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Retail hourly wages in the US vary, ranging from minimum wage paychecks to well above the $7.25 mark.
Business Insider teamed up with Glassdoor to take a look at the highest-paid sales associate jobs in the US, based on submitted salary reports over the past two years.
We also looked at reports from Investopedia and The Penny Hoarder and listed all positions from least to highest paying - from Crate and Barrel to Costco.
While most retail workers make the minimum wage or just above it, a select number earn increasingly high salaries.
We teamed up with Glassdoor to take a look at the highest-paid retail jobs in the US; Glassdoor's findings include several jewelry stores, along with high-end department stores such as Nordstroms and Saks Fifth Avenue. Combined with additional data from The Penny Hoarder and Investopedia, some of these specific retail positions make significantly more than similar hourly jobs in other industries, such as those working in fast-food.
For Glassdoor averages, the amounts represent averages of hourly salaries submitted on Glassdoor from January 1, 2017 to June 19, 2019 for sales associate jobs in the retail industry. Only employers with at least 10 sales associate salaries submitted during that period were included. Investopedia's findings include the most up-to-date pay rates as of 2018.
Keep reading for a look 16 of the highest-paying retail jobs in the US:This story was originally published by Glassdoor.
Crate and Barrel Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $12.17
Glassdoor reported that Crate and Barrel sales associates make over $12. The houseware and furniture chain is a part of the Otto Group; according to the company website, the group "employs 7,500 associates across Crate and Barrel and CB2." CB2 is Crate and Barrel's "millennial-focused" sister brand.
15. Lowe's: Sales Associate
Lowe's Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $12.22
Glassdoor reports show that Lowe's associates also make around $12. The hardware store has been around since 1946.
14. Nordstrom Rack: Sales Associate
Nordstrom Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $12.44
Originally founded as a "small Seattle shoe shop," Nordstrom is a leading department store today. Glassdoor reported that sales associates make an average of $12.44 per hour.
13. Coach: Sales Associate
Coach Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $12.47
The American luxury brand was founded in 146; Glassdoor findings show sales associates make almost $12.50 an hour.
12. Jared Galleria of Jewelry: Sales Associate
Jared Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $12.58
As of 2018, Jared employs associates in 274 stores across 41 states. According to Glassdoor, these sales associates earn average hourly wages of over $12.50 an hour.
11. Saks Fifth Avenue: Sales Associate
Saks Fifth Avenue Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $12.74
Another high-end department store, Saks Fifth Avenue originated in Manhattan in the early 1900s. Today, Glassdoor found that sales associates earn almost $12.75.
Bloomingdale's Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $13.33
Like Saks, Bloomingdale's is another high-end department store founded in New York City. Glassdoor lists its sales associates as one of the highest earners, averaging over $13 an hour.
The Container Store Sales Associate Average Hourly Pay: $13.91
Glassdoor reported that The Container Store's sales associates earn average hourly wages of almost $14 an hour. The company originated in Dallas, Texas in 1978.
4. Amazon: Worker
Amazon Worker Average Hourly Pay: $15
Investopedia reported, "No company has disrupted the retail industry as much as Amazon.com Inc., which surpassed $100 billion in sales for the first time in 2015. In addition to paying its workers $15 an hour (a wage increase that was implemented by CEO Jeff Bezos in November 2018), Amazon offers a full range of health and retirement benefits, along with equity in the company through a restricted stock units program."
5. Safeway: Grocery Clerk
Safeway Grocery Clerk Average Hourly Pay: $16.34
The Penny Hoarder reported high Safeway salaries, with grocery clerks earning $16.34 per hour. Safeway was founded in 1915 in American Falls, Idaho. Today, the supermarket chain has storefronts in 35 states.
3. Target: Warehouse Worker
Target Warehouse Worker Average Hourly Pay: $19.40
Finally, averages on Investopedia show that Costco Wholesale pays its employees average hourly rates of $23. Costco raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour in March, joining Target and other high-paying retailers.
