From retail to remote sales: a career change guide
Yes, you can move from retail into remote sales, and retail workers often have a head start: you already upsell, handle tricky customers, know your products and work to targets. The safest path, in Australia and the US, is to learn phone and video selling in your evenings and days off, test it with a part-time setter role, and only leave the shop floor once real results show up. Expect a different pay deal: retail pays a set hourly rate (at least AU$27.81 an hour for an adult Level 1 under Australia’s General Retail Industry Award, and a US median of about US$17.03 an hour for retail salespersons), while many remote sales roles are commission-heavy and take time to build. She Sells trains women in Australia and the US for remote appointment setting and closing, and its career program includes placement support once you’re certified.
Retail pay vs remote sales pay: the honest numbers
Here’s what the public data showed when we checked in October 2026. These are snapshots, not forecasts, and your own pay depends on the role, hours, location and how commission is set up.
| Role | Market | What the data shows | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail employee, adult Level 1 | Australia (AUD) | Minimum $27.81 an hour from 1 July 2026, with higher rates after 6pm on weekdays and on weekends (casuals get a 25% loading on top) | Fair Work: General Retail Industry Award |
| Retail salesperson | US (USD) | Median $17.03 an hour (May 2025) | US Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Appointment setter | Australia (AUD) | Typical $65,000 to $85,000 a year, based on full-time salaries disclosed in job ads | SEEK |
| Inside sales representative | US (USD) | Median about $21.41 an hour; total pay roughly $37,900 to $75,800 a year (10th to 90th percentile, updated July 2026) | Payscale |
A few honest notes on that table. SEEK only counts advertised full-time salaries, so commission-only contractor roles (common in remote closing and setting) barely show up in it. Payscale is self-reported. And the award rate is a legal minimum, so plenty of retail workers in Australia earn more. Remote sales is not an automatic pay rise, especially in the first months.
Retail skills that transfer to sales
If you’ve ever turned “just looking” into a sale, you’ve already done the core of the job. Remote sales simply moves that conversation onto the phone, a video call or a DM thread.
- Upselling and cross-selling. Suggesting the matching item or the better option is the same instinct a closer uses to recommend the right package.
- Customer handling. Calming an upset customer at the returns desk is excellent practice for handling objections like “it’s too expensive” or “I need to think about it”.
- Working to targets. Daily sales budgets, KPIs and conversion goals mean you already understand numbers-driven work.
- Product knowledge. Learning a new range fast and explaining it simply is exactly what you’ll do with a new offer.
- Reading people. You can tell within seconds whether someone wants help or space. On a call, that becomes knowing when to ask a question and when to stop talking.
The main new skill is asking directly for a decision that involves a bigger amount of money, over a screen, without the product in someone’s hands. That feels strange at first and gets better with practice and role play.
The honest differences (read this before you hand in your notice)
Commission vs an hourly award wage
In retail, your hourly rate is set, and in Australia it is protected by the award. Many remote sales roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, so your income depends on sales actually closing. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains that an employee can only be paid commission-only when an award or enterprise agreement allows it, which is why many remote closer and setter roles are contractor arrangements. In the US, contractor (1099) roles mean you handle your own tax. Always ask whether a role is employee or contractor, and whether there is any base pay.
More rejection, less foot traffic
In a store, people walk in already interested. In remote sales, you’ll hear “no” or get no reply far more often. That is normal, and it isn’t personal.
Self-management
Nobody hands you a roster or tells you when to take a break. You manage your own calendar, follow-ups and energy. Many mums (moms in the US) love that freedom, but it takes discipline, and a week off on commission-only is a week without commission.
My own path wasn’t quick. My first taste of sales was network marketing in 2014, and when I moved into remote sales in 2020 I made $440 in my first month. That’s my result, not a typical one, and a good reason to build this up before you leave a steady wage.
Wondering if your retail skills could work in remote sales? Book a free call with the She Sells team and talk it through honestly.
A step-by-step plan to switch without quitting first
- Know your numbers. Work out what you need to cover your bills and how long you could manage on lower or irregular income. That tells you how slowly to transition.
