Sales salaries · United States
Sales rep salary in the US: official figures and how commission works
These are the official US figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plus how base salary, commission and OTE fit together so you can read any offer.
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Pay · United States
| Role | Pay |
|---|---|
| Sales representative, wholesale and manufacturing (all) | $76,460 a year (median)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives (May 2025 wages) |
| Sales rep, technical and scientific products | $104,920 a year (median)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives (May 2025 wages) |
| Sales rep, non-technical products | $72,080 a year (median)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives (May 2025 wages) |
Minimum wage
The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and many states and cities set a higher one. Careful: «outside sales» employees (who sell away from the office) are exempt from the federal minimum wage under the FLSA, while inside sales reps are not.
Commission: what to know
- OTE (on-target earnings) = base salary + the commission you earn if you hit 100% of quota. Ask what percentage of reps actually hit it.
- A typical SDR plan pays per qualified meeting or opportunity; an Account Executive plan pays a percentage of closed revenue.
- Ask whether commission has a cap, when it is paid (monthly or quarterly) and whether there are clawbacks if a customer cancels.
- A «ramp» period with a guaranteed draw in your first months is a good sign: the company expects you to need time to learn.