Sales careers: pay, commission and entry routes
Sales pay is the most variable in the economy because so much of it is commission. The median figures below show the midpoint, but the gap between the 10th and 90th percentile on each occupation page is where the real story is — what you sell matters more than any credential.
The list below ranks every sales occupation by median annual pay.
- Occupations
- 23
- Pay range
- $32,880–$124,900
- Top median
- $124,900
Sales occupations, ranked by median pay
Median annual wage, national, BLS May 2025.
Sales EngineersGrowingConsiderable preparation needed · 51,790 employed$124,900median / yrSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsConsiderable preparation needed · 284,800 employed$104,920median / yrSolar Sales Representatives and AssessorsMedium preparation needed · 284,800 employed$104,920median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersConsiderable preparation needed · 214,390 employed$87,520median / yrSecurities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsConsiderable preparation needed · 489,570 employed$78,660median / yrReal Estate BrokersConsiderable preparation needed · 46,100 employed$73,220median / yrSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsGrowingConsiderable preparation needed · 1,238,190 employed$72,080median / yrSales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 1,256,010 employed$69,990median / yrAdvertising Sales AgentsMedium preparation needed · 91,700 employed$64,820median / yrInsurance Sales AgentsConsiderable preparation needed · 479,100 employed$62,280median / yrReal Estate Sales AgentsLittle to some preparation needed · 193,370 employed$52,830median / yrTravel AgentsMedium preparation needed · 55,110 employed$50,160median / yrFirst-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 1,121,800 employed$48,520median / yrModelsLittle to some preparation needed · 3,780 employed$48,470median / yrSales and Related Workers, All OtherPreparation level not rated · 93,180 employed$48,280median / yrDoor-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related WorkersLittle to some preparation needed · 2,760 employed$41,380median / yrCounter and Rental ClerksLittle to some preparation needed · 400,810 employed$41,300median / yrDemonstrators and Product PromotersLittle to some preparation needed · 64,520 employed$39,320median / yrParts SalespersonsLittle to some preparation needed · 270,070 employed$38,630median / yrGambling Change Persons and Booth CashiersLittle to some preparation needed · 21,530 employed$36,220median / yrTelemarketersLittle to some preparation needed · 58,430 employed$35,450median / yrRetail SalespersonsGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 3,897,860 employed$35,410median / yrCashiersGrowingLittle to some preparation needed · 3,089,410 employed$32,880median / yr
Fastest growing sales occupations
Projected employment growth, 2024–34.