How much does a sales manager make?
Answer: A typical sales manager in the United States makes $148,270 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 637,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Sales manager pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $73,170 | $148,270 | $290,540 | about 637,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $217,640 | about 39,000 |
| Massachusetts | $191,200 | about 15,000 |
| Virginia | $191,130 | about 10,000 |
| Colorado | $180,850 | about 9,000 |
| Washington | $174,000 | about 10,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the US, pay can differ with experience, location, industry, and what a company sells. Many employers combine a base salary with commissions or bonuses, so individual, team, or company sales results can change total pay.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a sales manager do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
They check sales reports and customer trends, set goals, and coach sales reps on presentations or closing deals. They may also train new hires, handle tough customer complaints, and meet with customers or distributors.
How to get this job
In the US, a common route is to earn a bachelor’s degree, often in business, then start in a sales job. After several years selling, move up to lead a sales team; some employers accept a high-school diploma.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
O*NET reports that every Sales Manager respondent in its survey said they handle customer complaints every day.
Similar jobs
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Management jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-2022.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
- www.careergirls.org/careers/sales-manager
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY