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

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$148,270median pay per year, or $71.28 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $73,170lowest 10% earn less
  2. $100,36025th percentile
  3. $148,270median
  4. $207,34075th percentile
  5. $290,540top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Sales managers had a median pay of $148,270 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4.5% over the decade, a little faster than the average for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.5%[2]
Openings per year
47,300[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do sales managers make?

The median pay for sales managers was $148,270 a year, or $71.28 an hour[1]. About half of workers earned more than that and about half earned less[8]. The average was higher at $164,350 a year, or $79.02 an hour[9]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

The spread is wide, especially at the top.

Measure Annual Hourly
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[4][10] $73,170 $35.18
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[4][10] $100,360 $48.25
Median[1] $148,270 $71.28
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[4][10] $207,340 $99.68
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[4][10] $290,540 $139.68

BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8]. The figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

New York had the highest state median at $217,640, followed by Massachusetts at $191,200 and Virginia at $191,130[12]. The most sales manager jobs were in California with 112,440, then Texas with 76,010 and Florida with 46,480[13]. California's median was $134,910 and Texas's was $136,020[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the highest median at $215,150[14]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH followed at $206,610, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $201,780[14]. The New York area also had the most jobs at 44,870[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA was next with 37,790 jobs and a median of $132,330[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
New York[12]$217,64038,510
Massachusetts$191,20015,010
Virginia$191,1309,670
Colorado$180,8508,780
Washington$174,00010,030
New Jersey$173,02020,090
Connecticut$162,1108,560
Kansas$159,9906,820
Georgia$159,89017,690
Maine$158,660n/a
Oregon$155,8105,260
Illinois$155,28032,240
Rhode Island$154,9701,120
Minnesota$151,67011,240
North Carolina$150,47016,920
Arizona$145,69013,870
New Hampshire$141,9002,820
District of Columbia$141,8001,930
Vermont$138,650930
Maryland$137,150n/a
Michigan$136,87017,950
Utah$136,5208,990
South Dakota$136,360450
Texas$136,02076,010
Ohio$135,51022,840
Idaho$135,3502,490
California$134,910112,440
Wisconsin$134,87010,480
Iowa$134,0103,260
Florida$131,90046,480
Indiana$131,4709,700
South Carolina$131,0809,340
Pennsylvania$130,61020,460
Wyoming$129,840300
Oklahoma$128,9203,250
Kentucky$128,6506,650
Tennessee$128,04012,270
Nebraska$126,9903,000
Alabama$124,0404,670
North Dakota$119,990550
Montana$117,3901,200
Hawaii$116,3401,710
Missouri$115,3707,630
New Mexico$114,0801,750
Louisiana$110,7004,360
Nevada$109,7905,770
Mississippi$108,7501,870
Arkansas$108,3303,710
Alaska$98,860850
West Virginia$94,8301,110

How to become a sales manager

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education, plus work experience in a related occupation of less than 5 years and no on-the-job training[7].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 71% said a bachelor's degree is required and 19% said some college courses[19]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough guide.

BLS lists skills such as analysis, communication, computer skills with CRM and spreadsheet software, leadership and organization[20][21][22][23][24].

What sales managers do

Sales managers plan and coordinate how a product or service reaches customers. They set sales territories, quotas and goals, and set up training for sales representatives[25]. O*NET lists tasks such as these[26]:

Where they work

Sales managers typically work in an office or retail setting. They may have to travel to meet sales staff, customers or distributors[27]. BLS notes the work may be stressful, because job security often depends on meeting sales goals by set deadlines[27]. Most are full-time employees and some put in over 40 hours a week[28]. Evening or weekend work may be required[28]. The largest employer group in 2025 was wholesale trade, at 21%[29]. Only 0.8% of sales managers were self-employed in 2025[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of sales managers to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 650,100 to 679,100 jobs[2]. That is a bit faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations[3]. BLS expects about 47,300 openings a year on average[6]. Those include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs. Each year, 1.9% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to a different occupation[31].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who already have, or can build, sales experience and hold a bachelor's degree[7][17]. Pay is well above the all-occupations median, with a very wide range between the lowest-paid and highest-paid workers[1][5][4]. Growth is projected slightly above the all-occupations rate[2][3]. Job security often depends on sales goals, and some jobs involve travel or evening and weekend work[27][28].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sales manager make an hour?
The median was $71.28 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $79.02[1][9].
What degree do you need to be a sales manager?
A bachelor's degree is typical, and business is a common field[7][16]. Some positions need only a high school diploma[16].
Do you need experience to be a sales manager?
Work experience is typically required, and employers usually prefer several years of sales experience[17]. BLS lists less than 5 years of related work experience[7].
Is sales manager a growing job?
BLS projects 4.5% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 47,300 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for sales managers?
New York had the highest median at $217,640, then Massachusetts at $191,200 and Virginia at $191,130[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Sales Managers in the US was $148,270 per year and $71.28 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Sales Managers is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 650,100 to 679,100 jobs (a change of +29,000). 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 Sales Managers: 10th percentile $73,170, 25th percentile $100,360, 75th percentile $207,340, 90th percentile $290,540. 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 47,300 openings for Sales Managers 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 Sales Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. 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
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Sales Managers was $164,350 per year and $79.02 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Sales Managers: 10th percentile $35.18, 25th percentile $48.25, 75th percentile $99.68, 90th percentile $139.68. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. Median annual wage for Sales Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Sales Managers jobs: California 112,440; Texas 76,010; Florida 46,480; New York 38,510; Illinois 32,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Sales Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $215,150; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $206,610; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $201,780; Boulder, CO $200,970; Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $198,550; Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $190,370; Lawrence, KS $189,740; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $184,320. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Sales Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 44,870 (median $215,150); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 37,790 (median $132,330); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 26,780 (median $144,290); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 25,390 (median $158,690); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 17,770 (median $170,810); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 16,430 (median $135,880). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 11-2022.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 71%, Some College Courses 19% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Sales Managers. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Sales Managers. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of sales managers in 2025: Wholesale trade 21%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 0.8% of Sales Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Sales Managers: 1.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. 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.