Sales and retail assistants Salary
Median salary £14,491 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.
About this role
Sales and retail assistants serve customers in shops, department stores and retail outlets. They assist with purchases, operate tills, stock shelves, provide product advice and maintain attractive sales floor displays.
Key responsibilities
- Serving customers and processing transactions
- Providing product knowledge and advice
- Stocking shelves and maintaining displays
- Operating tills and handling cash and card payments
- Maintaining store cleanliness and presentation
Qualifications and entry routes
No formal qualifications required. On-the-job training provided. NVQ Level 2 in Retail Skills is available. Customer service qualifications are valued by some employers.
Career outlook
Retail employment faces structural changes from online shopping. In-store roles increasingly emphasise customer experience, advice and omnichannel service.
Key skills
Common industries
- High street retail
- Supermarkets
- Department stores
- Specialist retailers
- Concessions and franchises
Data coverage
Median Salary
£14,491
Mean Salary
£16,086
Jobs (000s)
895k
Data Years
11 years
Salary Range (2025)
Estimated Career Progression
Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation
Entry Level
£5,709
0-2 years
Mid Level
£9,734
3-7 years
Senior
£21,774
8-15 years
Leadership
£27,733
15+ years
Potential career growth: +386% from entry to leadership
Salary Trend (2015-2025)
Gender Pay Comparison (2025)
Gender pay gap: 28.5%
Full-time vs All Employees (2025)
All Employees
£14,491
Full-time Only
£25,056
Full-time premium: +£10,565
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Salary forecast
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Lifetime earnings
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