Sales Representative Salary, Skills & Requirements (2026)
Advertised pay, starting pay, skills and experience from 44,989 US job postings by 6,623 employers. Data as of October 2026.
What US employers post for sales representatives: advertised pay, the skills and experience they ask for, and the job titles they use, from 44,989 open job postings (October 2026).
- The median advertised pay for sales representatives in US job postings is $80,000 a year (10,658 postings from 1,940 employers, October 2026).
- The middle half of those postings offer $60,000 to $110,000.
- Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $70,000 a year (1,999 postings).
- The skills that most set sales representative postings apart are self-motivated, sales experience, negotiation.
- Postings that state a minimum ask for a median of 2 years of experience.
Sales Representative job postings in the US, October 2026
- $80,000
- Median advertised pay (10,658 postings)
- $60,000–$110,000
- Middle 50% of postings
- $70,000
- Starting pay (postings asking up to 1 year)
- 44,989
- US job postings from 6,623 employers
How much does a sales representative make?
The median advertised pay is $80,000 a year, from 10,658 US job postings by 1,940 employers that state pay. One in ten postings offers $160,000 or more.
Advertised pay in 10,658 US sales representative job postings: median $80,000 a year, middle half $60,000 to $110,000.
- Median: $80,000
- 25th percentile: $60,000
- 75th percentile: $110,000
The figures as a table
| Annual pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| $10K–$20K | 0.0% |
| $20K–$30K | 1.0% |
| $30K–$40K | 6.0% |
| $40K–$50K | 8.2% |
| $50K–$60K | 8.7% |
| $60K–$70K | 10.8% |
| $70K–$80K | 12.2% |
| $80K–$90K | 11.9% |
| $90K–$100K | 7.9% |
| $100K–$110K | 7.9% |
| $110K–$120K | 3.7% |
| $120K–$130K | 3.9% |
| $130K–$140K | 2.7% |
| $140K–$150K | 2.1% |
| $150K–$160K | 2.9% |
| $160K–$170K | 1.4% |
| $170K–$180K | 2.2% |
| $180K–$190K | 1.0% |
| $190K–$200K | 0.4% |
| $200K–$210K | 2.0% |
| $210K–$220K | 0.2% |
| $220K–$230K | 0.6% |
| $230K–$240K | 0.7% |
| $240K–$250K | 0.1% |
| $250K–$260K | 0.7% |
Midpoint of each posting's pay range, hourly pay × 2,080 hours; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
| Median | Middle 50% | Postings | Most common titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postings that state an hourly rate | $21.50 | $18.00–$25.74 | 1,129 | Inside Sales Representative, Sales Representative, Sales Intern |
| Postings that state an annual salary | $88,000 | $70K–$120K | 5,493 | Sales Representative, Outside Sales Representative, Sales Executive |
| All pay postings, annualised | $80,000 | $60K–$110K | 10,658 | – |
What is the starting salary for a sales representative?
Postings that ask for up to 1 year of experience advertise a median of $70,000 a year (1,999 postings).
| Experience asked | Median advertised pay | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1 years | $70,000 | 1,999 |
| 2-4 years | $84,000 | 2,927 |
| 5+ years | $105,000 | 637 |
Sales representative levels and pay
Levels as they appear in job titles, ordered by the median experience asked. Senior sales representatives have a median advertised pay of $128,000 a year.
| Level in title | Share of postings | Median experience asked | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | 1.8% | 1 year | $75,000 |
| No level in title | 94.8% | 2 years | $80,000 |
| Senior | 1.6% | 4 years | $128,000 |
Highest-paying sales representative jobs
Specializations with at least 250 postings that state pay.
