SalaryByCity

Retail Salespersons vs Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Retail Salespersons

$34,580

Median annual salary

3,800,250 employed nationally

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$46,290

Median annual salary

1,737,820 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals earn $11,710 more per year than Retail Salespersons professionals — that's 33.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Retail Salespersons earns $47,930 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Retail Salespersons$25,600 – $47,930
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$25,600$64,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileRetail SalespersonsSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$25,600$31,600$-6,000
25th Percentile$29,140$37,770$-8,630
Median (50th)$34,580$46,290$-11,710
75th Percentile$37,850$55,650$-17,800
90th Percentile$47,930$64,150$-16,220
Mean (Average)$37,150$47,640$-10,490

Employment Numbers

Retail Salespersons

3,800,250

employed nationwide

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Retail Salespersons

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,040
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$42,490
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$39,180
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$37,500
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$37,350

Best Cities for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$61,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$60,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,310
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$56,060
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$53,960

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Retail Salespersons or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $11,710 (33.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Retail Salespersons?
Retail Salespersons salaries range from $25,600 (10th percentile) to $47,930 (90th percentile), with a median of $34,580.
What is the salary range for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries range from $31,600 (10th percentile) to $64,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $46,290.
How many Retail Salespersons and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 3,800,250 Retail Salespersons positions and 1,737,820 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive to Retail Salespersons?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Retail Salespersons has a median salary of $34,580 while Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earns $46,290. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS