Sales Manager salary in California
Sales Managers in California earn a median of $134,910 a year ($64.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 112,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $300,580 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $148,270. California ranks 27th of 50 states for sales managers pay. There are 6.2 sales managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $160,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sales managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| 25th percentile | $91,210 | $43.85 |
| Median | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| 75th percentile | $206,710 | $99.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $300,580 | $144.51 |
| Average (mean) | $160,260 | $77.05 |
Half of sales managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,242.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,621.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,188.85 |
| Weekly | $2,594.42 |
| Hourly | $64.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sales Manager salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $201,780 | 8,940 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $170,810 | 17,770 |
| Napa, CA | $137,770 | 520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $132,330 | 37,790 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $119,750 | 8,630 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $117,940 | 1,360 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $117,090 | 520 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $113,980 | 4,910 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $107,720 | 2,050 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $107,200 | 990 |
| Vallejo, CA | $106,530 | 680 |
| Salinas, CA | $103,810 | 800 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $103,570 | 1,170 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $103,220 | 8,080 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $102,250 | 630 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $101,590 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,020 | 1,950 |
| Yuba City, CA | $99,010 | 210 |
| Merced, CA | $98,670 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $98,550 | 900 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $98,270 | 1,220 |
| Redding, CA | $97,930 | 360 |
| Chico, CA | $97,430 | 330 |
| Visalia, CA | $95,200 | 580 |
| El Centro, CA | $85,670 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for sales managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $217,640 |
| Massachusetts | $191,200 |
| Virginia | $191,130 |
| Colorado | $180,850 |
| Washington | $174,000 |
| New Jersey | $173,020 |
| Connecticut | $162,110 |
| Kansas | $159,990 |
| Georgia | $159,890 |
| Maine | $158,660 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $193,620 | $93.09 |
| Public Relations Manager | $167,980 | $80.76 |
| Fundraising Manager | $135,870 | $65.32 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $167,230 | $80.40 |
| General and Operations Managers | $124,390 | $59.81 |
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $218,290 | $104.95 |
| Financial Manager | $180,770 | $86.91 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Construction Manager | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| Chief Executive | $218,600 | $105.10 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-2022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sales manager make in California?
The median salary for sales managers in California is $134,910 a year, or $64.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,430 for the lowest-paid 10% to $300,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sales managers make in California?
The top 10% of sales managers in California earn at least $300,580 a year. The top 25% earn $206,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for sales managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,430 a year, and a quarter of sales managers earn $91,210 or less.
How many sales managers work in California?
About 112,440 sales managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.