Retail Trade Employment and Wages in 2024

In 2024, the Retail Trade industry employed over 15.6 million people in the United States, reflecting an increase of 0.2% from 2023. The annual mean wage in 2024 was $43,760, and the median wage was $36,200. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 35.6%.

Industry Sub-Groups

Among the industry sub-groups, General Merchandise Retailers held the largest number of jobs within the Retail Trade industry, employing over 3.3 million people in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $39,220, with a median wage of $35,410. There was a decrease in wage variance to the national average compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -40.8% to -42.3%, indicating industry wages lagged national wage trends.

Food and Beverage Retailers accounted for a substantial employment share, with 3.2 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage for this sub-group was $38,530, and the median wage was $35,460. In terms of wage variance to the national average, there was an increase compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -43.3% to -43.3%.

The sub-group of Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers also had considerable industry employment, with approximately 2 million people employed in 2024. The annual mean wage in this sub-group was $57,980 and the median wage was $43,490. The wage variance to the national average experienced a decrease compared to 2023, with the variance shifting from -14% to -14.6%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we examine the top occupations in terms of employment within the Retail Trade industry, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2024, at $92,570, and a median wage of $74,120. The industry variance to the national average was -30.5%. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics had an annual mean wage of $55,700 and a median wage of $49,140. The industry variance to the national average was 0.8%. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers had an annual mean wage of $51,780 and a median wage of $47,050. The industry variance to the national average was -1.1%.

Conversely, notable occupations with lower wages within the Retail Trade industry included Cashiers, with an annual mean wage of $31,840 and a median wage of $31,200. The industry variance to the national average was 0.1%. Food Preparation Workers had an annual mean wage of $35,160 and a median wage of $35,270. The industry variance to the national average was 3.6%. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand had an annual mean wage of $36,700 and a median wage of $36,150. The industry variance to the national average was -11.4%.

Summary

While the Retail Trade industry remains one of the largest employment sectors in the United States, with over 15.6 million workers in 2024, its wage levels continue to significantly trail the national average. Despite modest job growth and a slight narrowing of the wage gap in some sub-sectors, the industry overall still reflects substantial wage disparities—particularly among its most common roles such as cashiers and food preparation workers. Higher-paying occupations like General and Operations Managers and Automotive Technicians provide exceptions, but even these roles often earn less than their counterparts in other industries. The data underscores the ongoing challenges in wage competitiveness within the retail sector, even as it continues to be a cornerstone of the U.S. labor market.