Retail Trade Employment and Wages in 2022

In 2022, the Retail Trade industry group employed over 15 million people in the United States. This represents an increase of 1.2% from 2021. The annual mean wage in 2022 was $40,420, and the median wage was $33,260. Compared to the national average, the wages in this industry group were lower by 35%.

Industry Sub-Groups

General Merchandise Retailers had the largest number of jobs within the industry group, employing over 3.2 million people in 2022 and surpassing Food and Beverage Retailers, which had the largest number of jobs in 2021. The annual mean wage in this subgroup was $36,250, and the median wage was $31,850. While relatively low overall, the industry wage variance to the national average was slightly better than in 2021, at -41.4%.

Food and Beverage Retailers employed nearly 3.2 million people in 2022, with an annual mean wage of $35,130 and a median wage of $31,200. This subgroup had an industry wage variance to the national average of -43.2%, which was similar to 2021.

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employed nearly 2 million people in 2022, with an annual mean wage of $53,750 and a median wage of $37,970. The wages in this subgroup are the highest in the sector, and the industry wage variance to the national average was slightly better than in 2021, at -13.2%.

Highest Employment Occupations

When we look at the top ten occupations in terms of employment within the Retail Trade industry group, we find that General and Operations Managers had the highest annual mean wage in 2022, at $90,390. However, the industry wage variance to the national average was -26.4%. Other high-paying occupations in the industry group included Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, with an annual mean wage of $50,500, and First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers, with an annual mean wage of $49,590.

On the other hand, occupations with lower wages included Cashiers, with an annual mean wage of $28,760 and a median wage of $28,290. The industry variance to the national average was 0.1%. Food Preparation Workers had an annual mean wage of $32,150 and a median wage of $31,200, with an industry wage variance to the national average of 4.7%.

Summary

The Retail Trade industry plays a crucial role in the economy, providing goods and services to consumers across various sectors. The wages in this industry group tend to be lower than the national average and are growing at a slower rate compared to the national average.

For more detailed industry insights, consider purchasing Aimiax’s 2022 Retail Trade Industry Report.