Sales Career Pay Ladder: Sales Rep to Technical Sales to Sales Manager
B2B sales pays well and has a clear ladder. The biggest pay differences come from what you sell and whether you manage a team. Here are the May 2025 numbers.
The pay ladder at a glance
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Typical entry education | Projected growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales rep (non-technical) | 1,238,190 | $39,090 | $72,080 | $137,550 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.9% |
| Sales rep (technical/scientific) | 284,800 | $52,600 | $104,920 | $200,440 | Bachelor's degree | +1.2% |
| Sales manager | 637,080 | $73,170 | $148,270 | $290,540 | Bachelor's degree | +4.5% |
Wages are May 2025 estimates from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; growth and education from BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. The 10th and 90th percentiles show the range from entry-level or lower-paying employers to the most experienced or best-paid workers. For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980.
What you sell matters
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives selling non-technical products earn a median of $72,080. Reps selling technical and scientific products earn $104,920, $32,840 more. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook says non-technical reps generally need a high school diploma, while reps selling scientific or technical products typically need at least a bachelor’s degree.
Into sales management
Sales managers earn $148,270, with the 90th percentile at $290,540. BLS says they typically need a bachelor’s degree and work experience as a sales representative.
Where sales rep (technical/scientific)s earn the most
State medians for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products vary widely. The five highest-paying states in the May 2025 survey:
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $135,000 | 4,150 |
| New Jersey | $131,360 | 5,600 |
| Kansas | $130,850 | 2,440 |
| New York | $129,410 | 10,500 |
| Georgia | $128,850 | 5,700 |
Pay tips for sales reps
- OEWS counts commissions. BLS wage estimates include commissions, so these medians are total pay, not just base.
- Get the comp plan in writing, including how returns, clawbacks and territory changes affect commissions.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
A classification detail for field reps: outside sales employees, whose main duty is making sales away from the employer's place of business, are exempt from overtime with no minimum salary requirement at all. Inside sales reps who sell by phone or online from an office don't qualify for that exemption. See WHD Fact Sheet #17F: Outside Sales Employees.