Sales Managers Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
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.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Colorado CO | $179,552 | $86.32/hr | $153,202 | 8,110 | Boulder, CO | 117.2 |
| #2 | Delaware DE | $178,130 | $85.64/hr | $151,988 | 110 | Dover, DE | 117.2 |
| #3 | District of Columbia DC | $175,820 | $84.53/hr | $110,648 | 8,780 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
| #4 | New Hampshire NH | $161,410 | $77.60/hr | $140,846 | 680 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | 114.6 |
| #5 | New York NY | $161,308 | $77.55/hr | $132,654 | 50,080 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 121.6 |
| #6 | Kansas KS | $160,570 | $77.20/hr | $164,518 | 1,650 | Lawrence, KS | 97.6 |
| #7 | Connecticut CT | $159,298 | $76.58/hr | $126,126 | 7,480 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 126.3 |
| #8 | New Jersey NJ | $157,696 | $75.82/hr | $133,528 | 1,310 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 118.1 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
Bachelor's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
Demonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities
Full professional competence; leads projects or a small team
Owns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
Executive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Sales Managers: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Finance & Management Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Finance & Management occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Sales Managers. Official 2026 economic data for Sales Managers compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Sales Managers range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Sales Managers: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Sales Managers is $148,270 per year ($71.28/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 389 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $79,420 in Aguadilla, PR to $215,150 in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Sales Managers
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $215,150 | +45.1% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $206,610 | +39.3% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $201,780 | +36.1% |
| Boulder, CO | $200,970 | +35.5% |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $198,550 | +33.9% |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $190,370 | +28.4% |
| Lawrence, KS | $189,740 | +28.0% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $184,320 | +24.3% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $181,580 | +22.5% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $178,360 | +20.3% |
| Dover, DE | $178,130 | +20.1% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $177,780 | +19.9% |