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Best states for a distribution sales manager
Quoted expert
Heath Weber
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Distribution sales manager opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for distribution sales managers, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for distribution sales managers.Our research shows that California is the best state in the country for distribution sales managers.
The median salary for distribution sales managers in California is $83,955. Compare that to the median salary in Alaska of $33,179, which ranked worst for distribution sales managers, and you can see how your location is important for your career.California is the best state, and Waipahu is the city with the highest pay for distribution sales managers.
10 best states for distribution sales managers in 2026
1. California
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 5,461 Average annual salary: $83,955 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Pennsylvania
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 1,798 Average annual salary: $70,338 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
3. Nevada
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 340 Average annual salary: $69,709 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
4. District of Columbia
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 335 Average annual salary: $73,447 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.33
5. Louisiana
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 426 Average annual salary: $75,339 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
6. New Jersey
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 1,276 Average annual salary: $69,379 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
7. Delaware
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 187 Average annual salary: $69,627 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
8. Indiana
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 915 Average annual salary: $66,341 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $121,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
9. New York
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 2,203 Average annual salary: $67,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
10. Virginia
Total distribution sales manager jobs: 1,303 Average annual salary: $69,831 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
Distribution sales manager jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a distribution sales manager
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a distribution sales manager
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $83,955 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,461 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $70,338 | $35,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,798 |
| 3 | Nevada | $69,709 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 340 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $73,447 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 335 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $75,339 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 426 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $69,379 | $34,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,276 |
| 7 | Delaware | $69,627 | $34,000 | 961,939 | 187 |
| 8 | Indiana | $66,341 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 915 |
| 9 | New York | $67,745 | $33,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,203 |
| 10 | Virginia | $69,831 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,303 |
| 11 | Georgia | $63,424 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,555 |
| 12 | Oregon | $61,055 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 803 |
| 13 | Texas | $59,111 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,302 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $85,919 | $64,000 | 1,427,538 | 96 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $65,677 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 195 |
| 16 | Utah | $56,166 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 601 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $65,151 | $34,000 | 1,815,857 | 133 |
| 18 | Arizona | $59,144 | $32,000 | 7,016,270 | 880 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $59,389 | $32,000 | 2,984,100 | 279 |
| 20 | Illinois | $55,756 | $31,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,234 |
| 21 | Michigan | $58,961 | $31,000 | 9,962,311 | 981 |
| 22 | Florida | $56,187 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,356 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $59,840 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 315 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $58,267 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 68 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $53,746 | $28,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,468 |
| 26 | Maryland | $59,626 | $29,000 | 6,052,177 | 815 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $54,019 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 764 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $54,087 | $30,000 | 3,004,279 | 329 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $52,102 | $24,000 | 3,588,184 | 577 |
| 30 | Washington | $53,472 | $29,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,034 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $51,182 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 843 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $55,224 | $32,000 | 1,920,076 | 231 |
| 33 | Alabama | $53,038 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 506 |
| 34 | Idaho | $52,099 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 221 |
| 35 | Ohio | $50,208 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,465 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $49,968 | $22,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,400 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $53,056 | $28,000 | 5,024,369 | 560 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $46,403 | $21,000 | 1,059,639 | 193 |
| 39 | Colorado | $48,600 | $28,000 | 5,607,154 | 917 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $50,474 | $23,000 | 1,342,795 | 215 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $50,852 | $27,000 | 4,454,189 | 447 |
| 42 | Kansas | $48,367 | $27,000 | 2,913,123 | 381 |
| 43 | Montana | $47,801 | $29,000 | 1,050,493 | 137 |
| 44 | Iowa | $49,214 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 355 |
| 45 | Vermont | $44,377 | $20,000 | 623,657 | 107 |
| 46 | Missouri | $47,567 | $26,000 | 6,113,532 | 715 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $44,809 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 863 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $46,487 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 77 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $41,790 | $26,000 | 755,393 | 105 |
| 50 | Maine | $32,769 | $15,000 | 1,335,907 | 159 |
| 51 | Alaska | $33,179 | $24,000 | 739,795 | 64 |
Highest paying states for distribution sales managers
| Rank | State | Avg. Distribution Sales Manager Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $83,955 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $70,338 |
| 3 | Nevada | $69,709 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $73,447 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $75,339 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $69,379 |
| 7 | Delaware | $69,627 |
| 8 | Indiana | $66,341 |
| 9 | New York | $67,745 |
| 10 | Virginia | $69,831 |
| 11 | Georgia | $63,424 |
| 12 | Oregon | $61,055 |
| 13 | Texas | $59,111 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $85,919 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $65,677 |
| 16 | Utah | $56,166 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $65,151 |
| 18 | Arizona | $59,144 |
| 19 | Mississippi | $59,389 |
| 20 | Illinois | $55,756 |
| 21 | Michigan | $58,961 |
| 22 | Florida | $56,187 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $59,840 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $58,267 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $53,746 |
| 26 | Maryland | $59,626 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $54,019 |
| 28 | Arkansas | $54,087 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $52,102 |
| 30 | Washington | $53,472 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $51,182 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $55,224 |
| 33 | Alabama | $53,038 |
| 34 | Idaho | $52,099 |
| 35 | Ohio | $50,208 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | $49,968 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $53,056 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $46,403 |
| 39 | Colorado | $48,600 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $50,474 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $50,852 |
| 42 | Kansas | $48,367 |
| 43 | Montana | $47,801 |
| 44 | Iowa | $49,214 |
| 45 | Vermont | $44,377 |
| 46 | Missouri | $47,567 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $44,809 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $46,487 |
| 49 | North Dakota | $41,790 |
| 50 | Maine | $32,769 |
| 51 | Alaska | $33,179 |
Expert opinions on the best states for distribution sales managers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for distribution sales managers to find work opportunities?
Heath Weber
Assoc Dean for Performing Arts, Morningside College
Music teachers are in demand in every state. All of the grads in the past two years have found employment in the country, but that is not to say that we don't have students who leave Iowa to pursue teaching in another state. One of our recent grads just took a position at Mitchell HS in Mitchell, SD, directing one of the country's best show choir programs. A 2020 grad is teaching vocal music at Sioux City East and one of the most consistently successful programs in the state of Iowa. Morningside grads are highly sought after in the field of education and Music Education.
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Updated January 8, 2025