US PRIVATE INDUSTRY · NAICS 4551

Department storesAverage pay, explained.

Compare published payroll wages for covered private jobs in this industry. See its national average and available state figures with employment and establishment context.

2025 annual data2022 NAICSPrivate ownership
Average annual pay
$30,157
Payroll wages per covered job
Average weekly wage
$580
Native published weekly average
Average employment
921,158
Covered jobs, including part-time work
Average establishments
12,202
Reporting locations; not distinct companies

Read the pay definition first.

These are average payroll wages for covered private-sector jobs in the industry, including full-time and part-time work. They are not a median, an occupation-specific salary, an individual offer or a total compensation package. Employer benefits are excluded; the wage definition can include bonuses and certain stock-option payments. The coverage is private establishments in the QCEW program; public-sector employers and many self-employed workers are outside this selection. Different job mixes and hours worked affect comparisons. Broad industry groups and their detailed subindustries overlap; their employment counts must not be added together.

Understand Wages.fyi pay measurements →

How pay varies by state.

51 available state / DC records · 2025 · Covered private jobs

Native published averages · Withheld pay remains undisclosed
State / DCAverage annual payAverage weekly wageAverage employmentEstablishments
Missouri$25,144$48413,103198
Montana$27,872$5361,59425
Nebraska$23,026$4433,67357
Nevada$28,081$5409,511127
New Hampshire$28,817$5546,60978
New Jersey$32,284$62133,849357
New Mexico$24,220$4664,19478
New York$36,607$70458,651592
North Carolina$27,362$52625,233361
North Dakota$26,634$5122,03532
Ohio$24,726$47626,320413
Oklahoma$25,136$4835,568110
Oregon$30,081$5789,008179
Pennsylvania$25,763$49538,487499
Rhode Island$28,311$5443,30743
South Carolina$29,124$56013,716307
South Dakota$25,645$4932,17534
Tennessee$26,489$50914,634258
Texas$29,809$57368,450988
Utah$27,242$5245,699100
Vermont$30,410$5851,96923
Virginia$28,242$54325,890354
Washington$44,130$84921,146230
West Virginia$28,630$5514,40349
Wisconsin$23,776$45717,953210

The coverage behind the number.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics · QCEW

2025 annual data · NAICS 4551 · 2022 classification · Private ownership · All establishment sizes.

Original official data archive
QCEW coverage and wage definitions

What remains unknown?

These averages do not reveal an individual worker’s base salary, experience level, bonus, hours, equity or benefits. Suppressed figures stay undisclosed. Employment counts are covered jobs, not unique people or anonymous Wages.fyi salary submissions.

Source period: 2025 annual average. Evidence acquired 2026-10-18.