SOC 41-2031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Retail Salespersons — Columbus
Columbus, OH · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Retail Salespersons in Columbus, OH is $33,780 per year, close to the national median of $35,410 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Retail Salespersons in Columbus, OH is $33,780 per year, close to the national median of $35,410 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $26,470 at the tenth percentile to more than $46,780 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $29,100 to $37,230.
The area has 26,850 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 24.3 of every thousand jobs. Springfield leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $32,610. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 587th of 611 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26,470 | −25.2% |
| 25th | $29,100 | −17.8% |
| Median (50th) | $33,780 | −4.6% |
| 75th | $37,230 | +5.1% |
| 90th | $46,780 | +32.1% |
| Mean | $35,940 | +1.5% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $32,610 | 1,210 | |
| 2 | Akron | $31,060 | 7,770 | |
| 3 | Cleveland | $31,000 | 24,650 | |
| 4 | Sandusky | $31,000 | 1,510 | |
| 5 | Cincinnati | $30,810 | 28,670 | |
| 6 | Toledo | $30,780 | 7,360 | |
| 7 | Dayton | $30,360 | 9,170 | |
| 8 | Canton | $29,480 | 4,850 | |
| 9 | Youngstown | $29,080 | 4,870 | |
| 10 | Lima | $28,900 | 1,490 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbus run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $33,780 goes as far as $36,401 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,780as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$36,401US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,780 a year, 4.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $26,470 to $46,780 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 26,850 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Springfield, at $32,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Retail Salespersons in Columbus, OH?
The median annual wage is $33,780, or $16.24 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,410, so pay in Columbus, OH is 4.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbus, OH earns more than $46,780 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $26,470 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Springfield, at $32,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 26,850 jobs in this occupation in Columbus, OH. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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