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Sales leader: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$87,520median pay per year, or $42.08 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $50,320lowest 10% earn less
  2. $63,94025th percentile
  3. $87,520median
  4. $122,05075th percentile
  5. $164,070top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A sales leader, officially a first-line supervisor of non-retail sales workers, had a median pay of $87,520 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 0.5% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.5%[2]
Openings per year
21,700[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do sales leaders make?

The median pay for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers was $87,520 a year, or $42.08 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average (mean) was higher, at $99,370 a year or $47.77 an hour[8]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $50,320 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $164,070[4]. The 25th percentile was $63,940 and the 75th was $122,050[4]. A percentile is a boundary line. BLS publishes these boundaries, not a starting salary[9].

Hourly, the 10th percentile was $24.19 and the 90th was $78.88[10].

These figures cover about 214,390 wage and salary workers[11]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest state median at $121,780 a year, followed by Massachusetts at $115,150 and Colorado at $110,450[13]. Texas had the most jobs at 20,690, followed by California with 19,600 and New York with 16,870[14]. Texas had a median of $74,590[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boulder, CO had the highest median at $136,380, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $122,870[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area had the most jobs at 18,300, with a median of $116,980[16]. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA came next with 6,880 jobs[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[13]$121,78016,870
Massachusetts$115,1505,490
Colorado$110,4508,230
South Dakota$105,680680
New Jersey$99,03010,370
Virginia$98,1709,020
New Hampshire$97,4701,460
Washington$95,1504,830
Wisconsin$91,9804,930
North Carolina$91,20011,080
Iowa$89,6402,530
Illinois$88,8205,280
Minnesota$88,5102,130
District of Columbia$88,420580
Delaware$86,260960
Tennessee$85,9804,510
Rhode Island$85,420350
Indiana$84,6503,820
Alaska$83,900540
Nebraska$82,9801,870
Maine$82,910820
Pennsylvania$82,8705,930
Maryland$82,6203,050
Georgia$82,40010,460
Arizona$82,3502,550
Vermont$81,850200
Ohio$81,7205,980
Florida$81,65015,120
Utah$81,6001,850
California$81,14019,600
Oregon$80,4602,080
Wyoming$80,230260
Michigan$80,1703,490
Missouri$79,4402,910
North Dakota$79,060310
Connecticut$78,9501,430
Idaho$78,200970
South Carolina$77,1303,230
Alabama$77,0702,410
Montana$77,030660
Nevada$76,7501,510
New Mexico$75,540880
Oklahoma$74,8402,620
Texas$74,59020,690
Kansas$74,220840
Louisiana$73,7001,840
Kentucky$73,3202,090
Mississippi$68,1801,860
Arkansas$64,9801,800
Hawaii$63,490890
West Virginia$62,970510

How to become a sales leader

In an ONET survey of 27 workers, 45% said a bachelor's degree is required, 16% said some college courses and 16% said a high school diploma or equivalent[17]. ONET places the job in a zone where considerable work-related skill, knowledge or experience is needed[18].

What sales leaders do

Sales leaders directly supervise and coordinate sales workers outside of retail stores[19]. They may also handle budgeting, accounting and personnel work[19]. Tasks reported to O*NET include:

Job titles in the field include sales department supervisor, inside sales supervisor and customer service supervisor[21].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 0.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 311,900 to 313,600 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[3]. Those counts include self-employed workers, who made up 30.4% of the group in 2025[2][22].

BLS expects about 21,700 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when people retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.7% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

Median pay is well above the all-occupation median, and the range is wide[1][4][5]. BLS lists a high school diploma and less than 5 years of related experience as the typical path[7]. Some workers in an O*NET survey reported a bachelor's degree as required[17]. Growth is slow at 0.5%, so openings depend on people leaving or changing jobs as well as new positions[2][6][23]. About 30.4% of the group was self-employed[22].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sales leader make an hour?
The median was $42.08 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $47.77[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $24.19 and the 90th was $78.88[10].
What education do you need to be a sales leader?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with less than 5 years of related experience[7].
Which state pays sales leaders the most?
New York had the highest median at $121,780 a year[13]. Texas had the most jobs at 20,690[14].
Is the sales leader job in demand?
BLS projects 0.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, below the 3.5% for all occupations, with about 21,700 openings a year[2][3][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers in the US was $87,520 per year and $42.08 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers is projected to grow 0.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 311,900 to 313,600 jobs (a change of +1,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: 10th percentile $50,320, 25th percentile $63,940, 75th percentile $122,050, 90th percentile $164,070. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 21,700 openings for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers was $99,370 per year and $47.77 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: 10th percentile $24.19, 25th percentile $30.74, 75th percentile $58.68, 90th percentile $78.88. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 214,390 people were employed as First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers jobs: Texas 20,690; California 19,600; New York 16,870; Florida 15,120; North Carolina 11,080. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boulder, CO $136,380; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $122,870; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $116,980; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $115,390; Greeley, CO $113,460; Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $112,140; Syracuse, NY $107,700; Sioux Falls, SD-MN $105,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 18,300 (median $116,980); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 6,880 (median $90,140); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,860 (median $80,800); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 5,920 (median $76,360); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 5,530 (median $77,870); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 5,430 (median $115,390). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 41-1012.00 survey of workers (27 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 45%, Some College Courses 16%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 16%, Master's Degree 13%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 41-1012.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET description of First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET task list for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 41-1012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Customer Service Department Supervisor, Customer Service Supervisor, Driver Sales Supervisor, Information Center Supervisor, Inside Sales Supervisor, Reservations Supervisor, Sales Department Supervisor, Sales Leader. O*NET OnLine
  22. BLS Employment Projections: 30.4% of First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.