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 ZipRecruiter.com, earnings for personal shoppers ranged from $18,500 to $48,500 in February 2025, with an average of $33,693. 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.