Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products (SOC 41-4012) earn a median $72,080 a year ($34.65 an hour) in the United States, with 1,238,190 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Rhode Island.
What sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products do
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives in this code sell products on behalf of wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of people, in lines that do not call for scientific or technical expertise. The work does require thorough knowledge of the goods sold. Representatives respond to customer questions about products, prices, availability, uses, and credit terms, recommend products to fit customers' needs and interests, and hand out samples and catalogs. They give estimates or quotes for prices, credit and contract terms, warranties, and delivery timing, and prepare contracts and order forms. After a sale or signing, they consult with the client to resolve problems and provide continued support. They also keep tabs on the market, new products, and what competitors sell and charge, and handle administrative work such as sales budgets and reports, sales records, and expense reports. Apparel trimmings, architectural supplies, and artists materials sales representative are among the titles listed. Technical and scientific products are covered by a separate code.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or equivalent as the usual education level (about 48 percent).
Also called: Account Representative, Account Specialist, Agricultural Produce Commission Agent, Apparel Trimmings Sales Representative, Architectural Supplies Sales Representative.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.79 | $24.27 | $34.65 | $47.90 | $66.13 | $39.68 | 1,238,190 |
| Annual | $39,090 | $50,470 | $72,080 | $99,640 | $137,550 | $82,530 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $21.42 | $28.34 | $39.63 | $63.81 | $91.42 | $49.08 | 4,870 | 9.71 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $44,550 | $58,950 | $82,420 | $132,730 | $190,140 | $102,080 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.36 | $29.03 | $38.47 | $50.80 | $75.92 | $44.69 | 560 | 0.80 | 0.10 |
| Annual | $46,500 | $60,390 | $80,010 | $105,670 | $157,920 | $92,960 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $24.65 | $30.22 | $38.38 | $52.07 | $71.45 | $45.64 | 27,340 | 7.70 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $51,260 | $62,850 | $79,830 | $108,310 | $148,610 | $94,920 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.05 | $30.55 | $38.37 | $52.02 | $75.48 | $45.07 | 22,700 | 6.24 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $47,940 | $63,550 | $79,810 | $108,200 | $157,000 | $93,750 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.63 | $28.78 | $38.27 | $50.97 | $75.19 | $43.71 | 61,500 | 6.35 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $47,070 | $59,860 | $79,590 | $106,010 | $156,400 | $90,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $20.77 | $27.15 | $36.78 | $50.42 | $73.44 | $42.53 | 134,800 | 7.40 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $43,200 | $56,460 | $76,490 | $104,870 | $152,760 | $88,460 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.49 | $22.99 | $31.72 | $47.58 | $65.87 | $38.48 | 95,670 | 6.80 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $36,380 | $47,820 | $65,970 | $98,970 | $137,020 | $80,040 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.68 | $22.51 | $30.04 | $43.83 | $61.52 | $36.50 | 92,920 | 9.36 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $36,780 | $46,810 | $62,490 | $91,170 | $127,960 | $75,920 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $22.63 | $28.78 | $38.27 | $50.97 | $75.19 | $43.71 | 61,500 | 6.35 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $47,070 | $59,860 | $79,590 | $106,010 | $156,400 | $90,910 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $19.16 | $24.87 | $35.56 | $48.60 | $72.05 | $40.66 | 58,740 | 10.58 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $39,850 | $51,720 | $73,960 | $101,090 | $149,870 | $84,580 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Lawton, OK | Hourly | $15.00 | $25.24 | $59.78 | $74.73 | $74.73 | $50.37 | 320 | 7.56 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $52,500 | $124,340 | $155,430 | $155,430 | $104,770 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.40 | $35.43 | $49.84 | $76.91 | $101.65 | $57.98 | 6,530 | 5.75 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $56,980 | $73,690 | $103,670 | $159,980 | $211,420 | $120,600 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $24.67 | $35.93 | $48.30 | $61.97 | $77.52 | $49.49 | 790 | 10.15 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $51,300 | $74,740 | $100,460 | $128,890 | $161,250 | $102,940 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $23.84 | $30.41 | $44.76 | $61.15 | $85.27 | $50.38 | 13,190 | 5.56 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $49,580 | $63,250 | $93,100 | $127,180 | $177,370 | $104,790 | ||||
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | Hourly | $23.65 | $28.96 | $40.83 | $60.37 | $78.82 | $48.10 | 900 | 3.74 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $49,190 | $60,230 | $84,920 | $125,570 | $163,950 | $100,040 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.15 | $29.33 | $39.01 | $57.79 | $77.86 | $46.26 | 61,860 | 6.52 | 0.82 |
| Annual | $48,160 | $61,010 | $81,140 | $120,200 | $161,940 | $96,210 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.00 | $24.91 | $35.81 | $48.57 | $65.30 | $40.36 | 54,950 | 8.76 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $39,520 | $51,820 | $74,490 | $101,020 | $135,830 | $83,950 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $22.23 | $28.15 | $36.23 | $48.86 | $65.87 | $41.10 | 38,490 | 8.53 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $46,240 | $58,550 | $75,350 | $101,640 | $137,000 | $85,490 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $17.55 | $22.54 | $30.00 | $40.56 | $61.89 | $36.82 | 30,740 | 10.90 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $36,500 | $46,870 | $62,400 | $84,360 | $128,720 | $76,580 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.89 | $23.56 | $31.22 | $47.83 | $66.57 | $38.53 | 29,100 | 7.19 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $37,200 | $49,000 | $64,940 | $99,490 | $138,470 | $80,130 | ||||
Top industries employing sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) employ 18.2% of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products nationally (225,260 jobs) at a median $65,780 a year ($31.63 an hour), followed by Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) (12.1%) and Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (9.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 225,260 | 18.2% | $65,780 | $31.63 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) NAICS 4240A1 | 149,860 | 12.1% | $63,370 | $30.46 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423800 | 112,430 | 9.1% | $68,610 | $32.98 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers NAICS 425100 | 111,760 | 9.0% | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) NAICS 4240A3 | 62,010 | 5.0% | $70,890 | $34.08 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,238,190). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $61,600 for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products in May 2021 and $72,080 in May 2025, with employment of 1,242,490 and 1,238,190.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $61,600 | $29.61 | 1,242,490 |
| May 2022 | $63,230 | $30.40 | 1,273,400 |
| May 2023 | $65,630 | $31.56 | 1,288,920 |
| May 2024 | $66,780 | $32.11 | 1,266,860 |
| May 2025 | $72,080 | $34.65 | 1,238,190 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island profile | $39.63 | $82,420 | $44,550 | $190,140 | 4,870 | 9.71 | 1.22 |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $38.47 | $80,010 | $46,500 | $157,920 | 560 | 0.80 | 0.10 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $38.38 | $79,830 | $51,260 | $148,610 | 27,340 | 7.70 | 0.97 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $38.37 | $79,810 | $47,940 | $157,000 | 22,700 | 6.24 | 0.78 |
| 5 | New York profile | $38.27 | $79,590 | $47,070 | $156,400 | 61,500 | 6.35 | 0.80 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $38.18 | $79,410 | $47,910 | $169,820 | 34,360 | 8.02 | 1.01 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $38.10 | $79,250 | $47,620 | $149,890 | 27,530 | 9.58 | 1.20 |
| 8 | South Dakota profile | $37.12 | $77,210 | $49,070 | $125,590 | 5,220 | 11.40 | 1.43 |