| Specialization | Median pay | Postings with pay | Employers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Sales Representative | $172,000 | 605 | 63 |
| Sales Executive | $118,000 | 581 | 209 |
| Sales Representative (general) | $85,000 | 2,425 | 541 |
| Outside Sales Representative | $85,000 | 1,665 | 307 |
| Territory Manager | $82,000 | 1,248 | 283 |
| Sales Consultant | $82,000 | 423 | 78 |
| Entry Level Sales Representative | $78,000 | 257 | 51 |
| Field Sales Representative | $77,000 | 435 | 94 |
| Inside Sales Representative | $58,000 | 590 | 291 |
| Sales Intern | $50,000 | 301 | 88 |
Sales representative pay by state
Single-location US postings; states with at least 100 postings that state pay. States with pay-transparency laws (such as California, Colorado, New York and Washington) are over-represented among postings that state pay.
| State | Median pay | Middle 50% | Postings with pay | Share of postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $100,000 | $65,000–$175,000 | 358 | 3.5% |
| North Carolina | $100,000 | $65,000–$152,000 | 209 | 3.0% |
| Virginia | $100,000 | $62,000–$140,000 | 219 | 2.2% |
| Maryland | $98,000 | $63,000–$160,000 | 182 | 1.6% |
| Connecticut | $94,000 | $72,000–$140,000 | 150 | 0.9% |
| Georgia | $90,000 | $58,000–$150,000 | 205 | 4.0% |
| Washington | $90,000 | $68,000–$132,000 | 210 | 3.1% |
| Kentucky | $90,000 | $55,000–$140,000 | 121 | 1.9% |
| Michigan | $89,000 | $62,000–$127,000 | 185 | 2.4% |
| Massachusetts | $86,000 | $55,000–$140,000 | 193 | 1.6% |
| Tennessee | $85,000 | $62,000–$111,000 | 163 | 2.8% |
| California | $85,000 | $65,000–$118,000 | 899 | 7.8% |
| Florida | $85,000 | $60,000–$140,000 | 342 | 5.9% |
| Arizona | $85,000 | $62,000–$128,000 | 139 | 2.7% |
| New Jersey | $85,000 | $70,000–$132,000 | 236 | 2.0% |
| New York | $82,000 | $60,000–$115,000 | 540 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | $80,000 | $52,000–$105,000 | 339 | 3.5% |
| Minnesota | $80,000 | $60,000–$119,000 | 199 | 1.8% |
| Colorado | $78,000 | $56,000–$105,000 | 190 | 2.4% |
| Texas | $78,000 | $54,000–$112,000 | 583 | 10.6% |
| Wisconsin | $72,000 | $50,000–$100,000 | 141 | 1.8% |
| Missouri | $71,000 | $55,000–$100,000 | 115 | 2.6% |
Skills employers ask for in sales representative job postings
| Skill | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| Communication | 48% |
| Self-motivated | 18% |
| Interpersonal skills | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 17% |
| Customer service | 17% |
| Organizational skills | 17% |
| Excel | 15% |
| Work independently | 13% |
| Problem-solving | 11% |
| Time management | 10% |
Skills named in the posting text; at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026. Methodology.
Skills that set sales representatives apart
- Self-motivated4.7× as often as in all postings · 18%
- Sales experience17.8× as often as in all postings · 8%
- Negotiation8× as often as in all postings · 9%
- Sales10.1× as often as in all postings · 8%
- CRM9.1× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Coachable14.9× as often as in all postings · 5%
- Negotiation skills8.2× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Presentation skills4.5× as often as in all postings · 7%
- Presentation5.7× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Motivated4.6× as often as in all postings · 6%
- Self-starter3.1× as often as in all postings · 6%
Skills named in at least 5% of these postings and at least 3 times as often as in job postings overall.
Have a sales representative job posting in front of you? See which of its skills your resume is missing.
What does a sales representative do?
Employers post these jobs as Inside Sales Representative, Outside Sales Representative, Sales Executive, Territory Manager, Outside Sales and other titles. The largest specializations are Inside Sales Representative (7%), Outside Sales Representative (16%), Territory Manager (10%), Sales Executive (5%), Sales Intern (2%), Sales Consultant (3%).
The closest official occupation is Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products (41-4012.00). Its most important tasks:
- Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
- Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
- Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
- Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
- Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
How much experience do you need to be a sales representative?
Among 8,539 postings that state a minimum, the median is 2 years. 2% say 0 years and 25% ask for 1 year or less.
