High-Paying Entry-Level Retail Jobs: The Top Picks from Glassdoor’s Analysis

The retail industry is facing challenges in attracting and retaining workers, leading to a rise in wages for entry-level employees. While the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, many employers are paying at least double that to entice workers to join their ranks.

To showcase the highest-paying entry-level retail jobs in the US, Business Insider turned to Glassdoor for data on hourly wages. Glassdoor’s information is based on user submissions from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, for positions such as sales associates, cashiers, and retail representatives. Companies included in the analysis had to have at least 1,000 employees with a minimum of 30 worker-submitted salaries.

According to Glassdoor’s data, Patagonia remains at the top of the list of highest-paying retail employers. To meet the US poverty line for a family of four, a worker would need to earn $17.14 per hour for a 35-hour workweek over 52 weeks. Full-time schedules from a single retailer can be hard to come by, making it essential for workers to find employers that offer competitive wages.

The rise in retail wages reflects the growing demand for workers in the industry. As companies compete for talent, offering higher pay rates has become a priority to attract and retain employees. With the US economy recovering from the impacts of the pandemic, retail wages are expected to continue trending upwards to meet the needs of both employers and workers.

Many employers are paying entry-level retail employees more than $17 per hour on the sales floor as they struggle to find and retain workers due to various factors such as low pay rates and lack of benefits.

Glassdoor analyzed data from January 1st of last year until March 31st this year from positions such as sales associates, cashiers and retail representatives across various companies with over one thousand employees with at least thirty worker submitted salaries.

In terms of hourly wages paid by high-paying employers in this field include Patagonia which remains atop this list.

To make ends meet according to Glassdoor’s data, an employee working full time must earn $17.14 per hour over fifty two weeks or $864 monthly if working forty hours per week.

As competition heats up among companies looking for talent in this sector they are willing to pay more than ever before just so they can keep their best people around.

With recovery happening post pandemic it’s expected that these wages will continue climbing upward meeting both employer needs while also providing greater financial stability for employees.