Choose from a wide range of NEWCV resume templates and customize your NEWCV design with a single click.
Use ATS-optimised Resume and resume templates that pass applicant tracking systems. Our Resume builder helps recruiters read, scan, and shortlist your Resume faster.
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact Resume rules employers look for.
Create Resume
Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact Resume rules employers look for.
Create ResumeThe typical store clerk salary in the United States falls within a clear range depending on experience and role level.
Entry-level store clerk: $28,000–$34,000/year
Mid-level store clerk: $34,000–$40,000/year
Experienced store clerk: $40,000–$48,000+/year
Top earners (lead or specialized roles): $50,000+
Most store clerks start near the lower end but can steadily increase earnings by gaining experience or moving into higher-paying retail environments.
Average hourly pay: $14–$20/hour
Location plays a major role in how much you earn as a store clerk.
California: $34,000–$55,000+
New York: $32,000–$52,000+
Texas: $28,000–$45,000
Midwest: $28,000–$42,000
Higher cost-of-living states typically offer better wages, but competition and workload expectations are also higher.
Employers in major cities expect:
Faster checkout speed
Multitasking across cashier + stocking + customer service
Not all store clerk roles pay the same. Some retail environments consistently offer higher wages.
Lead store clerk / senior clerk
Grocery clerk (especially union stores)
Pharmacy front-store clerk
Hardware store clerk (product knowledge required)
Overnight stock clerk
Inventory control clerk
Retail keyholder or team lead
Higher-paying roles: $20–$25+/hour
Recent labor data shows median hourly wages around:
$16.62/hour for retail salespersons
$14.99/hour for cashiers
This aligns with real job postings where most store clerk roles cluster around the mid-$15/hour range.
Flexible availability (especially nights and weekends)
These expectations directly impact salary offers.
Specialty retail sales clerk
Higher pay is tied to:
Responsibility (handling cash, inventory, or keys)
Specialized knowledge (pharmacy, hardware, specialty goods)
Less desirable shifts (overnight, weekends)
Operational involvement beyond basic cashier duties
From a recruiter perspective, candidates who can:
Run POS systems efficiently
Handle inventory and stock
Assist customers confidently
are often fast-tracked into higher-paying roles.
Base salary is only part of total compensation.
Overtime pay
Night or overnight shift premiums
Weekend or holiday pay
Sales incentives or bonuses
Healthcare coverage
Paid time off
401(k) or retirement plans
Employee discounts
Tuition assistance (at major retailers)
Unlike corporate roles, store clerk compensation is mostly cash-based, with minimal stock or equity incentives.
Several key variables determine how much you can earn.
Location and cost of living
Store type (grocery, pharmacy, warehouse, luxury retail)
Experience level
Reliability and attendance
Skill set (cash handling, inventory, merchandising)
Shift type (overnight, weekend, holiday)
Union vs non-union employer
Company size (national chain vs independent store)
The biggest salary jumps typically come from:
Moving into leadership (keyholder, lead clerk)
Switching to higher-paying retail sectors
Taking on operational responsibilities
If you stay in retail, there’s a clear path to higher income.
Store Clerk
Senior Store Clerk / Lead Clerk
Keyholder
Shift Supervisor
Assistant Store Manager
Store Manager
Each step increases both responsibility and pay.
Move from cashier to inventory or department roles
Transition into grocery, pharmacy, or warehouse retail
Take on leadership responsibilities early
If you want to earn more quickly, focus on actions that employers reward immediately.
Work overnight, weekend, or holiday shifts
Apply to grocery, pharmacy, hardware, or warehouse stores
Gain certifications (food handling, alcohol sales, safety)
Move into keyholder or lead roles
Relocate to higher-paying states or cities
Employers consistently pay more to clerks who:
Show up reliably
Handle both customers and operations
Can be trusted with responsibility
Reliability alone can outperform experience in many hiring decisions.
If you want higher pay, your resume must show measurable impact.
Hiring managers don’t reward vague experience. They reward results.
Resume metrics are quantifiable achievements that show how well you performed your job. They include numbers, percentages, and measurable outcomes.
Strong metrics immediately signal:
Efficiency
Accuracy
Productivity
Business impact
Use these real-world examples to upgrade your resume.
Assisted 80+ customers per shift while maintaining high satisfaction
Reduced customer wait times during peak hours by supporting multiple checkout lanes
Increased loyalty program signups by 20% through customer engagement
Processed 150+ daily transactions with 99%+ accuracy
Balanced cash drawer within $1–$3 variance consistently
Improved checkout speed by 18% through efficient scanning and bagging
Restocked 500+ SKUs weekly across assigned sections
Reduced out-of-stock issues by 15% through proactive replenishment
Supported inventory counts with 99% accuracy
Completed 30+ daily recovery tasks across store areas
Maintained 98%+ price accuracy during audits and markdowns
Helped improve promotional display performance through better placement
Maintained zero safety incidents during assigned shifts
Accurately processed returns and exchanges per company policy
Reported discrepancies to reduce shrink and inventory loss
Responsible for helping customers and working cashier.
Assisted 80+ customers per shift and processed 150+ transactions daily with 99% accuracy, improving checkout efficiency during peak hours.
Uses numbers
Shows impact
Demonstrates performance
Metrics directly influence hiring decisions and salary offers.
Speed (transactions, customer volume)
Accuracy (cash handling, inventory)
Initiative (upselling, problem-solving)
Reliability (consistency, attendance)
When your resume proves these, you become eligible for:
Lead roles
Higher hourly pay
Faster promotions
To maximize income, you need both:
The right job (high-paying retail sector)
The right positioning (results-driven resume)
Move into a higher-paying store type
Take on additional responsibilities
Track your performance metrics
Update your resume with measurable results
Apply for lead or keyholder roles
This is how store clerks break past the $40K range.
Avoid these if you want higher earnings.
Staying in low-paying retail environments too long
Not learning inventory or operational tasks
Avoiding weekend or overnight shifts
Using generic resumes with no metrics
Not pursuing internal promotions
Two candidates with the same experience can earn very different salaries. The one with measurable results and flexibility always wins.
Specialized retail experience
Flexible availability
Measurable performance
Leadership responsibilities
Only cashier experience with no growth
No quantifiable achievements
Limited availability
Passive career approach
Upload Resume
Import from Linkedin