Minimum experience asked in 8,539 US sales representative job postings: median 2 years, and 25% ask for 1 year or less.
The figures as a table
| Minimum experience asked | Share of postings |
|---|---|
| 0 yr | 3% |
| 1 yr | 23% |
| 2 yrs | 30% |
| 3-4 yrs | 27% |
| 5-7 yrs | 15% |
| 8-9 yrs | under 1% |
| 10+ yrs | 2% |
Postings that state a minimum (required or preferred); at most 20 postings per employer; US, October 2026.
We do not show a degree figure: in our checks, degree requirements in posting text were found too rarely to publish one. Why.
Full-time 92%, Part-time 8% of the 2,703 postings that state working hours.
Other names for a sales representative: job titles employers use
| Job title | Employers using it |
|---|---|
| Sales Representative | 1,447 (21.9%) |
| Inside Sales Representative | 741 (11.2%) |
| Outside Sales Representative | 675 (10.2%) |
| Sales Executive | 497 (7.5%) |
| Territory Manager | 330 (5.0%) |
| Outside Sales | 316 (4.8%) |
| Territory Sales Manager | 297 (4.5%) |
| Sales Rep | 293 (4.4%) |
| Sales Consultant | 200 (3.0%) |
| Sales Intern | 161 (2.4%) |
| Inside Sales | 142 (2.1%) |
| Territory Sales Representative | 140 (2.1%) |
| Field Sales Representative | 140 (2.1%) |
| Sales Professional | 116 (1.8%) |
| Inside Sales Specialist | 109 (1.7%) |
| Senior Sales Executive | 96 (1.5%) |
| Outside Sales Rep | 92 (1.4%) |
| Inside Sales Rep | 74 (1.1%) |
| Entry Level Sales Representative | 74 (1.1%) |
| Technical Sales Representative | 66 (1.0%) |
Titles read in our audit and used by at least 3 employers.
Sales representative job titles compared
The titles people search for most, from the US job postings that use each exact title (October 2026).
| Job title | Open postings | Employers | Median pay | Median experience | Skills named most |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Consultant | 1,110 | 200 | $82K | – | communication, interpersonal skills, work independently |
| Sales Executive | 1,659 | 497 | $108K | 3 years | communication, interpersonal skills, negotiation |
Sales Representative compared with similar careers
| Career | Median pay | Median experience | Postings | Shares N of top 25 skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Representative | $80K | 2 years | 44,989 | – |
| Account Manager | $118K | 3 years | 24,657 | 22 |
| Sales Manager | $120K | 4 years | 11,547 | 21 |
| Sales Development Representative | $62K | 1 year | 4,767 | 16 |
| Medical Sales Representative | $100K | 2 years | 3,777 | 19 |
Similar careers
| Career | Shares N of the top 25 skills | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Account Manager | 22 | $118K |
| Sales Manager | 21 | $120K |
| Sales Development Representative | 16 | $62K |
| Medical Sales Representative | 19 | $100K |
| Business Development Manager | 20 | $142K |
| Automotive Sales Consultant | 13 | $90K |
Applying for sales representative jobs?
- Sales representative resume examples: one-page examples for these roles
- Match your resume to a job: paste a posting and see the skills your resume is missing
- Check your resume: see how an applicant tracking system reads it
- Find sales representative jobs: search open postings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sales representative make?
How much does a Sales Consultant make?
How much does a Sales Executive make?
Source and method
Open US job postings collected from employers' applicant tracking systems, de-duplicated, counted only when their job title was read in our audit. Shares count at most 20 postings per employer, and franchise locations of one brand count as one employer. Pay uses hourly and annual figures only; a figure is shown when leaving out the largest employer moves it by 10% or less. Every figure states its number of postings. Methodology and measured accuracy.
Accuracy check: we read 20 randomly chosen postings counted on this page in full; 20 of them were this career or a closely related one (October 2026).
Download the figures on this page (CSV): every number above with its count of postings. Aggregate figures are licensed CC BY 4.0; cite the page when you reuse them.