- Learn how remote sales works. Setters start conversations and book calls; closers run the longer sales call. Most career changers start as setters. Our guide to remote sales jobs with no experience explains the entry options.
- Use your rostered days off and evenings. Shift work is actually handy here. Block two or three regular study and practice sessions around your roster: role play objections with a friend, record yourself and listen back.
- Pick roles that fit around shifts. Some setter roles run evening or weekend hours, especially for businesses selling into another time zone. Australians working with US businesses often find early-morning slots, and US workers may find evening work with businesses selling to the West Coast or overseas.
- Start part-time. Drop a shift or two only once you have a confirmed role. Keep your retail hours as your safety net while you learn.
- Track real results for a few months. Count calls, booked appointments and commission actually paid. Decide on those numbers, not one great week.
- Leave on good terms. When the numbers support it, give proper notice. Retail managers are often great references for “reliable and great with customers”.
How to reframe your retail résumé/CV for sales
Sales hiring managers want proof you can talk to people, handle pushback and hit targets. Translate what you already do:
| Retail task | Sales skill | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Suggesting add-ons at the counter | Upselling and offer presentation | “Regularly increased basket size by recommending complementary products” |
| Handling returns and complaints | Objection handling | “Resolved customer complaints calmly and kept customers coming back” |
| Hitting daily or weekly sales budgets | Target-driven selling | “Worked to daily sales targets and KPIs” (add real figures if you have them) |
| Learning new stock and promotions | Product knowledge | “Quickly learned new product ranges and explained them in plain language” |
| Loyalty sign-ups and lay-by follow-ups | Lead follow-up and pipeline | “Followed up customers and tracked sign-ups to conversion” |
| Using the POS and stock systems | CRM and admin | “Comfortable with POS and inventory software; quick to learn a CRM” |
Add any sales training or role play you’ve done near the top, and write a one-line headline such as “Retail team member moving into remote sales: great with customers, target-driven, coachable.”
Red flags to watch for
Be careful with any “opportunity” that asks you to pay to start the job, pays you mainly for recruiting other people, or promises a set income for little work. The US Federal Trade Commission is blunt about it: honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job. Also watch for roles with no clear lead source, no written agreement, or vague answers about how and when commission is paid. Paying for your own training is a separate, eyes-open decision, and you should know exactly what you get. If you’re starting from zero, our guide on how to get into sales with no experience covers the basics.
Where She Sells fits
She Sells trains women for remote closing and appointment setting, with a team in Australia and the US. “She Launches” is the foundation program with live coaching, role play and frameworks (it doesn’t include direct placement). “She Soars” is the career program through the She Sells Cert III in Remote Sales certificate: once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. You can compare them on our programs page or read the FAQ.
If you’re coming from teaching rather than retail, or know someone who is, our teacher to sales guide follows the same plan with a classroom lens. Either way: test it first, be honest with yourself about commission, and give yourself time.
Want to see if remote sales could work for you? Book a free call with the She Sells team. No pressure, just an honest chat about whether it fits your life and your roster.
Frequently asked questions
Is retail experience good for a sales job?
Yes. Retail builds customer handling, upselling, product knowledge and working to targets, which are all core sales skills. The main thing to add is confidence asking for a bigger buying decision over the phone or video.
Can I move into remote sales while still working retail shifts?
Yes, and it’s the safest way. Learn and practise on your days off and evenings, then look for a part-time setter role that fits around your roster. Only cut your retail hours once you’ve seen a few months of real results.
Will I earn more in remote sales than in retail?
Not necessarily, especially at first. Many remote roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, so income can be lower or less predictable than an hourly retail wage while you build skills. Compare public pay data and the actual terms of any role before you decide.
What remote sales job should a retail worker start with?
Appointment setting is a common first step, because conversations are shorter and the closer handles the final sale. Once you’re comfortable, closing roles involve longer calls and usually more commission. Ask any employer about base pay, commission and where the leads come from.
How do I explain leaving retail in a sales interview?
Keep it positive. Talk about what you enjoyed, like helping customers find the right thing and hitting targets, and explain that remote sales lets you use those skills with more flexibility. Mention any training or practice you’ve done to show you’re serious.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
