Research Summary. After thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we have updated the information regarding sales specialist salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Massachusetts retains the highest sales specialist salary at $76,002
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Mississippi continues to have the lowest sales specialist salary at $40,838
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The national average salary for sales specialists is now $53,004
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The national hourly pay for sales specialists is approximately $25.48
For more details, check out our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a key priority for job seekers, consistently ranking as the most critical aspect of employment in surveys across various demographics. For those exploring careers in sales, it’s essential to know how much sales specialists earn in their region and what influences these figures.
While local variances exist, the average salaries for sales specialists by state, adjusted for seniority level, provide a solid benchmark for expectations. Massachusetts stands out as the top-paying state for sales specialists in 2026.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states offering the best salaries for sales specialists:
Let’s delve deeper into the data to see how salaries are distributed across states.
Highest-Paid Sales Specialists By State
| Rank | State | Average Sales Specialist Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $76,002 | $40,000 | $142,000 |
| 2 | New York | $70,930 | $38,000 | $131,000 |
| 3 | California | $70,212 | $37,000 | $131,000 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $67,818 | $36,000 | $126,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $66,526 | $36,000 | $122,000 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $65,681 | $37,000 | $114,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $64,610 | $34,000 | $121,000 |
| 8 | Texas | $63,713 | $36,000 | $112,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $62,496 | $33,000 | $116,000 |
| 10 | Missouri | $60,130 | $34,000 | $105,000 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $59,262 | $33,000 | $104,000 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $58,722 | $31,000 | $110,000 |
| 13 | Virginia | $57,909 | $31,000 | $105,000 |
| 14 | Michigan | $57,825 | $32,000 | $103,000 |
| 15 | Nevada | $57,530 | $30,000 | $106,000 |
| 16 | Oregon | $57,303 | $30,000 | $106,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $56,879 | $32,000 | $99,000 |
| 18 | Ohio | $56,825 | $31,000 | $101,000 |
| 19 | Georgia | $55,864 | $32,000 | $96,000 |
| 20 | Colorado | $55,240 | $31,000 | $96,000 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $55,120 | $31,000 | $97,000 |
| 22 | Alabama | $55,117 | $31,000 | $95,000 |
| 23 | Arizona | $55,065 | $30,000 | $99,000 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $54,892 | $29,000 | $101,000 |
| 25 | Illinois | $54,730 | $30,000 | $97,000 |
| 26 | Indiana | $54,587 | $30,000 | $96,000 |
| 27 | Maine | $54,390 | $29,000 | $101,000 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $54,182 | $30,000 | $96,000 |
| 29 | North Dakota | $53,852 | $31,000 | $93,000 |
| 30 | Kansas | $53,769 | $30,000 | $93,000 |
| 31 | Vermont | $52,946 | $28,000 | $98,000 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $52,413 | $29,000 | $93,000 |
| 33 | Idaho | $52,350 | $29,000 | $94,000 |
| 34 | Maryland | $52,269 | $28,000 | $95,000 |
| 35 | Alaska | $51,956 | $27,000 | $97,000 |
| 36 | Iowa | $51,817 | $29,000 | $90,000 |
| 37 | Florida | $51,126 | $29,000 | $89,000 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $50,146 | $27,000 | $90,000 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $50,138 | $38,000 | $65,000 |
| 40 | Delaware | $50,131 | $27,000 | $92,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $49,723 | $28,000 | $86,000 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $49,636 | $28,000 | $86,000 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $49,337 | $28,000 | $86,000 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $49,197 | $28,000 | $85,000 |
| 45 | Montana | $49,077 | $28,000 | $85,000 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $48,811 | $27,000 | $85,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $48,327 | $27,000 | $84,000 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $48,198 | $27,000 | $84,000 |
| 49 | Utah | $46,983 | $26,000 | $84,000 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $40,838 | $23,000 | $71,000 |
Methodology: Sales Specialist Salary By State
To understand how sales specialist salaries vary across states, Zippia has compiled data from a variety of sources including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Certification (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This information is enhanced by actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team calculates a weighted average to derive the average pay for sales specialists by state.
We evaluated the average annual salary based on these estimates and ranked every state accordingly, with the highest average salary being recognized as the top-paying state for sales specialists.
Sales Specialist Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for sales specialists?
The highest-paid state for sales specialists is Massachusetts with an average salary of $76,002 per year.
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What city pays sales specialists the most?
Boston, MA is the top-paying city for sales specialists, with an average salary of $75,688 per year.
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What is the worst state for sales specialists?
The state with the lowest average salary for sales specialists is Mississippi, at $40,838 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
