From the high-end boutiques of Union Square generating nearly $2 billion annually to the resilient spirit shown in a 5.2% sales rebound, San Francisco's retail industry is a complex tapestry of luxury, local grit, and a remarkable recovery story woven with the threads of its diverse workforce.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, San Francisco's retail sector employed 45,230 workers, representing 8.2% of the city's total employment
- The average annual wage for retail salespersons in San Francisco was $48,760 in 2023, 25% higher than the national average
- Retail trade sector in San Francisco saw a 3.4% year-over-year employment growth from 2021 to 2022, adding 1,520 jobs
- San Francisco retail sector's total payroll reached $2.8 billion in 2022
- Retail sales in San Francisco generated $18.7 billion in taxable revenue in 2022
- E-commerce retail sales in San Francisco amounted to $4.2 billion in 2023, 22.4% of total retail sales
- San Francisco had 4,820 retail establishments in 2022
- Food and beverage stores numbered 1,210 in San Francisco in 2023
- There were 890 general merchandise stores in San Francisco County in 2022
- San Francisco retail sales volume reached $24.5 billion in 2023
- Online retail sales from SF-based businesses totaled $6.8 billion in 2022
- Apparel sales volume in San Francisco was $3.2 billion in 2023
- San Francisco retail sales grew 5.2% YoY in 2023 to $25.8 billion
- E-commerce penetration in SF retail reached 28% of total sales in 2023
- Pop-up retail shops in San Francisco increased by 40% from 2021 to 2023, totaling 250 events
San Francisco’s retail sector continues to grow in 2026, supported by stronger job demand, competitive wages, and a mix of shopping preferences ranging from local boutiques to modern omnichannel experiences.
Employment
1In 2022, San Francisco's retail sector employed 45,230 workers, representing 8.2% of the city's total employment
Verified2The average annual wage for retail salespersons in San Francisco was $48,760 in 2023, 25% higher than the national average
Verified3Retail trade sector in San Francisco saw a 3.4% year-over-year employment growth from 2021 to 2022, adding 1,520 jobs
Verified4Women comprised 52.3% of the retail workforce in San Francisco in 2022, with 23,670 female employees
Directional5There were 2,340 part-time retail workers in San Francisco's food and beverage stores subcategory in 2023
Single source6Retail managers in San Francisco earned a median salary of $72,450 in 2022
Verified7The retail sector's unemployment rate in San Francisco was 4.1% in Q4 2023, below the city average of 4.8%
Verified8Asian Americans made up 28.7% of retail employees in San Francisco in 2022, totaling 12,980 workers
Verified9San Francisco retail sector had 1,890 cashiers employed in 2023, with an average hourly wage of $19.85
Directional10From 2019 to 2022, retail employment in San Francisco declined by 12.5%, losing 6,430 jobs due to pandemic effects
Single source11First-line supervisors in retail occupations numbered 3,210 in San Francisco in 2022
Verified12Retail stock clerks and order fillers totaled 4,120 in San Francisco in 2023
Verified13The retail sector's labor force participation rate in San Francisco was 67.2% for ages 16+ in 2022
Verified14Hispanic or Latino retail workers in San Francisco numbered 9,450 in 2022, 20.9% of the sector
Directional15San Francisco's retail transportation and material moving occupations employed 2,780 in 2023
Single source16Retail sales workers with less than high school diploma comprised 8.4% or 3,800 employees in 2022
Verified17The sector added 450 jobs in general merchandise stores in San Francisco from 2022-2023
Verified18Black or African American retail employees were 6.2% or 2,804 in San Francisco 2022
Verified19Retail customer service representatives numbered 1,650 in San Francisco in 2023
Directional20Union membership in San Francisco retail was 4.7% in 2022, covering 2,126 workers
Single sourceEmployment Interpretation
San Francisco's retail sector, while still nursing a pandemic hangover, is showing a resilient pulse—its wages are high, its workforce is diversely vibrant, and it's even adding jobs, proving the city's cash registers and conscience are both still ticking.
