How much does a sales representative make?
Answer: A typical sales representative in the United States makes $69,990 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 1.3 million 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 representative 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $37,980 | $69,990 | $148,840 | about 1.3 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $92,190 | about 81,000 |
| Massachusetts | $83,760 | about 32,000 |
| California | $80,850 | about 156,000 |
| Washington | $79,920 | about 19,000 |
| Colorado | $79,810 | about 38,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the US, pay can depend on experience, sales results, and whether the plan includes commissions or bonuses. It also varies with the service industry, employer, and location; specialized knowledge or credentials may matter in some fields.
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 representative do?
Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems. Excludes “Advertising Sales Agents” (41-3011), “Insurance Sales Agents” (41-3021), “Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents” (41-3031), “Travel Agents” (41-3041), “Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing” (41-4010), and “Telemarketers” (41-9041).
What's a typical day like?
They contact current or potential customers, ask what they need, and explain service choices, prices, and contract terms. They prepare proposals, keep customer records, and follow up after a sale to help fix problems.
How to get this job
In the US, a high-school diploma or GED is a common starting point, and employers teach the service and sales skills on the job. Some jobs need little experience, while others expect several months to a year.
High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)
Good for people who like leading and selling and keeping things organized.
Did you know?
O*NET reports that 97% of U.S. service sales reps have constant contact with other people at work—this job is truly people-filled!
What about Japan?
Nearly the same jobThe US figure is the median and the Japan figure is the average, so it's not a perfect comparison. Prices differ too.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Sales 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.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-3091.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/41-3091.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes413091.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY