San Francisco retail sales hit $25.8 billion in 2023, with year over year growth of 5.2% to $25.8 billion. E commerce made up 28% of total retail sales, while store counts slipped to 2,580, leaving fewer storefronts to generate that revenue. Employment recovery also matters, since retail added jobs and maintained higher wages for retail salespersons.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, San Francisco's retail sector employed 45,230 workers, representing 8.2% of the city's total employment
- San Francisco had 4,820 retail establishments in 2022
- San Francisco retail sector's total payroll reached $2.8 billion in 2022
- San Francisco retail sales volume reached $24.5 billion in 2023
- San Francisco retail sales grew 5.2% YoY in 2023 to $25.8 billion
San Francisco retail sales are resilient, showing steady growth as shoppers continue to spend locally.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment20 stats
01
In 2022, San Francisco's retail sector employed 45,230 workers, representing 8.2% of the city's total employment
02
The average annual wage for retail salespersons in San Francisco was $48,760in 2023, 25% higher than the national average
03
Retail trade sector in San Francisco saw a 3.4% year-over-year employment growth from 2021 to 2022, adding 1,520 jobs
04
Women comprised 52.3% of the retail workforce in San Francisco in 2022, with 23,670 female employees
05
There were 2,340 part-time retail workers in San Francisco's food and beverage stores subcategory in 2023
06
Retail managers in San Francisco earned a median salary of $72,450in 2022
07
The retail sector's unemployment rate in San Francisco was 4.1% in Q4 2023, below the city average of 4.8%
08
Asian Americans made up 28.7% of retail employees in San Francisco in 2022, totaling 12,980 workers
09
San Francisco retail sector had 1,890 cashiers employed in 2023, with an average hourly wage of $19.85
10
From 2019 to 2022, retail employment in San Francisco declined by 12.5%, losing 6,430 jobs due to pandemic effects
11
First-line supervisors in retail occupations numbered 3,210 in San Francisco in 2022
12
Retail stock clerks and order fillers totaled 4,120 in San Francisco in 2023
13
The retail sector's labor force participation rate in San Francisco was 67.2% for ages 16+ in 2022
14
Hispanic or Latino retail workers in San Francisco numbered 9,450 in 2022, 20.9% of the sector
15
San Francisco's retail transportation and material moving occupations employed 2,780 in 2023
16
Retail sales workers with less than high school diploma comprised 8.4% or 3,800 employees in 2022
17
The sector added 450 jobs in general merchandise stores in San Francisco from 2022-2023
18
Black or African American retail employees were 6.2% or 2,804 in San Francisco 2022
19
Retail customer service representatives numbered 1,650 in San Francisco in 2023
20
Union membership in San Francisco retail was 4.7% in 2022, covering 2,126 workers
Interpretation
Employment 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.
02 · Category
Establishments17 stats
01
San Francisco had 4,820 retail establishments in 2022
02
Food and beverage stores numbered 1,210 in San Francisco in 2023
03
There were 890 general merchandise stores in San Francisco County in 2022
04
Clothing and clothing accessories stores totaled 1,045 in SF 2022
05
Health and personal care stores in San Francisco numbered 420 in 2023
06
Gasoline stations operated 185 locations in San Francisco in 2022
07
Electronics and appliance stores totaled 210 in SF 2023
08
Furniture and home furnishings stores numbered 320 in San Francisco 2022
09
Sporting goods stores in SF were 145 in 2023
10
Book stores operated 85 locations in San Francisco in 2022
11
Pharmacies and drug stores totaled 280 in SF 2023
12
Grocery stores numbered 620 in San Francisco County 2022
13
Convenience stores in SF totaled 310 in 2023
14
Shoe stores operated 120 outlets in San Francisco 2022
15
Jewelry stores numbered 245 in SF 2023
16
Department stores totaled 15 in San Francisco in 2022
17
Liquor stores operated 410 locations in SF 2023
Interpretation
Establishments 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.