Establishments
1San Francisco had 4,820 retail establishments in 2022
Verified2Food and beverage stores numbered 1,210 in San Francisco in 2023
Verified3There were 890 general merchandise stores in San Francisco County in 2022
Verified4Clothing and clothing accessories stores totaled 1,045 in SF 2022
Directional5Health and personal care stores in San Francisco numbered 420 in 2023
Single source6Gasoline stations operated 185 locations in San Francisco in 2022
Verified7Electronics and appliance stores totaled 210 in SF 2023
Verified8Furniture and home furnishings stores numbered 320 in San Francisco 2022
Verified9Sporting goods stores in SF were 145 in 2023
Directional10Book stores operated 85 locations in San Francisco in 2022
Single source11Pharmacies and drug stores totaled 280 in SF 2023
Verified12Grocery stores numbered 620 in San Francisco County 2022
Verified13Convenience stores in SF totaled 310 in 2023
Verified14Shoe stores operated 120 outlets in San Francisco 2022
Directional15Jewelry stores numbered 245 in SF 2023
Single source16Department stores totaled 15 in San Francisco in 2022
Verified17Liquor stores operated 410 locations in SF 2023
VerifiedEstablishments Interpretation
San Francisco’s retail scene reveals a city that clearly prioritizes sustenance and style, with over a quarter of its stores dedicated to food, drink, and fashion, while the mere 15 department stores suggest that the era of one-stop shopping has been decisively replaced by the artisanal, hyper-specific destination.
Revenue
1San Francisco retail sector's total payroll reached $2.8 billion in 2022
Verified2Retail sales in San Francisco generated $18.7 billion in taxable revenue in 2022
Verified3E-commerce retail sales in San Francisco amounted to $4.2 billion in 2023, 22.4% of total retail sales
Verified4Food and beverage stores contributed $5.1 billion to San Francisco's retail revenue in 2022
Directional5General merchandise stores in San Francisco reported $3.4 billion in sales revenue for 2022
Single source6Clothing and clothing accessories stores generated $2.9 billion in San Francisco retail revenue 2022
Verified7Health and personal care stores in San Francisco had $1.8 billion revenue in 2023
Verified8San Francisco's retail sector average revenue per establishment was $2.1 million in 2022
Verified9Gasoline stations contributed $1.2 billion to retail revenue in San Francisco 2022
Directional10Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores revenue was $450 million in SF 2023
Single source11San Francisco retail sales tax revenue collected was $312 million in FY2022
Verified12Electronics and appliance stores generated $780 million in San Francisco 2022
Verified13Furniture and home furnishings stores revenue totaled $1.1 billion in SF 2023
Verified14Book stores and news dealers in San Francisco earned $120 million revenue 2022
Directional15Florists retail revenue in San Francisco was $85 million in 2023
Single source16Used merchandise stores generated $210 million in SF retail revenue 2022
Verified17Office supplies and stationery stores revenue was $145 million in SF 2023
Verified18San Francisco's total retail gross receipts were $22.3 billion in 2021
Verified19Miscellaneous store retailers revenue reached $320 million in SF 2022
DirectionalRevenue Interpretation
Despite the city's famed tech ascendance, the cold, hard data shows San Franciscans are still fundamentally powered by a potent mix of gourmet groceries, stylish wardrobes, and the stubborn, multi-billion dollar human need to simply go out and buy stuff.
