Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products (SOC 41-4011) earn a median $104,920 a year ($50.44 an hour) in the United States, with 284,800 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Colorado.
What sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products do
These sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers when the sale calls for technical or scientific knowledge in fields such as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics. The standard classification says that knowledge normally comes from at least two years of postsecondary study. They visit establishments to assess needs or promote products and services, contact new and existing customers to discuss how particular products can meet their needs, and stress product features based on an analysis of those needs and on technical knowledge of what the products can and cannot do. They answer questions on products, prices, availability, and credit terms, quote prices, credit terms, or bid specifications, and negotiate prices or the terms of sales and service agreements. They prepare and submit sales contracts for orders and keep customer records in automated systems. Agricultural, aircraft equipment, and abrasives sales representative are among the titles listed. Sales engineers (41-9031) are excluded.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the usual education level (about 39 percent).
Also called: Abrasives Sales Representative, Agricultural Sales Representative, Aircraft Equipment and Parts Sales Representative, Aircraft Sales Representative, Animal Feed Products Sales Representative.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $25.29 | $36.07 | $50.44 | $76.04 | $96.37 | $57.56 | 284,800 |
| Annual | $52,600 | $75,030 | $104,920 | $158,160 | $200,440 | $119,730 | ||
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, 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 | ||||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $35.72 | $49.59 | $64.91 | $82.72 | $103.43 | $67.32 | 4,150 | 1.44 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $74,290 | $103,140 | $135,000 | $172,070 | $215,140 | $140,020 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $35.51 | $47.48 | $63.15 | $84.08 | $108.86 | $68.65 | 5,600 | 1.31 | 0.71 |
| Annual | $73,860 | $98,770 | $131,360 | $174,890 | $226,420 | $142,790 | ||||
| Kansas | Hourly | $34.77 | $43.26 | $62.91 | $80.03 | $101.55 | $65.30 | 2,440 | 1.70 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $72,310 | $89,990 | $130,850 | $166,460 | $211,230 | $135,820 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $35.31 | $42.99 | $62.21 | $79.97 | $96.67 | $64.43 | 10,500 | 1.08 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $73,440 | $89,430 | $129,410 | $166,340 | $201,070 | $134,010 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $27.69 | $36.41 | $61.95 | $79.64 | $101.48 | $61.06 | 5,700 | 1.17 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $57,600 | $75,730 | $128,850 | $165,650 | $211,070 | $127,000 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $24.77 | $33.46 | $47.63 | $66.69 | $93.86 | $55.56 | 44,400 | 3.16 | 1.72 |
| Annual | $51,530 | $69,610 | $99,080 | $138,710 | $195,240 | $115,570 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.28 | $38.61 | $59.72 | $78.93 | $102.90 | $62.14 | 27,590 | 1.52 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $58,820 | $80,300 | $124,220 | $164,170 | $214,040 | $129,250 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.88 | $34.46 | $51.78 | $77.13 | $96.71 | $56.43 | 19,840 | 2.00 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $47,590 | $71,670 | $107,700 | $160,430 | $201,150 | $117,380 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $28.33 | $37.30 | $60.27 | $80.50 | $100.03 | $62.23 | 11,990 | 2.43 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $58,930 | $77,590 | $125,370 | $167,430 | $208,070 | $129,440 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $28.87 | $38.71 | $57.20 | $76.54 | $92.73 | $58.39 | 11,650 | 3.20 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $60,040 | $80,520 | $118,980 | $159,210 | $192,880 | $121,440 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $37.06 | $52.05 | $80.59 | $103.14 | $116.53 | $78.68 | 2,790 | 2.46 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $77,080 | $108,270 | $167,630 | $214,530 | $242,390 | $163,660 | ||||
