Junior

Junior General Merchandise Salesperson

The variety retail seller — learning general merchandise sales.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
E
C
R
S
A
I
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Junior General Merchandise Salespersons
Employment concentration · ~393 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Junior General Merchandise Salesperson

As a Junior General Merchandise Salesperson, you're beginning work selling general merchandise in retail environments, learning to help customers across various product categories.

Your day involves assisting customers, learning product areas, processing sales, and maintaining merchandise displays. You're building broad retail sales skills.

The work requires learning diverse product categories. General merchandise includes many items, so you develop broad product knowledge while building customer service skills. The people who succeed here enjoy variety, can learn across categories, and provide helpful customer assistance.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
AchievementLower
IndependenceLower
RecognitionLower
Working ConditionsLower
O*NET Work Values survey
StrategyExecution
StructuredAdaptable
ManagingContributing
CollaborativeIndependent
Store typeCategoriesCustomer baseCommission structureHours
General merchandise retail varies by store type. Department stores differ from discount retailers or variety stores. Some positions focus on specific departments; others rotate. Compensation and hours vary by employer.
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Junior General Merchandise Salespersons (SOC 41-2031.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Junior General Merchandise Salesperson career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
1
Product breadth
Learning across merchandise categories
2
Customer service
Helping customers with diverse needs
3
Sales fundamentals
Building selling skills across products
What departments or categories would I work with?
What are the typical hours?
What training is provided?
Is there commission or bonus structure?
What advancement opportunities exist?
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$26K–$48K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
3.8M
U.S. Employment
-0.5%
10yr Growth
556K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$58K$55K$52K201920202021202220232024$52K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

PersuasionService OrientationActive ListeningSpeakingNegotiationSocial PerceptivenessCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoringTime Management
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
41-2031.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.