5 Best-Paying Companies for Retail Sales Associates

The average wage for sales associates is $9.16 per hour

By Liz Torres

Sales associates are the backbone of the retail industry. There are more than four million of these front-line workers who are responsible for stellar customer service that directly affects company profit.

These workers will be directly impacted by President Barack Obama's proposal to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10.

Sales associates earn an average wage of $9.16 per hour but are likely to see a bump in pay with skills in field and account sales and customer relationship management.

San Francisco pays its sales associates 79 percent above the national average of $21,606, followed by Boston at 58 percent.

The companies mentioned offer some of the most competitive wages for retail sales associates.

Note: Data is based on PayScale survey data.

Liz Torres can be reached at liz.torres@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @etorres446.