How much does a sales representative make?
The median sales representative in the United States earns $72,080 per year, about $34.65 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all sales representatives earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 41-4012.
Sales representative salary range
Pay for sales representatives spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $39,090 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $137,550. The average (mean) wage of $82,530 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 | $39,090 | $18.79 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $50,470 | $24.27 | |
| Median (50th) | $72,080 | $34.65 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $99,640 | $47.90 | |
| 90th percentile | $137,550 | $66.13 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (SOC 41-4012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Sales representative salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Sales representatives earn the most in Rhode Island at $82,420 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $55,120. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $82,420 | 4,870 |
| District of Columbia | $80,010 | 560 |
| Washington | $79,830 | 27,340 |
| Massachusetts | $79,810 | 22,700 |
| New York | $79,590 | 61,500 |
| New Jersey | $79,410 | 34,360 |
| Colorado | $79,250 | 27,530 |
| South Dakota | $77,210 | 5,220 |
| Vermont | $76,840 | 1,890 |
| Minnesota | $76,750 | 31,230 |
| California | $76,490 | 134,800 |
| Connecticut | $75,570 | 9,870 |
| North Dakota | $74,250 | 4,180 |
| Oregon | $74,180 | 15,020 |
| Ohio | $73,960 | 58,740 |
| Illinois | $73,510 | 51,310 |
| Maryland | $73,080 | 9,070 |
| Michigan | $72,980 | 40,960 |
| New Hampshire | $72,790 | 4,940 |
| Wyoming | $72,530 | 1,480 |
| Arizona | $72,390 | 19,400 |
| Indiana | $71,330 | 32,350 |
| North Carolina | $70,990 | 49,110 |
| Kansas | $68,960 | 12,630 |
| Nevada | $68,150 | 8,970 |
| Iowa | $66,760 | 16,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,130 | 51,270 |
| Texas | $65,970 | 95,670 |
| Wisconsin | $65,930 | 37,700 |
| Idaho | $64,840 | 7,210 |
| Kentucky | $64,280 | 15,550 |
| South Carolina | $64,250 | 22,010 |
| Alabama | $64,140 | 20,470 |
| Nebraska | $64,030 | 8,550 |
| Maine | $63,960 | 3,320 |
| Georgia | $63,860 | 43,630 |
| West Virginia | $63,560 | 3,220 |
| Virginia | $63,400 | 22,570 |
| Louisiana | $63,290 | 19,120 |
| Florida | $62,490 | 92,920 |
| Delaware | $62,280 | 2,920 |
| Oklahoma | $62,160 | 14,220 |
| Utah | $61,980 | 13,900 |
| Missouri | $61,940 | 21,960 |
| Montana | $61,670 | 3,510 |
| Tennessee | $61,630 | 23,850 |
| New Mexico | $61,320 | 3,660 |
| Mississippi | $59,320 | 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $59,010 | 3,280 |
| Alaska | $56,830 | 910 |
| Arkansas | $55,120 | 12,740 |
State median wages for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (SOC 41-4012), 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 representatives
The BLS projects employment of sales representatives to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 1,279,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 1,268,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 99,800 openings a year for sales representatives. 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 representative
The typical entry-level education for sales representatives is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a sales representative earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Rhode Island, $82,420) and the lowest (Arkansas, $55,120) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 1,238,190 people work as sales representatives in the United States. At $72,080 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Sales representative salary FAQ
How much does a sales representative make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a sales representative is $34.65. The middle half of sales representatives earn between $24.27 and $47.90 per hour.
What is the highest sales representative salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of sales representatives earn more than $137,550 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a sales representative make a year?
The median annual salary for a sales representative is $72,080. The average (mean) wage of $82,530 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 representative a well paid job?
At $72,080 a year, a sales representative earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 1,238,190 people work as sales representatives in the United States.
Which state pays sales representatives the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median salary for sales representatives at $82,420 a year. District of Columbia ($80,010) and Washington ($79,830) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a sales representative a good career?
Employment of sales representatives is projected to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 99,800 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a sales representative?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for sales representatives as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
Related salaries
See more in Sales & Retail salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.