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | Hourly | $37.26 | $61.06 | $78.52 | $78.86 | $95.81 | $71.39 | 350 | 2.14 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $77,490 | $127,010 | $163,320 | $164,020 | $199,290 | $148,490 | ||||
| Rochester, MN | Hourly | $27.44 | $37.87 | $77.39 | $95.96 | $114.78 | $69.79 | 150 | 1.26 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $57,080 | $78,760 | $160,960 | $199,590 | $238,750 | $145,160 | ||||
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | Hourly | $20.49 | $37.77 | $76.32 | $101.10 | $101.45 | $67.23 | 30 | 0.58 | 0.32 |
| Annual | $42,610 | $78,560 | $158,750 | $210,280 | $211,010 | $139,830 | ||||
| Topeka, KS | Hourly | $35.92 | $58.28 | $75.85 | $78.87 | $101.99 | $70.62 | 190 | 1.62 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $74,720 | $121,220 | $157,760 | $164,060 | $212,150 | $146,900 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $26.31 | $35.48 | $47.73 | $66.58 | $93.13 | $56.21 | 13,400 | 3.31 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $54,720 | $73,790 | $99,270 | $138,480 | $193,710 | $116,920 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $29.60 | $38.79 | $58.92 | $76.79 | $95.95 | $59.20 | 8,670 | 3.21 | 1.75 |
| Annual | $61,560 | $80,690 | $122,550 | $159,720 | $199,570 | $123,130 | ||||
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | Hourly | $24.34 | $31.13 | $39.99 | $63.02 | $83.41 | $51.57 | 8,620 | 6.67 | 3.64 |
| Annual | $50,620 | $64,750 | $83,170 | $131,070 | $173,490 | $107,260 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.69 | $39.57 | $62.28 | $83.19 | $104.66 | $65.57 | 7,910 | 3.79 | 2.07 |
| Annual | $61,750 | $82,310 | $129,550 | $173,030 | $217,690 | $136,380 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $25.40 | $35.72 | $48.55 | $66.12 | $89.52 | $54.98 | 7,800 | 2.37 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $52,830 | $74,300 | $100,980 | $137,530 | $186,190 | $114,360 | ||||
Top industries employing sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers employ 30.4% of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products nationally (86,680 jobs) at a median $99,920 a year ($48.04 an hour), followed by Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) (16.6%) and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (7.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423400 | 86,680 | 30.4% | $99,920 | $48.04 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) NAICS 4240A2 | 47,370 | 16.6% | $137,020 | $65.87 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services NAICS 541500 | 21,640 | 7.6% | $103,070 | $49.56 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers NAICS 425100 | 15,660 | 5.5% | $118,990 | $57.21 |
| Software Publishers NAICS 513200 | 12,800 | 4.5% | $120,620 | $57.99 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (284,800). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $94,840 for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products in May 2021 and $104,920 in May 2025, with employment of 266,160 and 284,800.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $94,840 | $45.60 | 266,160 |
| May 2022 | $97,710 | $46.97 | 290,830 |
| May 2023 | $99,710 | $47.94 | 311,780 |
| May 2024 | $100,070 | $48.11 | 293,930 |
| May 2025 | $104,920 | $50.44 | 284,800 |
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 | Colorado profile | $64.91 | $135,000 | $74,290 | $215,140 | 4,150 | 1.44 | 0.79 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $63.15 | $131,360 | $73,860 | $226,420 | 5,600 | 1.31 | 0.71 |
| 3 | Kansas profile | $62.91 | $130,850 | $72,310 | $211,230 | 2,440 | 1.70 | 0.93 |
| 4 | New York profile | $62.21 | $129,410 | $73,440 | $201,070 | 10,500 | 1.08 | 0.59 |
| 5 | Georgia profile | $61.95 | $128,850 | $57,600 | $211,070 | 5,700 | 1.17 | 0.64 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | $61.67 | $128,270 | $67,450 | $203,380 | 6,060 | 1.48 | 0.81 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $61.24 | $127,390 | $60,900 | $214,360 | 9,960 | 2.81 | 1.53 |
