Do sales executives make good money?

Sales executive pay varies by location. Sales executives earn the most in the state of Washington, with an average annual salary of $71,178. Wyoming, on the other hand, is the lowest paying state for this career. Sales executives in Wyoming earn $40,146 a year, on average.

Sales executive pay varies not only by location but also by industry. Sales executives working in manufacturing make the most, with average annual salaries of $68,042.

Sales executive pay varies by level of education and degree held. Not surprisingly, sales executives with college degrees earn more than those holding only a high school diploma. What is interesting, however, is that sales executives with a bachelor's degree make nearly $10,000 more annually than those with a master's degree.

Perhaps the greatest area of variation for sales executive salaries is that these jobs are usually commission-based. That is, the more sales the sales executive closes for the company, the more money they make. In short, the more money they make for the company, the more money the company pays them.

Successful sales executives can consistently make six-figure salaries, though they are the outliers.