Do you know that retail salesperson positions are among the most common jobs available? This is because retail employees are needed everywhere. As a retail salesperson, you’ll have a fairly stable job, with positions always available in various locations.

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What does a Salesperson do?

• Sales, customer consultation, and handling complaints: the daily tasks of a retail sales employee are quite varied. For example, you provide customer advice and manage product presentation. To ensure shelves are not completely empty, you regularly restock them.
• During busy times, you may work at the cash register and handle payments. But your daily work is not limited to the sales floor; you’ll also work in the office. This includes invoicing, ordering, and scheduling deliveries. You will also be present during deliveries and conduct quality checks.

Responsibilities of a Salesperson

• Ordering
• Receiving deliveries
• Quality control
• Customer consultation
• Merchandising
• Cashier duties

Trainings to become a Salesperson?

The training to become a salesperson is a dual system – meaning you alternate between working at your training company and attending vocational school. Subjects such as German, math, and accounting are part of the curriculum.

During the first year of training, you learn the basics. In the second and third years, you can choose from certain electives, such as sales and marketing, or inventory control.

Training exams for Salesperson

When training to become a salesperson, there is no intermediate exam, only an extended final exam. The first part of the exam takes place at the end of the second year of training, and the results are included in your final grade. This is combined with the results of the final exam, which occurs after the third year of training. There will also be an oral examination in the form of a “technical discussion of a case” – for example, a customer conversation. But don’t worry: many companies organize special workshops to help you prepare optimally for the upcoming exam.

How long does it take to train as a Salesperson?

The dual training to become a sales worker lasts three years. In certain cases, the training period may be shortened – for example, if you have a higher educational background.

How can you shorten the training period?

With a high school diploma, you can shorten the training period by six months if you perform well. With a vocational diploma, you might even shorten the training period to 12 months.

Another option is to have completed prior training in retail – for example, a sales training course that lasts only two years.

What does a Salesperson learn during training?

A range of products needs to be introduced, sold, and rearranged. Naturally, you will learn this step by step. In the first year of training, you will first get an overview of your branch. For example, you will learn about displaying and storing goods, or when to restock shelves.

An important part of your training is learning how to use the cash register system. To avoid long lines at checkout, you will scan items at record speed and handle various payment methods. At shift changes and when the store closes, the cash register and invoices need to be settled. You will learn how to count and verify money and generate reports.

Detailed training program for a Salesperson

What are the requirements for a salesperson?

From a purely legal perspective, there are no specific requirements. However, there are certain attributes and soft skills that you should have or that can give you an advantage. For example:

• Good communication skills
• Commercial thinking
• A sense of responsibility
• Openness, friendliness, and respect

The following subjects are also important in school:

• German
• Mathematics

What level of education is needed to become a retail salesperson?

Legally, you do not need any specific school qualifications. About half of retail trainees have a secondary education diploma, but you also have the opportunity to secure a training position with a high school diploma—what is important is that your application is convincing.

How much does a retail salesperson earn during their training?

In the first year of training, the salary ranges from 815 to 1,010 euros per month. In the second year, it ranges from 865 to 1,065 euros, and in the third year, it ranges from 995 to 1,210 euros.

The exact amount of training allowance depends on the federal state and, in particular, the training company. The industry also plays a role. These figures refer to training remuneration in the retail sector (as of 2023).

In some cases, there are collective agreements that determine the exact training salary.

Which federal state has the highest training allowance for retail salespeople?

Potential retail salespeople in Hamburg can expect the highest trainee salary. The training allowance is from 960 euros in the first year and 1,210 euros in the third year. Close behind are Hesse, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Training subsidies for salespeople by federal state (as of 2023)

Source: Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS), WSI collective agreement archive

Important notes: The figures only refer to companies that comply with collective agreements in the retail sector. In certain cases, your training subsidy may be slightly higher or lower.

Starting salary: How much do you earn after training as a retail employee?

The starting salary for retail employees is typically just under 2,000 euros per month. At larger companies, the starting salary may be slightly higher.

Important note: This is only the starting salary, meaning the salary you receive immediately after training. Of course, this increases throughout your career.

