$Who Earns What

How much does a wholesale sales rep make?

US Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Answer: A typical wholesale sales rep in the United States makes $72,080 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US
$72,080

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 1.2 million people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner
$39,090
10th from the bottom of 100
Typical person
$72,080
Right in the middle (median)
Higher earner
$137,550
10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

52 of 100
more than half

Wholesale sales rep pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Wholesale sales rep pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)Typical person (median)Higher earner (10th from top)People in this job
$39,090$72,080$137,550about 1.2 million
States where wholesale sales reps earn the most (median, May 2025)
StateTypical person (median)People in this job
Rhode Island$82,420about 5,000
District of Columbia$80,010about 560
Washington$79,830about 27,000
Massachusetts$79,810about 23,000
New York$79,590about 62,000

Why does pay differ?

In the U.S., pay varies with the employer and products sold; many jobs add sales-based commissions or bonuses, so personal, team, or company results matter. Experience, useful skills, and credentials can matter too, though a license is generally not required and certification is optional. Location and hours also make a difference.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US
Whole US$72,080
Rhode Island$82,420
District of Columbia$80,010
Washington$79,830
Massachusetts$79,810
New York$79,590
Hawaii$59,010
Alaska$56,830
Arkansas$55,120

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a wholesale sales rep do?

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

What's a typical day like?

A rep may call a store buyer, show a sample or catalog, explain prices and delivery, and take an order. Later, they help solve a customer problem and update sales records.

How to get this job

In the U.S., finish high school (often around 18); that is usually enough for nontechnical sales, with no related experience required. Employers train new hires; a license is not usually needed, and certification is optional.

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?

Some U.S. wholesale reps cover several states and may be away from home for days or weeks; others spend much of their time selling by phone.

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Sources 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

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY