National Salary Info » Sales Managers

Highest Paying Industries for Sales Managers

The top 100 highest paying industries for sales managers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $184,520, securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities is the highest paying industry for sales managers. It is followed by other financial investment activities industry (average annual salary $180,040). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of sales managers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Sales Managers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities	$184,520	$84,820	6,490
2	Other Financial Investment Activities	$180,040	$84,560	2,560
3	Legal Services	$174,920	$81,600	270
4	Securities and Commodity Exchanges	$170,240	$76,490	130
5	Specialized Design Services	$157,580	$68,180	400
6	Other Information Services	$154,570	$80,000	2,510
7	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$152,590	$86,110	1,740
8	Scientific Research and Development Services	$151,770	$84,820	1,810
9	Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services	$151,160	$76,110	890
10	Software Publishers	$150,550	$78,090	3,420
11	Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions Merchant Wholesalers	$149,480	$63,030	1,640
12	Motion Picture and Video Industries	$147,970	$62,150	460
13	Insurance Agencies and Brokerages	$147,130	$69,800	4,190
14	Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing	$146,360	$85,330	840
15	Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities	$145,610	$69,070	5,650
16	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$144,580	$74,520	12,200
17	Finance and Insurance	$143,190	$70,390	30,150
18	Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging	$142,500	$64,330	60
19	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$142,280	$77,860	1,420
20	Oil and Gas Extraction	$142,250	$76,500	350
21	Other Investment Pools and Funds	$142,170	$73,450	40
22	Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$141,760	$67,520	3,320
23	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$141,400	$68,470	30,720
24	Other Insurance Related Activities	$140,500	$67,340	1,460
25	Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries	$139,560	$60,460	540
26	Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers	$138,660	$74,140	1,710
27	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$138,640	$79,330	2,060
28	Engineering Services	$138,580	$77,950	1,300
29	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$138,270	$62,370	4,970
30	Other Nondepository Credit Intermediation	$138,090	$64,810	1,990
31	Communications Equipment Manufacturing	$137,650	$74,030	840
32	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$137,260	$71,280	140
33	Other Telecommunications	$136,910	$67,300	880
34	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$136,270	$69,280	70
35	Cable and Other Subscription Programming	$136,020	$74,530	500
36	Insurance Carriers and Related Activities	$135,970	$71,250	13,670
37	Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing	$135,810	$77,290	510
38	Satellite Telecommunications	$135,750	$70,320	70
39	Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)	$135,720	$72,740	2,240
40	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$135,650	$79,320	1,670
41	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$135,600	$61,280	7,170
42	Information	$135,480	$67,330	21,170
43	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$135,290	$78,780	6,690
44	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$134,790	$65,450	390
45	Telecommunications	$134,640	$68,480	5,910
46	Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services	$133,560	$68,630	1,920
47	Textile Furnishings Mills	$133,560	$60,690	120
48	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$133,060	$64,450	6,810
49	Wired Telecommunications Carriers	$132,940	$66,760	2,710
50	Business schools and computer and management training - Privately owned	$131,970	$55,540	260
51	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities	$131,810	$64,900	9,910
52	Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	$131,790	$68,460	8,630
53	Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers	$131,760	$65,160	3,130
54	Business Schools and Computer and Management Training	$131,510	$55,750	260
55	Natural Gas Distribution	$130,960	$73,190	190
56	Insurance Carriers	$130,440	$72,720	8,030
57	Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media	$129,830	$68,940	90
58	Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing	$129,510	$73,660	170
59	Testing Laboratories	$128,940	$89,320	290
60	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$128,580	$63,820	200
61	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$127,920	$78,560	2,690
62	Depository Credit Intermediation	$127,460	$64,630	4,940
63	Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers	$126,990	$71,160	1,190
64	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$126,850	$59,650	890
65	Direct Insurance (except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers	$126,730	$72,020	3,160
66	Broadcasting (except Internet)	$126,730	$65,950	3,480
67	Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers	$126,180	$66,380	15,890
68	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$125,840	$68,460	2,060
69	Radio Broadcasting	$125,750	$65,180	1,280
70	Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing	$125,670	$72,990	140
71	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$125,600	$67,250	990
72	Activities Related to Credit Intermediation	$125,350	$61,980	1,650
73	Radio and Television Broadcasting	$125,200	$64,960	2,980
74	Television Broadcasting	$124,910	$64,720	1,700
75	Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers	$124,740	$67,970	1,300
76	Roofing Contractors	$124,430	$64,950	40
77	Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$124,330	$66,220	5,440
78	Paper Manufacturing	$124,140	$65,880	1,150
79	Apparel Manufacturing	$124,060	$55,040	400
80	Chemical Manufacturing	$123,770	$61,290	3,060
81	Support Activities for Water Transportation	$123,600	$72,710	60
82	Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance	$123,230	$46,060	40
83	Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories	$122,920	$78,190	430
84	Other Food Manufacturing	$122,510	$61,880	930
85	Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing	$122,100	$55,830	370
86	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$121,930	$65,860	90
87	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$121,470	$59,980	31,720
88	Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$121,420	$65,590	160
89	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$121,300	$68,840	400
90	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$121,060	$63,270	1,340
91	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$120,710	$65,190	3,480
92	Utilities	$120,020	$65,910	690
93	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$119,670	$66,370	3,590
94	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$119,390	$71,170	420
95	Investigation and Security Services	$119,210	$56,460	840
96	Footwear Manufacturing	$118,520	$48,260	50
97	Hardware Manufacturing	$118,360	$74,420	230
98	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$118,020	$65,780	430
99	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$117,840	$63,410	32,900
100	Pharmacies and Drug Stores	$117,600	$51,170	930