| 8 | Hawaii profile | $60.63 | $126,110 | $65,470 | $208,730 | 540 | 0.86 | 0.47 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $60.41 | $125,650 | $60,070 | $194,520 | 9,140 | 2.08 | 1.13 |
| 10 | North Carolina profile | $60.27 | $125,370 | $58,930 | $208,070 | 11,990 | 2.43 | 1.32 |
| 11 | California profile | $59.72 | $124,220 | $58,820 | $214,040 | 27,590 | 1.52 | 0.83 |
| 12 | Louisiana profile | $59.71 | $124,200 | $52,760 | $183,850 | 2,340 | 1.21 | 0.66 |
| 13 | Massachusetts profile | $57.20 | $118,980 | $60,040 | $192,880 | 11,650 | 3.20 | 1.75 |
| 14 | Rhode Island profile | $56.57 | $117,670 | $48,480 | $232,800 | 530 | 1.05 | 0.57 |
| 15 | Oregon profile | $54.73 | $113,830 | $64,360 | $199,750 | 3,040 | 1.55 | 0.85 |
| 16 | South Carolina profile | $53.46 | $111,190 | $50,690 | $199,820 | 3,760 | 1.63 | 0.89 |
| 17 | Ohio profile | $52.10 | $108,370 | $47,860 | $192,350 | 9,870 | 1.78 | 0.97 |
| 18 | Delaware profile | $51.84 | $107,830 | $58,550 | $146,460 | 960 | 1.98 | 1.08 |
| 19 | Florida profile | $51.78 | $107,700 | $47,590 | $201,150 | 19,840 | 2.00 | 1.09 |
| 20 | Illinois profile | $51.72 | $107,570 | $52,920 | $180,360 | 7,350 | 1.21 | 0.66 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $49.90 | $103,790 | $47,240 | $205,950 | 7,190 | 1.19 | 0.65 |
| 22 | Iowa profile | $49.70 | $103,380 | $55,390 | $184,110 | 2,580 | 1.66 | 0.90 |
| 23 | Minnesota profile | $49.52 | $103,000 | $55,690 | $195,430 | 4,960 | 1.68 | 0.92 |
| 24 | Indiana profile | $49.47 | $102,910 | $59,520 | $187,590 | 4,370 | 1.37 | 0.75 |
| 25 | North Dakota profile | $49.38 | $102,720 | $60,010 | $160,000 | 510 | 1.19 | 0.65 |
| 26 | Maine profile | $48.97 | $101,850 | $46,880 | $164,820 | ** | ** | ** |
| 27 | Idaho profile | $48.75 | $101,390 | $53,250 | $203,080 | 1,880 | 2.19 | 1.20 |
| 28 | Wyoming profile | $48.49 | $100,850 | $56,720 | $174,410 | 280 | 1.01 | 0.55 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $48.37 | $100,620 | $48,530 | $187,320 | 8,860 | 2.73 | 1.49 |
| 30 | Texas profile | $47.63 | $99,080 | $51,530 | $195,240 | 44,400 | 3.16 | 1.72 |
| 31 | Nevada profile | $47.36 | $98,500 | $26,470 | $167,810 | 1,880 | 1.21 | 0.66 |
| 32 | Connecticut profile | $47.12 | $98,000 | $60,080 | $205,130 | 2,980 | 1.76 | 0.96 |
| 33 | New Hampshire profile | $47.10 | $97,960 | $56,250 | $176,890 | 2,660 | 3.89 | 2.12 |
| 34 | Kentucky profile | $46.94 | $97,640 | $48,870 | $198,140 | 4,170 | 2.09 | 1.14 |
| 35 | West Virginia profile | $46.75 | $97,230 | $42,220 | $156,140 | 760 | 1.09 | 0.59 |
| 36 | Vermont profile | $46.11 | $95,900 | $62,850 | $180,590 | 410 | 1.34 | 0.73 |
| 37 | Maryland profile | $45.69 | $95,040 | $47,200 | $198,730 | 6,330 | 2.29 | 1.25 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $45.60 | $94,840 | $45,700 | $173,050 | 5,060 | 1.72 | 0.94 |
| 39 | Tennessee profile | $45.41 | $94,450 | $48,570 | $181,260 | 8,290 | 2.53 | 1.38 |
| 40 | District of Columbia profile | $44.68 | $92,940 | $54,980 | $168,520 | 600 | 0.86 | 0.47 |
| 41 | New Mexico profile | $41.98 | $87,310 | $48,840 | $204,540 | 980 | 1.12 | 0.61 |
| 42 | Alabama profile | $41.89 | $87,140 | $46,850 | $159,990 | 2,780 | 1.32 | 0.72 |
| 43 | Nebraska profile | $40.58 | $84,400 | $39,990 | $146,410 | 1,700 | 1.66 | 0.91 |
| 44 | Montana profile | $40.20 | $83,610 | $53,380 | $206,390 | 690 | 1.34 | 0.73 |
| 45 | Wisconsin profile | $37.73 | $78,480 | $49,900 | $160,430 | 3,390 | 1.15 | 0.63 |
| 46 | Alaska profile | $37.06 | $77,080 | $48,250 | $165,900 | 440 | 1.37 | 0.75 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $36.05 | $74,990 | $46,750 | $123,010 | 810 | 0.70 | 0.38 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $34.85 | $72,480 | $38,200 | $152,910 | 3,970 | 2.33 | 1.27 |
| 49 | Arkansas profile | $34.53 | $71,830 | $36,150 | $172,170 | 1,520 | 1.17 | 0.64 |
| – | South Dakota profile | * | * | * | * | 1,730 | 3.79 | 2.07 |
| – | Utah profile | * | * | * | * | 3,930 | 2.26 | 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 41-4011 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- 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 41-4011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 41-4011.00, 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.