How much do retail salespeople earn?

Retail salespeople earn an average total of around 30,000 euros per year – which is 2,500 euros per month. Depending on professional experience, company size, and location, the salary may be slightly lower or higher.

The lower limit is around 25,000 euros in annual salary, which is just under 2,100 euros per month. The upper limit is just under 35,000 euros, which is around 2,900 euros per month. To earn more, further training is required.

There are various promotion opportunities in retail, such as becoming a lead salesperson, assistant manager, or department manager. As a department manager, you can increase your salary to nearly 4,000 euros per month.

Where can I work as a retail employee later on?

The choice is vast because retail salesperson are needed everywhere – in all industries. What kind of products your future work will revolve around is entirely up to you. Here’s a small excerpt of companies where you can work in the future:

• Supermarkets
• Fashion stores
• Hardware stores
• Mail-order companies
• Electronics specialty stores
• Sports specialty stores

Once you’ve chosen an industry, you’ll learn a lot about the products of that industry in addition to basic business knowledge. You’ll showcase your sales talents on the sales floor and handle paperwork in the office. If later on you want to switch industries, it won’t be a problem. However, you will need to make an effort to learn a new subject matter again.

What career opportunities are there as a retail salesperson?

During your training, you can specialize in a specific product group and be responsible for that group as a specialist. Later on, you can apply for a lead salesperson role or as a central buyer. Your goal could also be to manage a department or branch. In that case, you’d also take on business tasks and be responsible for other employees.

If you have a university entrance qualification, further education is, of course, also an option. For example, if you study business administration after your training, you’ll have a good chance of quickly stepping into a management position once you return to work.

Detailed career paths:

• Assistant Branch Manager: As an assistant branch manager, you’re the right-hand person to the branch manager and are responsible for organizing, maintaining, and displaying merchandise. You’ll coordinate the retail sales team and handle organizational tasks like orders and staff scheduling. You can become an assistant branch manager without additional training, but you’ll need several years of experience and strong organizational and social skills.

• Lead Retail Salesperson: If you’ve already got some experience, you can be promoted to a lead retail salesperson. In this role, you’re responsible for keeping the business running smoothly and supporting the department or branch manager. You’ll ensure that the sales area is well-maintained, goods are displayed and restocked in a customer-friendly way, wait times at the checkout are minimized, and staff get their legal break times.

• Branch Manager: As a department or branch manager, you’re in charge of your team, such as scheduling work shifts and monitoring product lines. You’ll track sales and ensure customer satisfaction. Like the other roles, you’ll need professional experience for this promotion and must have proven yourself as a reliable and capable retail salesperson ready to take on more responsibility.

• Regional Sales Manager: As a regional sales manager, you’ll oversee multiple branches and be responsible for planning, organizing, and managing operations across stores with at least 50 employees. You’ll monitor key business metrics and contribute to the company’s success.

• Central Buyer: As a central buyer, you’ll coordinate bulk purchases for specific product groups. This role is mainly found in larger companies.

Branch Management Training Program:

Some companies offer a junior branch management program to prepare you for a management career. To be accepted, you’ll need to impress with strong performance.

What additional training opportunities are available for retail salespeople?

• Further training to become a business specialist: Additional qualifications make it easier to advance your career and allow you to take on management positions. The qualification is gained through part-time courses at trade schools, where you’ll receive in-depth business knowledge during the theoretical phases. You’ll also have the chance to specialize in a specific area.

• Further training to become an IHK Commercial Business Economist: With your qualification and at least one year of professional experience, you can undergo further training to become an IHK Commercial Business Economist. This training is offered full-time or part-time at a technical school, and it qualifies you for management positions.

• Dual Bachelor’s degree focused on commerce: If you have a high school diploma or a technical college degree in addition to your vocational training, you can complete advanced training at a university in business administration with a focus on commerce. Many universities of applied sciences also offer courses that you can apply to even without a high school diploma if you’ve completed your training. Here, you’ll gain in-depth business knowledge and specialization, which will make it easier to take on management roles.

Retail salesperson application: Information & Tips for your application in the retail sector