What does a sales manager do? Duties, pay, education and outlook
Sales managers plan, direct or coordinate the delivery of a product or service to the customer, set goals and train sales staff. A bachelor's degree and some sales experience are typical. BLS reports a median pay of $148,270 per year (May 2025).
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| SOC code | 11-2022 |
| O*NET code | 11-2022.00 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Median annual wage | $148,270 per year (May 2025) |
| Projected growth | 4 percent (as fast as average), 2025 to 2035 |
| Number of jobs | 650,100 (2025) |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, accessed 31 October 2026.
What does a sales manager do?
BLS says sales managers prepare budgets and approve expenditures, monitor customer preferences, analyze sales data, project sales and profitability, develop plans to acquire customers, set staff sales goals and track progress, resolve escalated customer complaints and plan sales staff training.
Work environment
They typically work in an office or retail setting, and BLS says the job can be stressful because job security is often tied to sales targets. Travel may be required, and some work more than 40 hours a week. Wholesale trade employs 21 percent, retail trade 16 percent and professional, scientific and technical services 13 percent.
Education, training and licensing
BLS says a bachelor's degree is typical, though some jobs require only a high school diploma, and business is a common field of study. Employers usually prefer several years of sales experience, and common entry paths include retail sales, wholesale and manufacturing sales representative and purchasing agent roles.
Skills that matter
BLS lists analytical, communication, computer, customer-service, interpersonal, leadership and organizational skills as important qualities for this work.
How much does a sales manager make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $148,270 for sales managers (May 2025). The median is the wage at which half of workers earned more and half earned less. See the OOH pay tab and the OEWS data for your area. Our guide to researching pay explains how to read the figures.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of sales managers to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, which BLS labels as fast as average. For comparison, BLS projects 3 percent growth for all occupations over the same period. About 47,300 openings are projected each year on average. BLS says most openings come from replacing workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force, for example to retire.
How to get hired
- Build a record of hitting targets as a sales representative first and keep the numbers on your resume.
- Show results on your resume: the tools you used, the volume you handled and the outcomes, without private customer or employer details.
- If you lack experience, see the no-experience resume guide.
- Practice with the interview prep hub.
When you are ready, search jobs on LiveRec.
Related occupations
Sales representatives, Retail sales workers, Insurance sales agents, Marketing managers, Market research analysts.
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a sales manager? BLS says employers usually prefer a bachelor's degree and several years of sales experience, with common entry paths including retail sales and wholesale and manufacturing sales representative roles.
Is sales manager a stressful job? BLS says the job can be stressful because job security is often tied to sales targets, and some managers work more than 40 hours a week.
How much do sales managers make? BLS reports a median annual wage of $148,270 for sales managers (May 2025). Half of workers earned more and half earned less. Pay varies by employer, region and experience.
Is sales manager a good career? BLS projects 4 percent growth from 2025 to 2035 (as fast as average). About 47,300 openings are projected each year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, so read the duties and work environment above.
Related guides
- What Does a Sales Representative Do? Pay, Outlook
- What Does a Retail Salesperson Do? Duties, Pay, Outlook
- What Does an Insurance Sales Agent Do? Duties, Pay, Outlook
- Marketing Manager: Duties, Pay, Education, Outlook
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sales managers: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm (accessed 31 October 2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, 11-2022.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-2022.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.