How to Become a Sales Manager
Lead sales teams to targets: set strategy, coach reps, and own the revenue number. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $148,270 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$148,270/yr
Middle half
$100,360 to $207,340
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
49,000
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Sales Strategy
- Team Leadership
- Forecasting
- Negotiation
- CRM Tools
Helpful certifications
- CPSL/CPSP (NASP sales leadership)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
77/100
Work-life balance
47/100
Stress level
55/100
Related careers
- Entrepreneur / Business Founder$213,990 median
- Human Resources Manager$149,280 median
- Purchasing Manager$148,080 median
- Fundraising Manager$125,470 median
- Administrative Services Manager$114,130 median
- Facilities Manager$106,660 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sales Manager make?
The median pay for a Sales Manager is $148,270 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $100,360 and $207,340 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Sales Manager?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Business Administration, Marketing, and Communications.
Is Sales Manager a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 49,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Sales Manager use most?
Common skills for this role are Sales Strategy, Team Leadership, Forecasting, Negotiation, and CRM Tools.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).