Sales Managers
Sales managers plan, direct, or coordinate the delivery of a product or service to the customer.
Is sales managers a good career?
It scores 41/100 and ranks #62 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($148,270 vs $61,390)
- High volume of openings — about 49,000 a year
Possible tradeoffs
- Typically requires a bachelor's degree
- Often needs prior experience (less than 5 years)
What sales managers earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. sales managers earn between $100,360 and $207,340 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live sales managers jobs
Sales Manager, SMB Account Executives (Grower)
How to become a sales manager
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034.
Education
Sales managers typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some positions require a high school diploma. A common field of degree is business, which usually includes courses in management and marketing.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Sales managers must track and interpret data to evaluate trends, develop goals, and determine sales strategies.
Communication skills. Sales managers need to convey ideas clearly to a wide range of people.
Computer skills. Sales managers must be able to use a variety of programs and applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and spreadsheet software, to track sales and build forecasting models.
Customer-service skills. Sales managers must listen and respond to customers’ needs in order to help make a sale.
Interpersonal skills. Sales managers must be able to build a rapport with colleagues and customers to be successful in their work.
Leadership skills. Sales managers must develop strategies for meeting sales goals and be able to motivate their sales staff to reach those goals.
Organizational skills. Sales managers must create and maintain order to manage their time, track the performance of sales representatives, and develop sales strategies.
Related occupations
How much do sales managers make?
The national median wage is $148,270 a year, with the middle half earning between $100,360 and $207,340 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is sales managers a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 41 of 100 and ranks #62 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +4.7% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a sales manager?
The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree, usually with less than 5 years.
Where do sales managers earn the most?
Among states, New York pays the highest median ($217,640). Local pay for every state and metro is below.