Resources/Salaries/Sales manager
Sales Manager Salary 2027: Median $148,270 and Pay by Industry
Sales managers in the US earned a median of $148,270 in May 2025, from under $73,170 to over $290,540 including commissions and bonuses. Pay by industry, how sales manager pay is structured and job outlook.
- $148,270median pay
- $73,170lowest 10%
- $290,540highest 10%
Quick answer: The median annual wage for sales managers in the US was $148,270 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, including commissions and bonuses. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $73,170 and the highest paid 10 percent more than $290,540. Finance and insurance had the highest median of the top industries, at $174,440.
Sales managers direct a sales team, set quotas and territories, and are usually paid a salary plus commission or bonus. BLS counts commissions and production bonuses in wages, so the figures below reflect total cash pay rather than base salary alone. If you are hiring sales reps rather than managers, see our account executive and SDR job description templates.
How much does a sales manager make?
Half of sales managers earned more than $148,270 and half earned less. The mean was higher, at $164,350, because a group of top earners pulls the average up. That gap is normal in commission roles.
| Measure | Annual pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $73,170 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $148,270 |
| Mean (average) | $164,350 |
| Highest 10% earn more than | $290,540 |
BLS wage data include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, and exclude the self employed. Mean wage from the BLS May 2025 national wage release.
Which industries pay sales managers the most?
Finance and professional services pay sales managers the most among the big employers. Retail pays far less, with a median of $100,000, because store level sales management carries smaller deal sizes and less commission.
| Industry | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | $174,440 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $173,700 |
| Manufacturing | $156,150 |
| Wholesale trade | $149,980 |
| Retail trade | $100,000 |
Is demand for sales managers growing?
BLS projects employment of sales managers to grow about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 47,300 openings a year. Most of those openings come from managers retiring or changing roles.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Jobs in the US | 650,100 (2025) |
| Projected growth | About 4 percent, 2025 to 2035 |
| Openings per year (average) | About 47,300 a year |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree, though some roles take a high school diploma |
| Work experience | Sales experience typically required |
How is sales manager pay structured?
Most employers pay sales managers a base salary plus commission or a bonus tied to team results. Commissions are usually a percentage of what the team sells, and bonuses can depend on individual, team or company targets, per BLS. When comparing offers, ask what share of pay is guaranteed and what share depends on quota, and how often the team has hit quota in the last two years.
| Pay part | What it usually covers |
|---|---|
| Base salary | Guaranteed pay, often the larger share in management roles |
| Commission or override | Percentage of team sales |
| Bonus | Team or company targets, paid quarterly or yearly |
| Accelerators | Higher rates once the team passes quota |
Hiring sales managers or reps?
Sales hiring tools help you find people with a track record. Our directory covers lead generation and outreach tools for prospecting, and the assessments category includes sales skills tests.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sales manager make?
The median annual wage for sales managers was $148,270 in May 2025, per BLS, including commission and bonuses. The lowest 10 percent earned under $73,170 and the highest 10 percent over $290,540.
Does the BLS sales manager salary include commission?
Yes. BLS counts commissions and production bonuses as wages, so the figures reflect total cash pay, not base salary alone.
Which industry pays sales managers the most?
Among the top industries, finance and insurance had the highest median at $174,440 in May 2025, followed by professional, scientific and technical services at $173,700.
Is sales manager a growing job?
BLS projects about 4 percent growth from 2025 to 2035 with about 47,300 openings a year.
What is the average sales manager salary?
The mean annual wage was $164,350 in May 2025, above the $148,270 median because top earners raise the average.
Sources
Written by recruiters at Work Insiders. Updated November 4, 2026. How we make money.