SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 11-2022.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $73,170 | $6,098 | $1,407 | $35.18 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $100,360 | $8,363 | $1,930 | $48.25 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $148,270 | $12,356 | $2,851 | $71.28 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $207,340 | $17,278 | $3,987 | $99.68 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $290,540 | $24,212 | $5,587 | $139.68 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Sales Managers is $148,270, which is 191% higher. Among the 37 occupations of the field Management, it ranks number 9 by median pay. With 637,080 jobs, it makes up about 41 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($164,350) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Sales Managers pay by state
The highest median pay was in New York ($217,640), Massachusetts ($191,200) and Virginia ($191,130). The lowest was in Guam ($60,740), Puerto Rico ($78,960) and West Virginia ($94,830). The most jobs were in California (112,440), Texas (76,010) and Florida (46,480). The occupation is most concentrated in California, where its share of all jobs is 1.5 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 38,510 | $217,640 | $239,740 | $104.63 |
| Massachusetts | 15,010 | $191,200 | $201,180 | $91.92 |
| Virginia | 9,670 | $191,130 | $195,390 | $91.89 |
| Colorado | 8,780 | $180,850 | $200,720 | $86.95 |
| Washington | 10,030 | $174,000 | $187,460 | $83.65 |
| New Jersey | 20,090 | $173,020 | $190,770 | $83.18 |
| Connecticut | 8,560 | $162,110 | $175,420 | $77.94 |
| Kansas | 6,820 | $159,990 | $168,320 | $76.92 |
| Georgia | 17,690 | $159,890 | $170,360 | $76.87 |
| Maine | not published | $158,660 | $146,900 | $76.28 |
| Oregon | 5,260 | $155,810 | $170,570 | $74.91 |
| Illinois | 32,240 | $155,280 | $167,030 | $74.65 |
| Rhode Island | 1,120 | $154,970 | $162,160 | $74.50 |
| Minnesota | 11,240 | $151,670 | $160,560 | $72.92 |
| North Carolina | 16,920 | $150,470 | $168,100 | $72.34 |
| Arizona | 13,870 | $145,690 | $158,700 | $70.04 |
| New Hampshire | 2,820 | $141,900 | $162,680 | $68.22 |
| District of Columbia | 1,930 | $141,800 | $162,050 | $68.18 |
| Vermont | 930 | $138,650 | $156,180 | $66.66 |
| Maryland | not published | $137,150 | $152,450 | $65.94 |
| Michigan | 17,950 | $136,870 | $151,230 | $65.80 |
| Utah | 8,990 | $136,520 | $152,820 | $65.64 |
| South Dakota | 450 | $136,360 | $141,590 | $65.56 |
| Texas | 76,010 | $136,020 | $154,120 | $65.40 |
| Ohio | 22,840 | $135,510 | $152,010 | $65.15 |
| Idaho | 2,490 | $135,350 | $146,270 | $65.07 |
| California | 112,440 | $134,910 | $160,260 | $64.86 |
| Wisconsin | 10,480 | $134,870 | $149,600 | $64.84 |
| Iowa | 3,260 | $134,010 | $147,720 | $64.43 |
| Florida | 46,480 | $131,900 | $150,120 | $63.41 |
| Indiana | 9,700 | $131,470 | $148,420 | $63.21 |
| South Carolina | 9,340 | $131,080 | $143,660 | $63.02 |
| Pennsylvania | 20,460 | $130,610 | $147,200 | $62.79 |
| Wyoming | 300 | $129,840 | $137,630 | $62.42 |
| Oklahoma | 3,250 | $128,920 | $150,650 | $61.98 |
| Kentucky | 6,650 | $128,650 | $147,860 | $61.85 |
| Tennessee | 12,270 | $128,040 | $144,040 | $61.56 |
| Nebraska | 3,000 | $126,990 | $141,810 | $61.05 |
| Alabama | 4,670 | $124,040 | $136,400 | $59.63 |
| North Dakota | 550 | $119,990 | $128,800 | $57.69 |
| Montana | 1,200 | $117,390 | $133,700 | $56.44 |
| Hawaii | 1,710 | $116,340 | $133,140 | $55.94 |
| Missouri | 7,630 | $115,370 | $133,530 | $55.46 |
| New Mexico | 1,750 | $114,080 | $127,850 | $54.85 |
| Louisiana | 4,360 | $110,700 | $131,110 | $53.22 |
| Nevada | 5,770 | $109,790 | $139,420 | $52.79 |
| Mississippi | 1,870 | $108,750 | $129,830 | $52.28 |
| Arkansas | 3,710 | $108,330 | $135,820 | $52.08 |
| Virgin Islands | 40 | $107,740 | $126,000 | $51.80 |
| Alaska | 850 | $98,860 | $113,120 | $47.53 |
| West Virginia | 1,110 | $94,830 | $111,170 | $45.59 |
| Puerto Rico | 2,180 | $78,960 | $98,240 | $37.96 |
| Guam | 220 | $60,740 | $73,490 | $29.20 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Financial Managers$166,570 a year
- Human Resources Managers$149,280 a year
- Compensation and Benefits Managers$149,230 a year
- Purchasing Managers$148,080 a year
- Public Relations Managers$146,910 a year
- Managers, All Other$141,900 a year
Common questions
How much do Sales Managers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $148,270 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $73,170 and the highest-paid 10% more than $290,540.
How many people work as Sales Managers?
About 637,080 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.