Retail Salaries
The average Retail salary is
£24,050.
Working in Retail you can earn between
£1,000 and
£37,482.
The starting salary for junior Retail jobs is £1,000.
The hourly pay range for Retail jobs is £0.48 to £18.02.
Quick Links
- Retail Overview
- Core responsibilities in Retail
- Core Retail skills
- What to expect from a career in Retail
- How to earn more in Retail roles
With over 3 million people working in the retail industry, there are many opportunities within the retail sector to find your perfect job. Retail jobs cover everything from health and beauty, fashion, food, general merchandise, homeware, and more.
You can choose to specialise within the sector with a career in retail management, retail buyers roles, or a visual merchandising career.
The average retail salary varies according to the position you choose and how much experience you have in the field. Starting out as a retail salesperson is an excellent way of getting an overall view of the business and will give you a salary of up to £20,400.
You can develop your skills and gain experience to earn a management position. Retail store management positions offer a salary of around £25,900. Depending on the company you work for and the responsibilities you have, you can earn significantly more.
Core responsibilities in Retail
Typically, a retail role will be within a retail space such as a high street shop or shopping centre. Some roles also work within the office and administration for retail businesses or at the warehouse or distribution centre. You will be responsible for generating sales and helping your retail organisation maximise profits.
A retail management position will include people management responsibilities as well as the stock management and financial reporting for the retail outlet you are managing.
Core Retail skills
You should possess great people skills as you will be helping the public in retail settings or working with various people across retail outlets. A flexible approach is essential as there may be some occasions when you will need to do unsociable hours, such as shifts or weekends.
A great head for numbers, organisational skills, and a passion for achieving results will suit a career in this sector, whether you are in sales, management, buying, or visual merchandising.
If this sounds like you, then it is time to embark on a career in retail.
What to expect from a career in Retail
Careers in retail can vary and your day-to-day routine will depend on the type of retail job you have chosen. Many roles are based in a retail space and will require you to serve customers while managing stock levels and organising staff. Working in retail buying can involve a lot of travel or you may be based at a head office.
Being able to adapt to any situation and having a knack for working with people and wanting to help others, is a great trait to have in the retail industry. You will likely work closely with colleagues in a small team or you can be part of a larger organisation with multiple locations.
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Retail Salaries by Region
Compare Retail salaries across different regions
| Region | Salary |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | £24,220.27 |
| Eastern | £24,288.76 |
| London | £27,794.68 |
| North East | £20,099.60 |
| North West | £22,887.41 |
| Northern Ireland | £19,849.39 |
| Scotland | £20,623.63 |
| South East | £24,805.01 |
| South West | £23,126.40 |
| Wales | £23,265.71 |
| West Midlands | £25,344.81 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £21,090.29 |
Top Paying Locations for Retail Jobs in the UK
The average salary for Retail professionals in the United Kingdom is significantly influenced by location. The general region and area will affect your base salary in Retail jobs. However, you are not alone if relocating is not something you want to consider, and it doesn't mean that you can't make a higher income.
For example, you could choose to work for a Retail business that is city-based. While London leads the way, working for employers located in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Reading, Leeds, and Cardiff will help you earn higher wages per year, compared to companies situated in smaller villages and towns.
Retail Professional Development
The answer to 'how much do Retail professionals earn?' can only be answered by considering where along the career path the individual and job title sit. The total year's experience in the Retail sector will change what the employer is prepared to offer. An entry-level Retail salary will be the lowest, followed by fully qualified workers, senior-level staff, and management.
While you can expect a starting salary for Retail workers to be at the bottom of the pay scale, graduates with a relevant qualification have a higher worth, commanding a better starting salary. UK training opportunities are plentiful, so even if attaining a university degree is out of the question, increasing your skills through workshops and online courses will help you raise the money you can earn a year in your chosen role.
How much are Retail professionals paid? Our data and graphs give you guidance on the wage range and earning per annum for junior, intermediate, and senior roles.
Retail Work Experience
Gaining Retail pre-entry work experience can be crucial in helping you secure employment and a decent rate per hour. Work placements, internships, apprenticeships, shadowing, and vacation work can all help you gain the experience you need. If you cannot find work experience in the Retail industry, you might be able to show potential employers that you have acquired transferable skills elsewhere.
Retail Working Hours
As with all business sectors, the working hours in Retail will affect what you earned during the month. Small, medium, and larger firms may pay a higher overtime rate or offer more money if you work unsociable hours, such as evenings, nights, weekends, and national holidays.
Salaries of part-time, full-time, permanent, temporary, and contract staff all differ and will affect your decision on whether you are earning fair compensation.
Retail Salary Negotiations
Before you enter salary negotiations with employers, hiring managers, or the head of HR, it pays to get prepared. Compare the salaries for the Retail sector on this page to help determine what you are worth. You can perform a salary search for different job titles and locations.
It is worth remembering that you can profit from more than just financial benefits and performance-related commission. Is a high salary in the UK worth more than the freedom to work from home, have more paid holiday, a gym membership, or have private healthcare benefits?
Retail Job Search
Are you looking to start your new career today or find a better paying job? Make a job search or set up job alerts and get notified the moment employers list their vacancy.