Highest Paying Jobs in Retail

Thinking of a career in retail but aren't sure where to start? If so, you've come to the right place. In this article, we'll discuss some of the highest paying retail jobs in 2022, hoping to help you find the kind of job that not only pays your bills but also creates a pathway to even greater success in your career. But first things first, let's discuss what a retail job is.

What's a Retail Job?

A retail job involves selling finished products to consumers in exchange for money. The term 'retail' refers to a wide range of businesses involved in the sales of drugs, groceries, beauty products, or anything in between. 

What Are Some of the Highest Paying Retail Jobs in 2022?

Here's an overview of the best paying jobs in retail in 2022. Please note that the hourly rate may vary depending on multiple factors, such as the retail store's location, size, employee's experience, and qualifications, etc. 

For example, the minimum wage for a retail store worker in New York is $13.20 an hour while in Washington state, the minimum wage is $14.49 per hour. 

These positions also pay higher than the federal minimum wage, which stands at $7.25 in 2022. 

Pharmacy Technician 

A retail store pharmacy technician assists customers with finding over-the-counter medications. They may also provide advice regarding various medications, dispense, prepare, and distribute patient medications, among other duties and responsibilities. 

Pharmacy technician national average salary: $16.5/hour 

Retail Associate 

Retail stores, such as Costo, offer generous employee benefits, including health insurance, 401k plans, paid time off, dental insurance, maternity and paternity leave, sick days, paid breaks, vision insurance, and so much more. In addition, the company is well-known for supporting its employees through various phases of life. For example, in the fall of 2020, Costco offered additional paid time off for employees who needed child care or schooling. 

Costo retail associate national average salary: $16/hour 

Retail Loss Prevention Officer

Retail stores are prime targets for shoplifters and other criminals. This explains why most of these stores hire loss prevention officers. Some of their duties and responsibilities include monitoring public areas for unusual activity, identifying potential threats, monitoring security systems such as alarms and CCTV cameras, following and confronting shoplifting suspects, and so on. 

Loss prevention officer national average salary: $15/hour 

Retail Manager

Every retail store, including a grocery store, needs a manager. This is the individual in charge of the day-to-day operations of a retail store. Employees working at a retail store usually report to the store manager, who then reports to the district, area, or general manager. Retail managers may also be responsible for recruiting, training, supervising, and evaluating staff performance. 

Retail store manager national average salary: $23/hour

Assistant Retail Manager

Most retail stores with retail managers usually have a position reserved for the assistant retail manager. An assistant retail manager performs the same role as a retail manager but is more involved in supporting the day-to-day tasks at a retail store. They also help with employee-related activities, such as management and scheduling. 

The assistant retail manager is usually the first point of contact for clients who want to speak with the store manager regarding a particular topic of concern. If the assistant retail manager can't handle the issue, it may require the intervention of the retail manager. 

Assistant retail manager national average salary: $20 / hour 

Retail Account Manager

A retail account manager is responsible for managing the relationship between a product supplier or manufacturer and the retailers that stock the products. This individual is usually in charge of developing good relationships with customers, establishing a connection between key business executives and stakeholders, creating sales reports and budgets, answering clients' questions, identifying new business opportunities, and so on. Retail account managers are usually needed at large retail stores like Home Depot, Walmart, Costco, Macy's, Nordstrom, etc. 

Retail account manager national average hourly pay: $25/hour

Retail Sales Associate

A retail sales associate is usually one of the first people you'll interact with when you walk into a department store. This individual handles various sales activities in the retail score. Some of the primary duties and responsibilities of a retail sales associate include facilitating purchases, providing a positive customer experience, answering customers' questions, conducting suggestive selling, demonstrating product knowledge, and so on.

A retail sales associate may also be referred to as a brand ambassador in bigger establishments. If you're interested in becoming a retail sales associate, here's a comprehensive guide to get you started. 

Retail sales associate national average salary: $13/hour

Retail Stocker

A retail stocker, also known as a stock clerk, ensures that consumers have access to the merchandise they need at the store. Retail stockers achieve this by organizing product displays and restocking empty shelves. They also help count inventory, add price tags to goods, and organize products on shelves. 

Retail stocker national average salary: $12/hour 

Retail Advisor

A retail advisor helps consumers find products that meet their needs. They may also assist with sales transactions, answer questions and explain product benefits to clients. Since retail advisors usually interact with clients, they mostly work the retail floor. 

Additionally, these professionals are mostly found in large stores. In smaller stores, a retail sales associate may also play the role of a retail advisor.

Retail advisor national average salary: $25/hour

Retail Merchandiser

A retail merchandiser is responsible for staging a store to increase sales. This professional studies consumer behaviors and works closely with retail managers, advisors, stockers, and sales associates to increase sales. Like retail advisors, merchandisers are usually needed by large retail stores. 

