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First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 41-1011 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary
$48,526
$23.33/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026

Is this a competitive First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers salary in 2026?

Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS June 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.

$Competitive · ~P50
P10$33K
P25$39K
P50$49K
P75$62K
P90$77K
Drag the dot or type an amount above.
⚡
Demand: ACTIVE. Demand is active -- retail openings are at 4.8% (JOLTS, June 2026). A balanced market where the median is a solid, competitive anchor.
📈
Merit budget: Wages in retail trade are rising about 3.4% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 3.0-3.5% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Our read
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $48,526 to $62,130 (market median to the 75th percentile). The median-to-P75 range keeps offers competitive.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.

How First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers pay is moving in 2026

Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI

Pay trend

Median pay for this role rose 2.5% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, trailing the 3.4% wage growth of Retail Trade (BLS ECI).

Hiring demand · MODERATE

Retail Trade is running a 4.8% job-openings rate with quits at 3.0% (BLS JOLTS). Demand has tightened for 2 straight months (4.2% up to 4.8%).

Pay spread

Top earners (P90) make about 2.3 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is in the typical range for U.S. occupations; standard 80% to 120% pay bands around the median work well.

What changed recently
  • Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings climbed to 4.8% and quits returned to 3.0%. Frontline churn pressure is building again.
  • Jul 31, 2026ECI Q2 2026: sector wages growing 3.4% per year, up from 3.1%, one of the few sectors accelerating.

Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS June 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.

Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers is $48,526 per year ($23.33/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $38,584 and $62,130 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $77,085 per year. There are approximately 1,121,800 first-line supervisors of retail sales workers employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-5.0%
Slower than average
Annual openings
125K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
1.4M
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
None

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
General Merchandise Retailers
NAICS 455000
207K$47,190
Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only)
NAICS 4450A1
171K$50,690
Gasoline Stations
NAICS 457100
102K$43,150
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers
NAICS 458100
90K$46,140
Building Material and Supplies Dealers
NAICS 444100
84K$53,880
Wage range across top 5 industries: $43,150 to $53,880 (25% spread)

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salary
P10$15.92$33,114
P25$18.55$38,584
P50MEDIAN$23.33$48,526
P75$29.87$62,130
P90$37.06$77,085

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · retail sector
Active
Openings Rate
4.8%
Quits Rate
3.0%

Retail openings rose to 774K (+49K) in June, rate up to 4.8%. Frontline turnover picked back up with the quit rate at 3.0% -- expect continued churn-driven wage pressure in hourly roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average first-line supervisors of retail sales workers salary?

The national median salary for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers is $48,526 per year ($23.33/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $38,584 and $62,130 annually.

How much do top-earning first-line supervisors of retail sales workers make?

The 90th percentile salary for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers is $77,085 per year ($37.06/hr). The 75th percentile is $62,130 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers?

Entry-level First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers (10th percentile) earn approximately $33,114 per year ($15.92/hr). The 25th percentile is $38,584 per year.

Related Salary Data

Compare with other occupations
Retail Salespersons41-2031$35K/yrCashiers41-2011$33K/yrSales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel41-3091$70K/yrSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products41-4012$72K/yrSecurities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents41-3031$79K/yrBrowse all 770+ occupations →

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers Salary by State

Top 5 states by employment
California109,180 workersTexas103,410 workersFlorida80,470 workersNew York50,830 workersPennsylvania40,970 workers

About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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