How much does a sales manager make?
The median sales manager in the United States earns $148,270 per year, about $71.28 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all sales managers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 11-2022.
Sales manager salary range
Pay for sales managers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $73,170 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $290,540. The average (mean) wage of $164,350 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,170 | $35.18 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $100,360 | $48.25 | |
| Median (50th) | $148,270 | $71.28 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $207,340 | $99.68 | |
| 90th percentile | $290,540 | $139.68 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for sales managers (SOC 11-2022), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Sales manager salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Sales managers earn the most in New York at $217,640 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $94,830. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $217,640 | 38,510 |
| Massachusetts | $191,200 | 15,010 |
| Virginia | $191,130 | 9,670 |
| Colorado | $180,850 | 8,780 |
| Washington | $174,000 | 10,030 |
| New Jersey | $173,020 | 20,090 |
| Connecticut | $162,110 | 8,560 |
| Kansas | $159,990 | 6,820 |
| Georgia | $159,890 | 17,690 |
| Maine | $158,660 | N/A |
| Oregon | $155,810 | 5,260 |
| Illinois | $155,280 | 32,240 |
| Rhode Island | $154,970 | 1,120 |
| Minnesota | $151,670 | 11,240 |
| North Carolina | $150,470 | 16,920 |
| Arizona | $145,690 | 13,870 |
| New Hampshire | $141,900 | 2,820 |
| District of Columbia | $141,800 | 1,930 |
| Vermont | $138,650 | 930 |
| Maryland | $137,150 | N/A |
| Michigan | $136,870 | 17,950 |
| Utah | $136,520 | 8,990 |
| South Dakota | $136,360 | 450 |
| Texas | $136,020 | 76,010 |
| Ohio | $135,510 | 22,840 |
| Idaho | $135,350 | 2,490 |
| California | $134,910 | 112,440 |
| Wisconsin | $134,870 | 10,480 |
| Iowa | $134,010 | 3,260 |
| Florida | $131,900 | 46,480 |
| Indiana | $131,470 | 9,700 |
| South Carolina | $131,080 | 9,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,610 | 20,460 |
| Wyoming | $129,840 | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $128,920 | 3,250 |
| Kentucky | $128,650 | 6,650 |
| Tennessee | $128,040 | 12,270 |
| Nebraska | $126,990 | 3,000 |
| Alabama | $124,040 | 4,670 |
| North Dakota | $119,990 | 550 |
| Montana | $117,390 | 1,200 |
| Hawaii | $116,340 | 1,710 |
| Missouri | $115,370 | 7,630 |
| New Mexico | $114,080 | 1,750 |
| Louisiana | $110,700 | 4,360 |
| Nevada | $109,790 | 5,770 |
| Mississippi | $108,750 | 1,870 |
| Arkansas | $108,330 | 3,710 |
| Alaska | $98,860 | 850 |
| West Virginia | $94,830 | 1,110 |
State median wages for sales managers (SOC 11-2022), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for sales managers
The BLS projects employment of sales managers to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 650,100 jobs in 2025 moving toward 679,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 47,300 openings a year for sales managers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a sales manager
The typical entry-level education for sales managers is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a sales manager earns
Company size, industry, and metro area drive most of the pay gap. Executives and managers at large firms in major markets sit near the top of the range, while smaller organizations and rural areas pay lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $217,640) and the lowest (West Virginia, $94,830) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 637,080 people work as sales managers in the United States. At $148,270 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Sales manager salary FAQ
How much does a sales manager make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a sales manager is $71.28. The middle half of sales managers earn between $48.25 and $99.68 per hour.
What is the highest sales manager salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of sales managers earn more than $290,540 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a sales manager make a year?
The median annual salary for a sales manager is $148,270. The average (mean) wage of $164,350 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a sales manager a well paid job?
At $148,270 a year, a sales manager earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 637,080 people work as sales managers in the United States.
Which state pays sales managers the most?
New York has the highest median salary for sales managers at $217,640 a year. Massachusetts ($191,200) and Virginia ($191,130) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a sales manager a good career?
Employment of sales managers is projected to grow 4.5% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 47,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a sales manager?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for sales managers as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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