Sales Volume
1San Francisco retail sales volume reached $24.5 billion in 2023
Verified2Online retail sales from SF-based businesses totaled $6.8 billion in 2022
Verified3Apparel sales volume in San Francisco was $3.2 billion in 2023
Verified4Grocery sales volume hit $7.1 billion in SF retail 2022
Directional5Luxury goods sales in San Francisco Union Square totaled $1.9 billion annually in 2023
Single source6Holiday season retail sales in SF surged 12.4% to $4.2 billion in 2022 Q4
Verified7Electronics sales volume was $1.05 billion in San Francisco 2023
Verified8Home improvement retail sales reached $890 million in SF 2022
Verified9Beauty product sales volume totaled $620 million in SF 2023
Directional10Wine and spirits sales volume was $1.3 billion in San Francisco 2022
Single source11Second-hand clothing sales volume hit $180 million in SF thrift stores 2023
Verified12Pet supply sales in San Francisco totaled $210 million in 2022
Verified13Toy sales volume during holidays was $95 million in SF 2023
Verified14Organic food retail sales volume reached $2.4 billion in SF 2022
Directional15Jewelry sales volume was $450 million in San Francisco 2023
Single source16San Francisco retail sales per capita were $28,450 in 2022
Verified17Footwear sales volume totaled $380 million in SF 2023
VerifiedSales Volume Interpretation
While San Franciscans will drop a cool $7.1 billion on groceries and $1.3 billion on wine to cope, they'll also spend $28,450 per person to ensure they're impeccably dressed in $380 million worth of shoes, draped in $450 million of jewelry, and carrying $1.9 billion in luxury bags, all while philosophically thrifting $180 million in second-hand clothes and spending $890 million to improve the homes they can't afford to leave.
Trends
1San Francisco retail sales grew 5.2% YoY in 2023 to $25.8 billion
Verified2E-commerce penetration in SF retail reached 28% of total sales in 2023
Verified3Pop-up retail shops in San Francisco increased by 40% from 2021 to 2023, totaling 250 events
Verified4Sustainable fashion retail sales grew 18% YoY in SF to $750 million in 2023
Directional5Contactless payment usage in SF retail hit 72% of transactions in 2023
Single source6Retail vacancy rates in San Francisco dropped to 9.2% in Q4 2023 from 15% in 2021
Verified7Experiential retail concepts like showrooms increased 25% in SF since 2020
Verified8Buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) orders rose 35% in SF retail 2022-2023
Verified9Vegan and plant-based product sales in SF grocery retail up 22% to $450M in 2023
Directional10Retail theft incidents in San Francisco increased 20% YoY to 12,500 cases in 2023
Single source11Omnichannel retail adoption by SF stores reached 65% in 2023
Verified12Local artisan goods sales in SF markets grew 15% to $120M in 2023
Verified13Mobile commerce sales in SF retail hit $2.1 billion in 2023, 31% of e-com
Verified14Retail foot traffic in SF tourist areas rebounded to 92% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023
Directional15Zero-waste retail stores in San Francisco numbered 45 in 2023, up 50% since 2020
Single sourceTrends Interpretation
San Francisco’s retail scene is having a conspicuously tech-savvy and socially conscious comeback, even if the occasional shoplifter tries to swipe its progress.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 2DATAdata.bls.govVisit source
- Reference 3CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 4DATAdata.census.govVisit source
- Reference 5FREDfred.stlouisfed.orgVisit source
- Reference 6DATAdata.sf.govVisit source
- Reference 7EIAeia.govVisit source
- Reference 8NRFnrf.comVisit source
- Reference 9SFCONTROLLERsfcontroller.orgVisit source
- Reference 10ALAala.orgVisit source
- Reference 11IBISWORLDibisworld.comVisit source
- Reference 12STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 13BIZJOURNALSbizjournals.comVisit source
- Reference 14SFMTAsfmta.comVisit source
- Reference 15ABCabc.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 16THREDUPthredup.comVisit source
- Reference 17AMERICANPETPRODUCTSamericanpetproducts.orgVisit source
- Reference 18OTAota.comVisit source
- Reference 19DIGITALCOMMERCE360digitalcommerce360.comVisit source
- Reference 20MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 21FISGLOBALfisglobal.comVisit source
- Reference 22CBREcbre.usVisit source
- Reference 23RETAILDIVEretaildive.comVisit source
- Reference 24PLANTBASEDNEWSplantbasednews.orgVisit source
- Reference 25SFCHRONICLEsfchronicle.comVisit source