Retail Salespersons pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,320 or more. The middle half of retail salespersons in San Diego earn between $36,270 and $45,020.
- $35K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $45K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,850 | $3,488 | $20.12 |
| Median | $37,810 | $3,151 | $18.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,270 | $3,022 | $17.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,020 | $3,752 | $21.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Retail Salespersons pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Retail salespersons in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($42,950) and 12% more than the U.S. average ($37,310). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $35,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $41,850 | $37,810 | $35,470 | $49,320 | 34,390 |
| California | $42,950 | $38,440 | $35,240 | $54,310 | 376,460 |
| United States | $37,310 | $35,410 | $27,210 | $47,890 | 3,897,860 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Retail Salespersons salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $41,850, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $34,997 a year, or $2,916 a month and $1,346 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for retail salespersons? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $41,850 buys what about $37,404 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 22.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Retail Salespersons salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 11th of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($47,420).
- San Jose$47,420
- San Francisco$47,290
- Napa$45,630
- Santa Rosa$44,180
- Los Angeles$43,010
- Vallejo$42,810
- Yuba City$42,450
- Sacramento$42,430
- Salinas$42,390
- San Diego$41,850
Highest-paying cities for retail salespersons
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($47,420).
- San Jose, CA$47,420
- San Francisco, CA$47,290
- Napa, CA$45,630
- Seattle, WA$45,020
- Mount Vernon, WA$44,690
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Retail Salespersons salary in San Diego: questions
How much do retail salespersons make an hour in San Diego?
$20.12 an hour on average, and $18.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level retail salespersons salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the retail salespersons take-home pay in San Diego?
About $34,997 a year ($2,916 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,850. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do retail salespersons earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. average for this job ($37,310).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 41-2031; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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