Sales Manager Salary: Your 2026 Guide

Key takeaways

• According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average sales manager salary is $138,060 [1].

• The average salary of a sales manager may range from $73,952 to $115,000, based on data from five wage-tracking organizations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

• The salary of a sales manager is dependent on various factors, including commissions, location, and experience.

A career as a sales manager necessitates skills in business management, effective communication, problem-solving, leadership, and data analysis. Learn more about the earning potential and career prospects of sales managers.

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What is a sales manager?

A sales manager directs sales teams for organizations and businesses. Responsibilities will vary, often based on the size of the organization, but typically include overseeing the company's sales process from start to finish. Duties might include recruiting, hiring, and onboarding new employees, and coaching current staff on improving their sales techniques.

Sales managers may also monitor customer trends, coordinate a sales staff, and develop plans for their staff to sell products to businesses and consumers. Depending on the industry, sales manager positions have a positive projected growth rate, particularly as current sales managers retire or transfer to other jobs.

How much does a sales manager make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sales managers make an average annual income of $138,060 [1].

Various job listing sites report differing average salary ranges. Explore the average salaries according to July 2026 data from five different organizations that track wages for sales managers to get a comprehensive look at the possibilities.

Factors that affect sales manager salary details

Factors such as your experience in the field or your level of education may boost your potential earnings as a sales manager. Where you live may also impact your salary, including the demand for sales managers or the cost of living in a particular location. Depending on your specialties or interests, working in some industry sectors may earn you more income than others.

Commission

It’s important to factor in commissions when it comes to a position as a sales manager. Your education, experience, industry, and location may influence your salary, but you may also earn more in addition to your annual salary based on sales or other goals. For instance, Glassdoor reports a sales manager's average annual base salary as between $58,000 and $93,000, but with extra pay, the annual salary rises to as much as $150,000 [4]. This compensation could come as a percentage of your sales, or your company may use another structure, like a territory volume commission, which considers your geographic region.

Education

Sales managers usually need a bachelor’s degree, particularly in fields such as management, economics, finance, or marketing, among others. Even when a bachelor's degree is not a requirement, earning one may help you gain and sharpen your skills for the job. Opportunities for workers with a high school diploma or an associate degree may also be available for those wanting to move into a sales manager position.

Explore the average sales manager salaries based on education level, according to Zippia [3]:

• Associate degree: $61,640

• Bachelor's degree: $86,113

• Master's degree: $100,247

Certification

Where you work may also determine whether you need to be certified as part of your job. Certifications could be necessary based on your industry, or you may require certification in certain products you sell. Examples of sales management-related certifications and their average annual salaries provided by Payscale include:

• Associate in Risk Management (ARM): $96,000 [6]

• Association of Proposal Management (APMP) certification: $104,000 [7]

• Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA): $91,000 [8]

• Certified Risk Manager (CRM): $108,000 [9]

• Professional Risk Manager (PRM): $126,000 [10]

• AMA Certified Professional in Management: $110,000 [11]

• Project Management Professional (PMP): $121,000 [12]

Read more: Risk Management: Key Concepts, Certifications, and Exam Preparation Tips

Experience

Your previous experience as a sales manager can affect your salary, as more experience typically nets you a higher annual income. Discover the median total salaries you may earn based on your years of experience, according to Glassdoor [4]:

• 0–1 year: $100,000

• 1–3 years: $107,000

• 4–6 years: $129,000

• 7–9 years: $147,000

• 10–14 years: $165,000

• 15 or more years: $194,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of August 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Location

Your salary as a sales manager may vary based on where you live due to the demand for work in your area, the cost of living, and other regional factors. Explore the five top-paying states for sales managers based on data collected by Zippia [3]:

• New Jersey: $98,582

• New York: $96,680

• Delaware: $91,726

• Connecticut: $86,960

• District of Columbia: $85,840

Some cities have higher earnings than others based on the cost of living or the number of sales manager positions. For instance, working in the Jersey City area may earn you a median annual wage of $99,088. In contrast, sales manager positions in the Phoenix area earn an average of $62,461 in median yearly salaries [3].

What are the top 5 skills of a sales manager?

Important skills for sales managers to have may include experience in business management, the ability to communicate with others effectively, strength in solving problems, data analysis, and strong leadership capabilities.

Industry

Specific industries may offer more income for sales managers compared to others. Working in professional, scientific, or technical services may earn you a median annual income of $168,320. Sales managers in manufacturing earn slightly less, with $150,210 in median annual income, according to the BLS [13].

Glassdoor lists the following five industries as some of the highest-paying for sales managers. Note that these figures only represent median total pay and include additional compensation, such as stocks, commissions, or bonuses [4].

• Information technology: $213,562

• Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology: $183,213

• Legal: $159,233

• Energy, mining, and utilities: $148,448

• Aerospace and defense: $147,390

Related job titles

Other positions in the sales field may help you gain additional experience as a sales manager. Additionally, they may help you find a job that fits your interests more than a sales manager role.

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives

Average annual US salary (BLS): $74,100 [14]

Requirements: You may work as a sales rep with a high school diploma, though a bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field may help you gain more skills and get better jobs.

A sales representative sells products to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact new and existing customers about their products, answer customer questions, and negotiate prices.

Marketing manager

Average annual US salary (BLS): $161,030 [15]

Requirements: You typically need a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field, though some employers may require a relevant master's degree.

A marketing manager is responsible for generating interest in products. You may create budgets for advertising and marketing plans, develop ideas for generating product interest, or plan advertising and promotional campaigns.

Job outlook

The BLS expects sales manager positions to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, a rate on par with the national average for all occupations. Organizations and industries are expected to add 49,000 positions to the field during the decade leading up to 2034 [16]. Sales manager positions will continue to grow as workers leave the profession for other positions or retire. Companies also need sales managers to create strategies that will help them grow.

No fluff help for when you’re stuck

Subscribe to Career Chat on LinkedIn to get timely updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Afterward, explore free, digital resources to optimize your professional growth:

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• Read our Career Chat issue: A High-Income Skill You Can Start Learning Today: Project Management

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