03 · Category
Revenue19 stats
01
San Francisco retail sector's total payroll reached $2.8 billion in 2022
02
Retail sales in San Francisco generated $18.7 billion in taxable revenue in 2022
03
E-commerce retail sales in San Francisco amounted to $4.2 billion in 2023, 22.4% of total retail sales
04
Food and beverage stores contributed $5.1 billion to San Francisco's retail revenue in 2022
05
General merchandise stores in San Francisco reported $3.4 billion in sales revenue for 2022
06
Clothing and clothing accessories stores generated $2.9 billion in San Francisco retail revenue 2022
07
Health and personal care stores in San Francisco had $1.8 billion revenue in 2023
08
San Francisco's retail sector average revenue per establishment was $2.1 million in 2022
09
Gasoline stations contributed $1.2 billion to retail revenue in San Francisco 2022
10
Sporting goods, hobby, and musical instrument stores revenue was $450 million in SF 2023
11
San Francisco retail sales tax revenue collected was $312 million in FY2022
12
Electronics and appliance stores generated $780 million in San Francisco 2022
13
Furniture and home furnishings stores revenue totaled $1.1 billion in SF 2023
14
Book stores and news dealers in San Francisco earned $120 million revenue 2022
15
Florists retail revenue in San Francisco was $85 million in 2023
16
Used merchandise stores generated $210 million in SF retail revenue 2022
17
Office supplies and stationery stores revenue was $145 million in SF 2023
18
San Francisco's total retail gross receipts were $22.3 billion in 2021
19
Miscellaneous store retailers revenue reached $320 million in SF 2022
Interpretation
Revenue 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sales Volume17 stats
01
San Francisco retail sales volume reached $24.5 billion in 2023
02
Online retail sales from SF-based businesses totaled $6.8 billion in 2022
03
Apparel sales volume in San Francisco was $3.2 billion in 2023
04
Grocery sales volume hit $7.1 billion in SF retail 2022
05
Luxury goods sales in San Francisco Union Square totaled $1.9 billion annually in 2023
06
Holiday season retail sales in SF surged 12.4% to $4.2 billion in 2022 Q4
07
Electronics sales volume was $1.05 billion in San Francisco 2023
08
Home improvement retail sales reached $890 million in SF 2022
09
Beauty product sales volume totaled $620 million in SF 2023
10
Wine and spirits sales volume was $1.3 billion in San Francisco 2022
11
Second-hand clothing sales volume hit $180 million in SF thrift stores 2023
12
Pet supply sales in San Francisco totaled $210 million in 2022
13
Toy sales volume during holidays was $95 million in SF 2023
14
Organic food retail sales volume reached $2.4 billion in SF 2022
15
Jewelry sales volume was $450 million in San Francisco 2023
16
San Francisco retail sales per capita were $28,450in 2022
17
Footwear sales volume totaled $380 million in SF 2023
Interpretation
Sales 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.
05 · Category
Trends15 stats
01
San Francisco retail sales grew 5.2% YoY in 2023 to $25.8 billion
02
E-commerce penetration in SF retail reached 28% of total sales in 2023
03
Pop-up retail shops in San Francisco increased by 40% from 2021 to 2023, totaling 250 events
04
Sustainable fashion retail sales grew 18% YoY in SF to $750 million in 2023
05
Contactless payment usage in SF retail hit 72% of transactions in 2023
06
Retail vacancy rates in San Francisco dropped to 9.2% in Q4 2023 from 15% in 2021
07
Experiential retail concepts like showrooms increased 25% in SF since 2020
08
Buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) orders rose 35% in SF retail 2022-2023
09
Vegan and plant-based product sales in SF grocery retail up 22% to $450M in 2023
10
Retail theft incidents in San Francisco increased 20% YoY to 12,500 cases in 2023
11
Omnichannel retail adoption by SF stores reached 65% in 2023
12
Local artisan goods sales in SF markets grew 15% to $120M in 2023
13
Mobile commerce sales in SF retail hit $2.1 billion in 2023, 31% of e-com
14
Retail foot traffic in SF tourist areas rebounded to 92% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023
15
Zero-waste retail stores in San Francisco numbered 45 in 2023, up 50% since 2020
Interpretation
Trends 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). San Francisco Retail Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/san-francisco-retail-industry-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "San Francisco Retail Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/san-francisco-retail-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "San Francisco Retail Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/san-francisco-retail-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level