15 of the Best Types of Retail Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Retail jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Retail Jobs

• Retail Director

  Salary range: $75,000 - $131,000

  A Retail Director is a leadership role within a sales-based organization. Depending on the company’s size, the position's education credentials may vary—larger entities often expect Retail Directors to hold a bachelor’s degree, at least five years of relevant sales experience, and three years of supervisory experience. You’ll be managing people across various teams, so Retail Directors demonstrate good leadership ability and can engage well with others. Some data analysis and computer proficiency is needed, especially Microsoft Excel and cloud-based applications. In some cases, Retail Directors oversee a regional area, so you may need reliable transportation and a flexible schedule to allow for occasional travel.

• Freelance Retail

  Salary range: $50,500 - $128,500

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.

• Retail Executive

  Salary range: $37,500 - $58,000

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Manager Retail

  Salary range: $36,000 - $55,500

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Retail Coordinator

  Salary range: $36,000 - $48,000

  Coordinators plan and schedule events, programs, or projects. In this position, you can work in a variety of industries, so your duties and the necessary qualifications vary by field. There are project coordinators who work in the construction, manufacturing, and development industries, program coordinators, who typically work in education, community outreach, or non-profit organizations, and numerous other positions that require significant coordination experience. For those who work in labor industries, coordination might include developing timetables and budgets for the ordering and delivery of materials or services, while at a school, an instructional coordinator might prepare an afterschool program curriculum.

• Retail Trainee

  Salary range: $39,000 - $46,500

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

• Entry Level Retail

  Salary range: $31,000 - $43,000

  Entry-level jobs are positions that do not require any previous experience in the role. Most entry-level jobs are aimed at high school or college graduates as a starting point for a future career goal. A college student may have majored in their ideal career field, but will still need to start in an entry-level position to train in a real-world environment. Some students move from internships into entry-level jobs, but most entry-level jobs do not expect a candidate to have any prior employment or on-site training.

• Internship Retail

  Salary range: $34,500 - $40,000

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.

• Full Time Retail

  Salary range: $30,500 - $35,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Per Diem Retail

  Salary range: $30,500 - $35,000

  Per diem jobs are short-term positions which are paid by the day. The most common per diem job opportunities are in the medical field, including positions in nursing, hospice, pediatrics, and midwifery. Phlebotomists, operating (OR) assistants, and pharmacists may also work on a per diem basis. Per diem employees are often contracted to work as admissions coordinators, recreation coordinators, and assistants.

• Temp Retail

  Salary range: $30,500 - $35,000

  Temp Retail is a common job search query. Most salaries for Temp Retail jobs pay between $30,500 (25th percentile) and $35,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Temp Retail job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Temporary Retail

  Salary range: $30,500 - $35,000

  A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

• Virtual Retail

  Salary range: $30,000 - $34,500

  A virtual job refers to a job that can be performed outside of an employer’s office. Also known as remote, work from home, or telecommuting jobs, these positions have become increasingly common because of technology like telephones, internet, email, and video conference calls, which help to facilitate employer-employee communication.

• Summer Retail

  Salary range: $30,000 - $34,000

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Retail Apprentice

  Salary range: $23,500 - $32,000

  Retail Apprentice is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Retail Apprentice jobs pay between $23,500 (25th percentile) and $32,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Retail Apprentice job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.