Personal Shoppers

Personal shoppers bill their clients in different ways: they set a regular fee for services, charge a percentage of the sale, or charge an hourly rate. Personal shoppers employed by a department store are paid by the company, are paid on commission, or some combination of hourly wage and commission.

A self-employed personal shopper may find it best to charge by the hour; when shopping for a small gift, it may be more reasonable to charge only a percentage. Personal shoppers charge anywhere from $25 to $300 an hour. Even with this relatively high hourly rate, the average income of personal shoppers is relatively low. According to GlassDoor.com, earnings for personal shoppers in March 2020 ranged from $19,000 to $43,000, with an average of $26,350. A well established self-employed personal shopper with a loyal clientele can likely earn a salary far above the average.

Personal shoppers who work for department stores usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed personal shoppers must provide their own benefits.