Retail merchandiser national average salary: $15/hour

Regional Retail Manager 

Regional retail managers oversee the operations of retail stores located in a specific geographical area. This individual reviews and analyzes regional sales records, projects sales based on data, determines profitability, identifies target markets, evaluates store performances, etc. However, regional retail managers are not the same as retail managers; the latter usually reports to the former. 

Regional retail manager national average salary: $37/hour

Retail Buyer

It's important to note that a retail buyer is not the same as a consumer. Instead, a retail buyer selects and purchases merchandise sold in retail stores. This individual is responsible for ensuring that the store sells competitive products. A retail buyer also maintains a vast network of suppliers and manufacturers. 

However, in most cases, retail buyers don't work the floor; they are usually found in offices either at the retail store or a different location. A retail buyer is sometimes referred to as a retail planner or purchasing manager. 

Retail buyer national average salary: $35/hour

Customer Service Supervisor

To ensure great customer service, most retail stores hire customer service supervisors. These individuals are responsible for evaluating customer issues that can't be managed by the first support level. For example, when a retail sales associate cannot solve a customer's problem, they may refer them to the customer service supervisor for further assistance. The supervisor may also be in charge of a team of customer service representatives at the retail store, who may handle different duties such as returns, customer engagement, communication, etc. 

Customer service supervisor national average salary: $32/hour

Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives at retail stores usually work at the customer service section and report to the customer service supervisors. In stores that don't have a customer service supervisor, customer service representatives report to the store manager or shift supervisor. In addition, customer service representatives at retail stores usually handle product returns, client communication, complaints, etc. 

Customer service representative national average salary: $14/hour

Cashier

At a retail store, a cashier is responsible for processing transactions. This individual can also assist with welcoming visitors when they arrive at the store, process returns and exchanges, answer phone calls, promote rewards programs, etc. Almost every retail industry needs a cashier. As a result, they are usually some of the highest paid retail workers. 

If you're considering a career as a cashier, here are some common interview questions to expect. 

Cashier national average salary: $15.38/ hour

Regional Loss Prevention Manager

A regional loss prevention manager oversees loss prevention practices in multiple stores within a particular geographical area. These individuals do not usually work the floor but may conduct routine visits to supervise and analyze loss prevention tactics at different stores under their responsibility. 

A regional loss prevention manager also helps develop new standards of loss prevention, train store employees, managers, loss prevention officers, etc. Most regional loss prevention managers usually start as standard loss prevention officers.

Regional loss prevention managers national average salary: $15.38/ hour 

Beauty Consultant

Consumers usually have many questions when looking for the right beauty product for their specific needs. A beauty consultant is responsible for answering these questions and directing consumers to the right products. Beauty consultants are mostly found in large stores; in standard retail stores, a sales representative may play the role of a beauty consultant. In some stores, beauty consultants may even help consumers with their makeup and provide advice regarding the same. 

Beauty consultant national average salary: $13.50/hour 

Cosmetics Manager

A cosmetics manager oversees a retail store's beauty and cosmetics department. This individual may also be responsible for monitoring inventory, assisting customers, recommending products, answering complex customer questions, hiring beauty consultants, and overseeing the general smooth running of the store's beauty department. A beauty consultant reports to the cosmetics manager in most retail stores, who then reports to the retail manager. 

Cosmetics manager national average salary: $17/hour

Human Resource Manager

Larger retail stores may need a human resource manager. This individual is responsible for forecasting hiring needs, especially at peak seasons, designing and posting job advertisements, evaluating staff performance, conducting job interviews, training staff, maintaining work culture, resolving conflicts, etc. The HR manager reports directly to the CEO, president, or retail store owner.

Retail human resource manager national average salary: $40/hour

IT Technicians

Some retail stores may hire an IT technician in charge of price accuracy for printed price shelf tags, computer and network maintenance, point of sale software maintenance, and other technology-related tasks. IT technicians employed at larger retail stores and warehouses such as Amazon, Walmart, Costco, etc., usually work in the tech department. They solve various tech-related problems and assist clients in making informed decisions when purchasing various gadgets. In some stores, such as Walmart or Best Buy, IT technicians may be referred to as desktop support specialists.

IT technicians national average hourly wage: $30/hour

There you have it - the top 20 highest paid jobs in retail. As mentioned before, these hourly salaries may vary due to different factors. Additionally, most retail jobs usually provide room for growth even for entry-level or part-time retail positions. So if you're aiming for a higher role, whether part-time or full-time, but don't meet the requirements stated in the job description, it may be just a matter of time if you stay committed to the cause.