Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of sales managers that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of sales managers:
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Senior Sales Manager is the highest-paid type of sales manager with an average salary of $140,662 and an average hourly rate of $67.63.
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The second highest-paying type of sales manager is technical sales manager, with an average salary of $129,770.
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The average sales manager salary is $73,952 per year, and the average hourly pay is $35.55.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a sales manager, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of sales managers are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of sales managers:
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Senior Sales Manager
Average Salary: $140,662
Senior sales managers take the lead in handling sales operations in the organization. They supervise the activities performed by the junior sales management team. It is their responsibility to maximize the potential of the sales team, establish sales plans, and justify these plans to superior management. They aim to expand the customer base of the company and its strong presence in the market. The skills these managers should have include leadership, organization, communication, and the ability to recruit talented sales agents.
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Technical Sales Manager
Average Salary: $129,770
A technical sales manager is responsible for monitoring the sales techniques and performance of the sales team in selling technical services and systems to the customers. Technical sales managers coordinate with clients to discuss and negotiate offers of new products and services. They also identify business opportunities by analyzing current technology trends from public demands to generate more revenue resources and increase the company’s profits. A technical sales manager facilitates and plans sales training and programs to maximize staff’s efficiency and productivity.
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General Sales Manager
Average Salary: $118,744
General sales managers are responsible for monitoring the daily operation of the sales team and analyze marketing strategies to improve sales performance and generate more revenues. General sales managers develop strategic plans, adjust sales quotas as needed, identify business opportunities, research current market trends, and evaluate the annual budget. General sales managers also respond to the customers’ inquiries and high-level complaints, providing immediate resolutions to ensure customer satisfaction. A general sales manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the sales department, especially on sales techniques in reaching the business’ profitability goals.
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Business Development Sales Manager
Average Salary: $111,309
A business development sales manager is in charge of securing sales by reaching out to clients through calls, correspondence, or appointments. Their responsibilities often revolve around performing research and analysis to identify new leads and sales opportunities, offering different products and services, and creating proposals and price quotes for potential clients. A business development sales manager may also tailor payment plans, process billing, participate in various marketing initiatives, and produce progress reports. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure customer satisfaction and build positive relationships to strengthen the company’s client base.
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Product Manager/Sales
Average Salary: $108,492
A sales product manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance of a specific product and ensuring that the marketing strategies adhere to market standards and client requirements. Sales product managers work closely with the marketing and public relations team to enhance the product’s brand image on various market platforms to reach the target audience. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company’s profitability.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various sales manager that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Sales Managers
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for sales managers.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Sales Manager Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid sales manager job?
The highest-paid sales manager job is a senior sales manager. Senior Sales Managers earn an average salary of $140,662, which is $ 67.63 hourly.
Senior sales managers take the lead in handling sales operations in the organization. They supervise the activities performed by the junior sales management team. It is their responsibility to maximize the potential of the sales team, establish sales plans, and justify these plans to superior management. They aim to expand the customer base of the company and its strong presence in the market. The skills these managers should have include leadership, organization, communication, and the ability to recruit talented sales agents.
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What is a good salary for a sales manager?
A good salary for a sales manager is $73,952 or more. The average sales manager salary is $73,952, so those making at least $73,952 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average sales manager salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a sales manager, the average entry level salary is $0, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $73,952 average, as this includes all sales managers of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Sales Manager jobs pay well?
Yes, sales manager jobs pay well. As in any industry, some sales manager jobs pay better than others, but the average sales manager salary of $73,952 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many sales manager jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of sales managers earning $0 a year on average.
Sales Managers’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a sales manager. Do your research on the going rate for a sales manager in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do sales managers get paid the most?
Sales Managers get paid the most in New York. In New York, sales managers earn an average annual salary of $96,680 and an average hourly wage of $46.48.
Following NY, the states with the highest-paid sales managers are New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware, with average annual salaries of $98,582, $86,960, and $91,726 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid sales manager salaries are:
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Jersey City, NJ – $99,088
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New York, NY – $97,607
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Washington, DC – $86,003
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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.
