What is a good base salary for a sales job?

The average base salary for a sales job is $38,375 a year. However, there are many fluctuations in annual earning among sales associates, with salaries as high as $58,500 and low as $20,000.

Many factors impact the earning of a sales associate, including the number of years of experience and type of sales associate, with most positions and greater earning potential based on a greater specialization and number of years of experience.

Examples of Different Company Pay rates for Sales Associate:

• The Home Depot Inc. - $12.18 / hour

• Macy's Inc - $12.15 / hour

• Wal-Mart Stores Inc - $11.47 / hour

• Dollar General Corporation - $8.58 / hour

• JCPenney - $11.47 / hour

Retail Hourly Wage Based on Years of Experience:

• Entry-level ( less than one year) - average $12.64 per hour

• Junior Level - ( one to two years) - averages $12.20 per hour

• Mid Level - ( three to five years) - average $13.86 per hour

• Experienced - ( six to nine years) - average $15.23 per hour

• Senior - ( more than ten years) average $15.77 per hour

Ten Earning Jobs By Type of Sales Associate:

• Associate Medical Sales Representative - $38.98 / hour or $81,071 / year

• Entry Level Insurance Sales Representative - $37.26 / hour or $77,500 / year

• Associate Surgical Sales Representative -$35.98 / hour or $74,828 / year

• Home Sales - $35.25 / hour or $73,320 / year

• Sales Opportunity - $33.85 / hour or $70,401 / year

Top Ten Cities Where Sales Associates Earn The Most:

• New York City, NY - $21.91 / hour or $45,569 / year

• San Mateo, CA - $21.47 / hour or $44,654 / year

• Juneau, AK - $20.88 / hour $43,439 / year

• Boston, MA - $20.87 / hour or $43,410

• Berkeley, CA - $20.65 / hour or $42,950

• Santa Monica, CA - $20.62 / hour or $42,890 / year

• Daly City, CA - $20.59 / hour or $42,829 / year

• Quincy, MA - $20.57/ hour or $42,781 / year

• Renton, WA - $20.53 / hour or $42,706 / year

• Minneapolis, MN - $20.26 / hour or $42,137 / year

The lowest salaries relative to the national average include: San Antonio, Texas (8.8% less), Houston, Texas (7.6% less), and Miami, Florida (3.6% less).