Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing Salary
Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
The median sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing salary in the United States is $72,080 per year ($34.65/hour). Salaries range from $39,090 at the entry level to $137,550+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 1,238,190 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturings.
Wholesale + manufacturing sales reps sell products to businesses β food distribution, industrial supplies, building materials, packaging, chemicals, consumer goods. Entry $52-72k base + $10-40k commission; mid-career $75-135k OTE; senior + territory reps $110-215k+ OTE; national account managers $175-350k+. Comp is heavily commission-driven with territory-based scaling. Career progression: rep β senior β account manager β regional/national manager.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing
- 1Get a bachelor's or start entry-levelBachelor's (business + comm + industry-related) common but not required for many industries. Some hire based on customer-facing background.
- 2Start as inside sales or associate repInside sales role $45-65k learns products + CRM + phone selling. Field rep or account associate $50-75k after 1-2 years.
- 3Build territory + product expertise3-5 years mastering product + industry + accounts. Progressive territory expansion + commission ramp.
- 4Move to territory or account manager5-8 years: own $2-15M territory or 5-20 key accounts. OTE $110-215k with variable commission.
- 5Specialize or step to managementIndustry vertical + national account + product specialty. Or Regional Sales Manager leading 4-12 reps.
Career Progression
- β’Inbound + outbound calls
- β’Learn product line
- β’Support field reps
- β’Quote + order processing
- β’Own $1-5M territory
- β’30-80 accounts
- β’Prospect + close new business
- β’Quarterly account reviews
- β’Own $5-25M territory or major accounts
- β’Complex negotiations + contracts
- β’Mentor juniors
- β’Cross-functional lead
- β’Lead 4-15 reps + $30M+ territory
- β’P&L accountability
- β’Strategic accounts + executive relationships
- β’Hiring + development
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your biggest sale.behavioral
Q2. How do you handle a long sales cycle?situational
Q3. How do you prospect a new territory?technical
Q4. Describe a lost deal.behavioral
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β Inside Sales / Territory Rep (0-3 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈGrew territory from $1.8M to $2.9M annual revenue (+61%) over 24 months.
- βΈClosed 42 new accounts contributing $650k in year 1 recurring revenue.
- βΈAchieved 118% of quota + Rookie of the Year at $250M distribution company.
- βΈMaintained 94% account retention with $2.9M annual revenue.
What Gets You Rejected
- βCant handle volume of prospecting + rejection.
- βWeak CRM + activity discipline.
- βMissing quota consistently (2+ quarters).
- βCant learn product line depth.
- βWeak territory management + account planning.
- βPoor cross-functional relationships (ops + credit + service).
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βBase + commission split varies wildly: 60/40 to 40/60 base/variable.
- βOTE (on-target earnings) is the number to negotiate.
- βAccelerators above 100% of quota can double + triple commission.
- βTerritory quality matters more than title.
- βSign-on: $10-40k common at experienced level.
- βPresidents Club + top-rep bonuses = $5-25k+.
- βCar allowance + expense budget + tech stack add up.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturings. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing Career Kit β $19
- β All 15 interview questions with expert answers
- β 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 7 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $82,420 | +14.3% |
| District of Columbia | $80,010 | +11.0% |
| Washington | $79,830 | +10.8% |
| Massachusetts | $79,810 | +10.7% |
| New York | $79,590 | +10.4% |
| New Jersey | $79,410 | +10.2% |
| Colorado | $79,250 | +9.9% |
| South Dakota | $77,210 | +7.1% |
| Vermont | $76,840 | +6.6% |
| Minnesota | $76,750 | +6.5% |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Lawton, OK | $124,340 | +72.5% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $103,670 | +43.8% |
| Napa, CA | $100,460 | +39.4% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $93,100 | +29.2% |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $84,920 | +17.8% |
| Boulder, CO | $84,660 | +17.5% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $82,260 | +14.1% |
| Casper, WY | $81,320 | +12.8% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $81,140 | +12.6% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $81,060 | +12.5% |