SalaryByCity

Retail Salespersons vs Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: 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

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

$78,140

Median annual salary

472,300 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents professionals earn $43,560 more per year than Retail Salespersons professionals — that's 126.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Retail Salespersons earns $47,930 compared to $215,210 for Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents.

Salary Range Comparison

Retail Salespersons$25,600 – $47,930
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$47,080 – $215,210
$25,600$215,210

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileRetail SalespersonsSecurities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsDifference
10th Percentile$25,600$47,080$-21,480
25th Percentile$29,140$51,600$-22,460
Median (50th)$34,580$78,140$-43,560
75th Percentile$37,850$129,480$-91,630
90th Percentile$47,930$215,210$-167,280
Mean (Average)$37,150$110,400$-73,250

Employment Numbers

Retail Salespersons

3,800,250

employed nationwide

Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

472,300

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 Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents

CityMedian
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$166,170
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$101,720
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,110
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI$95,910
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$84,270

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Retail Salespersons or Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents?
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $43,560 (126.0% 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 Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents?
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents salaries range from $47,080 (10th percentile) to $215,210 (90th percentile), with a median of $78,140.
How many Retail Salespersons and Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents jobs are there?
There are approximately 3,800,250 Retail Salespersons positions and 472,300 Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents to Retail Salespersons?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Retail Salespersons has a median salary of $34,580 while Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents earns $78,140. 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