How much $/hour would you list for a retail job?

**2boysand1girl** · 11-05-2007, 03:08 PM

I've been thinking of applying for the seasonal holiday jobs but they all want to know what hourly wage you want. Here in Missouri it's $6.50/hr for minimum. The jobs I'm looking at are not commission and a few have the possibility of becoming long term. How do I decide what hourly wage I want? Honestly $6.50 would be fine for some of the jobs because I love the stores so the discount would be worth it and I can save my errands to be run before or after my shifts so I would waste very little gas. My husband thinks I should ask for $10 but that seems high for retail. It's been over 4 years since I last worked.

**wanderlusting** · 11-05-2007, 03:49 PM

Most retail jobs I've seen start at around the $7-$8 range. Then after a year or two it goes up.

**frugalfarmwife** · 11-05-2007, 03:58 PM

I'd ask THEM what the normal starting range is. If filling out an application I'd state negotiable and let them come to the table with their offer.

When I went back to work I didn't ask, right away in the interview they told me what the wage was, and it was well above minimum.

Edited to add, I'd been out of the work force for probably 6 years when I went back to work.

kj

**2boysand1girl** · 11-05-2007, 04:01 PM

LOL I have the habit of filling out every detail that they need. Leftover from accounting and mortgage work where every thing had to be dated and dotted. I'll put in negotiable and hope they won't push.

**leezza** · 11-05-2007, 05:22 PM

Personally I think $10 an hour is in line for retail especially if they expect you to dress nice all the time......dressing nice can get pricey!

JMHO,
leezza

**i.m.cheap** · 11-05-2007, 06:02 PM

If you want $10 an hour, try applying at Dillard's. I made $10.50 an hour working for them back in 1994. I started at $6.50, but had increases every six months, and was making $10.50 after two years. I think they start at at least $9.00 an hour now.

**pita1213** · 11-05-2007, 06:47 PM

my last retail job, i made 11.74 when i left. if i was to go back to retail, i would ask for at least 10. i had been a sahm for 3 years when i went back to work. when i went back to work it was for a different company than the one i left, but when i went back to that company, i asked for what i probably would have been making if i stayed, $9.00/hr. if you have any sort of managment or supervisor experience, ask for more.

**Cricket1** · 11-05-2007, 08:27 PM

I usually put negotiable. Every retail job I've ever had, has a starting wage--take it or leave it. I don't know why they even asked that. I work retail and I started at $10.--after one year, I'm making $11.

**Missourimom** · 11-05-2007, 10:39 PM

Heather, I live in St.Louis too. I've had a couple people tell me that Costco hires during the holiday season and they pay $10.00 an hour.

**momof42003** · 11-05-2007, 10:40 PM

WOW here, most jobs in retail start out at minimum wage, or just above... Then again our min. wage is going to I think 8.25 an hour in January...

**Neeley** · 11-05-2007, 10:48 PM

I had no clue what minimum wage was here so I had to google it. It said for our state it was $5.85. Retail jobs (according to my 19 yo sister in college who works retail) about $6.25 an hour here.

**Michelle** · 11-06-2007, 07:00 AM

It varies greatly depending on your geographical location and the store where you are applying.

http://www.jobbankusa.com/career_emp...wages_pay.html

http://ded.mo.gov/researchandplannin...ccupations.stm

**Mamaof2rugrats** · 11-28-2007, 05:37 PM

I live in another part of Missouri but 10.- an hour seems very high. For the area in Missouri I live in 10.- an hour is very rare for any type of job. St.Louis is much different though so maybe. Good luck.

**Dancing Lotus** · 11-28-2007, 05:56 PM

At my Dillards the starting rait depends on what department you will be working in. The lowest is 8.00 and I think the highest is 10.00. Then after six month if you have made or exceded your sales goal you get a raise, however if you don't maintain then you loose the raise and go back to where you started for another six months. At a store like Ross or Target you wont get a penny more them minimum wage unless you ask for it. I would ask if the min is 6.50 I would ask for 8.00 and they will probably met you in the middle.

**FrugalMomof3** · 11-28-2007, 05:56 PM

If the min. wage is $6.50 I would put in a bit more like $8 and when you go in for the interview they will tell you how much they pay... but if you dont want to put that just write "open" and then at the interview you can say an amount after you've had time to think about it.