Sales Managers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Sales Manager in California earned $132,440 in 2024, about 6% below the US median of $140,418. That gap is worth pausing on. California is one of the highest-cost states in the country, so earning below the national figure here means the real purchasing gap is wider than the headline suggests.
California's Bureau of Economic Analysis price index sits at 114.8, meaning prices run roughly 15% above the national average. Adjusted for that, the typical California Sales Manager's pay lands closer to $115,000 in national-baseline dollars. That puts them noticeably behind peers in lower-cost states who match or beat the national median on paper.
The spread within the state tells a different story. The 25th percentile sits at $84,370 and the 75th at $202,650. From the bottom quarter to the top quarter, pay more than doubles. Sales management is one of those roles where performance pay, industry, and company size pull compensation in very different directions. An entry-level sales manager at a regional firm and a senior director at a Bay Area tech company both carry the same SOC code but occupy different pay planets.
Employment across the state totaled 108,120 in 2024, one of the larger concentrations of the role anywhere in the country. BLS projects average growth of 4.7% through 2034. Average here means roughly in line with most other occupations, not fast, not declining.
Salary distribution
Where California sales managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $91,210 and $206,710, with a median of $134,910.
Sales Managers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 269 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $172,549. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 52 | $95,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 72 | $138,515 |
| Level III — experienced | 52 | $214,074 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 63 | $250,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Sales Managers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Fresh International, LLC | Key Account Manager, Mexico and Latin America | 6 | $160,000 |
| GlobalLogic Inc. | Vice President | 5 | $214,074 |
| Amazon Web Services, Inc. | Partner Sales Manager III, 67 | 4 | $195,491 |
| Apple Inc. | Sales Operations Manager | 4 | $198,037 |
| NVIDIA Corporation | Dev Relations Manager | 4 | $240,364 |
| Adobe Inc. | Mgr, Sales Operations | 3 | $189,000 |
| AIR LEASE CORPORATION | MANAGER, SALES AND TRADING | 3 | $261,000 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Principal Product Manager - Technical | 3 | $214,074 |
| KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | Sales Senior Director | 3 | $260,728 |
| Kollasoft Inc | Sales & Operations Manager | 3 | $129,667 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Director – Business Development at Coforge Limited$260,728San JoseWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26084-729398
- Partner & Channel Sales Director at Denodo Technologies Inc.$190,000Palo AltoWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-203-26083-725557
- Platform Partnerships Specialist III at Riot Games, Inc.$195,229Los AngelesWage Level IIIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726387
- Principal Product Manager at Palo Alto Networks, Inc.$240,571Santa ClaraDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-725082
- Practitioner Sales L3 at WIPRO LIMITED$230,000SunnyvaleWage Level IIIDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-721095
- Member of Go To Market Staff at OpenAI OpCo, LLC$350,000San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-203-26077-711925
- Market Development Manager at Monteris Medical Corporation$120,000Laguna BeachWage Level IIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-203-26076-710106
- Account Executive at Stripe, LLC$143,978South San FranciscoWage Level IIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-203-26076-708998
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Sales Managers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Sales Managers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 120 certified offers. The most common variant is Sales Manager at a median of $135,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Manager | Alibaba Cloud US LLC | 32 | $135,000 |
| Director, Business Development | DoorDash, Inc. | 22 | $216,402 |
| MANAGER, SALES AND TRADING | AIR LEASE CORPORATION | 15 | $214,074 |
| Vice President | GlobalLogic Inc. | 11 | $250,000 |
| Sales Director | KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | 10 | $167,500 |
| Account Executive | Dataro, Inc | 6 | $141,989 |
| Business Development Manager | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 5 | $149,300 |
| Regional Sales Manager | Spirent Communications, Inc. | 4 | $98,689 |
| Senior Customer Success Manager | Ivo AI, Inc. | 4 | $141,464 |
| Vice President of Sales | DuploCloud, Inc. | 4 | $221,469 |
| Account Manager | Sunway Communication Inc. | 4 | $147,171 |
| Strategic Business Development | Intel Corporation | 3 | $182,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Sales Managers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 266 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $190,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | GlobalLogic Inc. | 109 | $190,000 |
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 53 | $183,524 |
| Retail and wholesale | Sun Fresh International, LLC | 46 | $130,000 |
| Professional services | Accenture LLP | 41 | $170,000 |
| Finance and insurance | ROCA PARTNERS LLC | 5 | $143,978 |
| Media and entertainment | Deluxe Media Inc. | 5 | $180,000 |
| Real estate | AIR LEASE CORPORATION | 3 | $261,000 |
| Education | Crimson Education USA Inc. | 2 | $185,000 |
| Healthcare | Voltus, Inc. | 1 | $150,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | Societe Air France, S.A. | 1 | $75,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Persuasion
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.
- 02
Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- 03
Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- 04
Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- 05
Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- 06
Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- 07
Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
- 08
Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for sales managers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$201,780
- San Francisco$170,810
- Los Angeles$132,330
- San Diego$119,750
- Sacramento$113,980
- Riverside$103,220
Compare Sales Managers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Sales Managers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Sales Managers in California is $134,910.
- How does California compare to the national median for Sales Managers?
- The California median is -8.0% versus the BLS national figure of $146,653.
- What is the salary range for Sales Managers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,430 and the 90th-percentile at $300,580, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Sales Managers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Sales Managers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.