| 9 | Vermont profile | $36.94 | $76,840 | $50,620 | $127,400 | 1,890 | 6.23 | 0.78 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $36.90 | $76,750 | $46,680 | $136,840 | 31,230 | 10.59 | 1.33 |
| 11 | California profile | $36.78 | $76,490 | $43,200 | $152,760 | 134,800 | 7.40 | 0.93 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $36.33 | $75,570 | $46,340 | $126,430 | 9,870 | 5.82 | 0.73 |
| 13 | North Dakota profile | $35.70 | $74,250 | $45,060 | $131,750 | 4,180 | 9.72 | 1.22 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $35.66 | $74,180 | $45,360 | $123,780 | 15,020 | 7.64 | 0.96 |
| 15 | Ohio profile | $35.56 | $73,960 | $39,850 | $149,870 | 58,740 | 10.58 | 1.33 |
| 16 | Illinois profile | $35.34 | $73,510 | $44,130 | $134,030 | 51,310 | 8.41 | 1.06 |
| 17 | Maryland profile | $35.14 | $73,080 | $44,170 | $135,160 | 9,070 | 3.28 | 0.41 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $35.09 | $72,980 | $39,740 | $136,050 | 40,960 | 9.30 | 1.17 |
| 19 | New Hampshire profile | $35.00 | $72,790 | $42,490 | $138,460 | 4,940 | 7.23 | 0.91 |
| 20 | Wyoming profile | $34.87 | $72,530 | $44,790 | $166,850 | 1,480 | 5.26 | 0.66 |
| 21 | Arizona profile | $34.80 | $72,390 | $39,260 | $139,250 | 19,400 | 5.99 | 0.75 |
| 22 | Indiana profile | $34.29 | $71,330 | $37,810 | $136,120 | 32,350 | 10.11 | 1.27 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $34.13 | $70,990 | $38,200 | $144,310 | 49,110 | 9.94 | 1.25 |
| 24 | Kansas profile | $33.15 | $68,960 | $39,990 | $131,620 | 12,630 | 8.79 | 1.10 |
| 25 | Nevada profile | $32.76 | $68,150 | $36,500 | $133,600 | 8,970 | 5.78 | 0.73 |
| 26 | Iowa profile | $32.09 | $66,760 | $39,960 | $124,590 | 16,990 | 10.90 | 1.37 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania profile | $31.79 | $66,130 | $38,980 | $132,420 | 51,270 | 8.46 | 1.06 |
| 28 | Texas profile | $31.72 | $65,970 | $36,380 | $137,020 | 95,670 | 6.80 | 0.85 |
| 29 | Wisconsin profile | $31.70 | $65,930 | $39,060 | $130,510 | 37,700 | 12.82 | 1.61 |
| 30 | Idaho profile | $31.18 | $64,840 | $36,380 | $119,240 | 7,210 | 8.40 | 1.06 |
| 31 | Kentucky profile | $30.90 | $64,280 | $36,030 | $133,090 | 15,550 | 7.78 | 0.98 |
| 32 | South Carolina profile | $30.89 | $64,250 | $36,250 | $142,370 | 22,010 | 9.55 | 1.20 |
| 33 | Alabama profile | $30.84 | $64,140 | $38,090 | $127,370 | 20,470 | 9.69 | 1.22 |
| 34 | Nebraska profile | $30.78 | $64,030 | $40,830 | $118,560 | 8,550 | 8.35 | 1.05 |
| 35 | Maine profile | $30.75 | $63,960 | $42,690 | $107,460 | 3,320 | 5.18 | 0.65 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $30.70 | $63,860 | $35,830 | $134,350 | 43,630 | 8.93 | 1.12 |
| 37 | West Virginia profile | $30.56 | $63,560 | $36,960 | $122,190 | 3,220 | 4.60 | 0.58 |
| 38 | Virginia profile | $30.48 | $63,400 | $37,800 | $148,700 | 22,570 | 5.49 | 0.69 |
| 39 | Louisiana profile | $30.43 | $63,290 | $34,380 | $122,050 | 19,120 | 9.88 | 1.24 |
| 40 | Florida profile | $30.04 | $62,490 | $36,780 | $127,960 | 92,920 | 9.36 | 1.18 |
| 41 | Delaware profile | $29.94 | $62,280 | $43,420 | $123,260 | 2,920 | 6.02 | 0.76 |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $29.89 | $62,160 | $29,240 | $134,360 | 14,220 | 8.33 | 1.05 |
| 43 | Utah profile | $29.80 | $61,980 | $35,770 | $125,390 | 13,900 | 8.01 | 1.01 |
| 44 | Missouri profile | $29.78 | $61,940 | $35,110 | $125,280 | 21,960 | 7.48 | 0.94 |
| 45 | Montana profile | $29.65 | $61,670 | $39,060 | $107,800 | 3,510 | 6.86 | 0.86 |
| 46 | Tennessee profile | $29.63 | $61,630 | $34,350 | $128,130 | 23,850 | 7.27 | 0.91 |
| 47 | New Mexico profile | $29.48 | $61,320 | $37,010 | $115,060 | 3,660 | 4.20 | 0.53 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $28.52 | $59,320 | $30,930 | $110,080 | 7,000 | 6.02 | 0.76 |
| 49 | Hawaii profile | $28.37 | $59,010 | $37,700 | $124,990 | 3,280 | 5.23 | 0.66 |
| 50 | Alaska profile | $27.32 | $56,830 | $41,600 | $100,500 | 910 | 2.78 | 0.35 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $26.50 | $55,120 | $29,630 | $132,200 | 12,740 | 9.77 | 1.23 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (41-4010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Sales and Related Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 41-4012 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 41-4012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 41-4012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.