Sales Managers

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $148,270/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$73,170$290,540

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +4.7% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.

About 49,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

SpeakingNegotiationActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringPersuasionJudgment and Decision MakingManagement of Personnel Resources

Top knowledge areas

Sales and MarketingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementPersonnel and Human ResourcesEducation and TrainingComputers and ElectronicsEconomics and Accounting

Core tasks

• Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.

• Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.

• Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.

• Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.

• Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.

• Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.

• Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.

• Determine price schedules and discount rates.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Sales Managers?

The median pay for Sales Managers is $148,270 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Sales Managers?

Employment for Sales Managers is projected to change +4.7% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Sales Managers?

Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Sales Managers?

About 49,000 openings per year, on average, over the decade.