |
| 49 | Kentucky profile | $19.27 | $40,080 | $28,360 | $69,930 | 18,290 | 9.15 | 1.27 |
| 50 | West Virginia profile | $19.11 | $39,740 | $27,870 | $66,210 | 7,420 | 10.57 | 1.47 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $17.77 | $36,950 | $28,600 | $69,020 | 11,050 | 8.48 | 1.17 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (41-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Sales and Related Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 41-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 41-1011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 41-1011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.