Jobs Similar to Retail Salespersons
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to retail salespersons, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers, Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products) and Telemarketers.
Retail Salespersons: $35,410 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
80% similar · $41,380 (+17%) · High school
- 2Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
80% similar · $72,080 (+104%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Telemarketers
79% similar · $35,450 (0%) · High school
- 4Cashiers
78% similar · $32,880 (−7%) · High school · Same group
- 5Real Estate Sales Agents
78% similar · $52,830 (+49%) · High school
- 6Gambling Dealers
78% similar · $34,320 (−3%) · High school
- 7Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners
78% similar · $34,980 (−1%) · High school
- 8Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
78% similar · $104,920 (+196%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Tellers
78% similar · $43,030 (+22%) · High school
- 10Demonstrators and Product Promoters
78% similar · $39,320 (+11%) · High school
- 11Counter and Rental Clerks
77% similar · $41,300 (+17%) · High school · Same group
- 12New Accounts Clerks
77% similar · $47,670 (+35%) · Training or associate
- 13Real Estate Brokers
77% similar · $73,220 (+107%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
76% similar · $32,910 (−7%) · High school
- 15Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
76% similar · $69,990 (+98%) · High school
- 16First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
76% similar · $48,520 (+37%) · High school
- 17Customer Service Representatives
76% similar · $44,770 (+26%) · High school
- 18Waiters and Waitresses
76% similar · $35,230 (−1%) · High school
- 19Gambling Cage Workers
75% similar · $37,580 (+6%) · High school
- 20Postal Service Clerks
75% similar · $62,130 (+75%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than retail salespersons.
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel76% similar · $69,990 (+98%)
- Postal Service Clerks75% similar · $62,130 (+75%)
- Real Estate Sales Agents78% similar · $52,830 (+49%)
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers76% similar · $48,520 (+37%)
- Customer Service Representatives76% similar · $44,770 (+26%)
- Tellers78% similar · $43,030 (+22%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for retail salespersons also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where retail salespersons is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters (88)
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers (88)
- Telemarketers (86)
- Gambling Dealers (85)
- Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners (82)
- Gambling Cage Workers (79)
- Stockers and Order Fillers (79)
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers (76)
- Waiters and Waitresses (76)
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (75)
Questions about jobs like retail salespersons
What jobs are most similar to retail salespersons?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers (80% similar), Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products) (80% similar), Telemarketers (79% similar), Cashiers (78% similar) and Real Estate Sales Agents (78% similar).
Which jobs like retail salespersons pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products) ($104,920, +196%; usually a bachelor's degree), Real Estate Brokers ($73,220, +107%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products) ($72,080, +104%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with retail salespersons ($35,410). Without more preparation than retail salespersons usually need: Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel, Postal Service Clerks and Real Estate Sales Agents.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.