What a sales representative costs in 2026
The median sales representative in the United States earned $69,990 a year, $33.65 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time sales representative at the median costs about $94,500 a year, or about $7,900 a month.
The middle half of sales representatives earn $47,670 to $100,480. There are 1,256,010 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: New York has the highest median at $92,190, and Mississippi the lowest of the 50 states at $48,440.
Liaison does the routine half of a sales representative’s job for 8% of that. See how.
What a sales representative would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Sales representative, the United States, 40 hours a week
$94,494 a year
$7,875 a month. Wages $69,992 at the median of $33.65 an hour, plus $24,502 in benefits. The middle half of sales representatives here earn $47,670 to $100,480 in wages.
Sales representative wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $58,840 | $28.29 | $79,438 | $44,960 to $79,120 | 12,840 |
| Alaska | $69,610 | $33.47 | $93,978 | $49,310 to $86,230 | 900 |
| Arizona | $72,920 | $35.06 | $98,447 | $50,260 to $98,790 | 26,340 |
| Arkansas | $50,570 | $24.31 | $68,273 | $40,420 to $75,990 | 5,750 |
| California | $80,850 | $38.87 | $109,153 | $53,800 to $121,590 | 156,110 |
| Colorado | $79,810 | $38.37 | $107,749 | $59,810 to $115,560 | 37,810 |
| Connecticut | $76,940 | $36.99 | $103,875 | $55,700 to $103,460 | 11,420 |
| Delaware | $67,540 | $32.47 | $91,184 | $49,650 to $92,830 | 2,910 |
| District of Columbia | $76,770 | $36.91 | $103,645 | $51,530 to $104,760 | 3,120 |
| Florida | $60,660 | $29.16 | $81,895 | $44,050 to $84,980 | 107,650 |
| Georgia | $75,280 | $36.19 | $101,633 | $48,670 to $104,070 | 46,960 |
| Guam | $37,170 | $17.87 | $50,182 | $29,270 to $45,750 | 160 |
| Hawaii | $58,500 | $28.13 | $78,979 | $43,880 to $80,000 | 3,450 |
| Idaho | $58,930 | $28.33 | $79,560 | $40,990 to $94,190 | 5,030 |
| Illinois | $66,900 | $32.17 | $90,320 | $49,120 to $99,900 | 69,910 |
| Indiana | $63,960 | $30.75 | $86,351 | $47,440 to $91,240 | 21,950 |
| Iowa | $62,420 | $30.01 | $84,271 | $43,720 to $84,990 | 6,530 |
| Kansas | $62,580 | $30.09 | $84,487 | $43,860 to $97,250 | 12,480 |
| Kentucky | $52,750 | $25.36 | $71,216 | $41,160 to $79,350 | 11,860 |
| Louisiana | $55,200 | $26.54 | $74,524 | $38,640 to $83,070 | 8,200 |
| Maine | $63,900 | $30.72 | $86,270 | $46,030 to $81,380 | 2,120 |
| Maryland | $63,310 | $30.44 | $85,473 | $45,830 to $90,500 | 21,580 |
| Massachusetts | $83,760 | $40.27 | $113,082 | $62,610 to $124,380 | 32,300 |
| Michigan | $73,380 | $35.28 | $99,068 | $49,290 to $103,070 | 27,160 |
| Minnesota | $75,370 | $36.24 | $101,755 | $51,440 to $102,790 | 19,220 |
| Mississippi | $48,440 | $23.29 | $65,397 | $37,610 to $66,530 | 3,730 |
| Missouri | $60,440 | $29.06 | $81,598 | $40,560 to $82,130 | 14,100 |
| Montana | $58,720 | $28.23 | $79,276 | $45,720 to $78,580 | 1,730 |
| Nebraska | $57,770 | $27.78 | $77,994 | $46,410 to $79,230 | 6,110 |
| Nevada | $62,450 | $30.02 | $84,312 | $45,360 to $88,350 | 10,950 |
| New Hampshire | $71,510 | $34.38 | $96,544 | $52,780 to $95,680 | 4,670 |
| New Jersey | $79,200 | $38.08 | $106,926 | $55,640 to $110,430 | 44,980 |
| New Mexico | $61,880 | $29.75 | $83,542 | $43,040 to $82,420 | 3,790 |
| New York | $92,190 | $44.32 | $124,463 | $61,340 to $133,580 | 80,510 |
| North Carolina | $62,620 | $30.10 | $84,541 | $45,940 to $97,210 | 46,040 |
| North Dakota | $66,060 | $31.76 | $89,186 | $43,610 to $112,570 | 1,620 |
| Ohio | $59,390 | $28.55 | $80,181 | $42,320 to $82,420 | 38,440 |
| Oklahoma | $54,990 | $26.44 | $74,240 | $37,440 to $78,980 | 9,710 |
| Oregon | $67,040 | $32.23 | $90,509 | $47,010 to $95,060 | 10,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,480 | $31.00 | $87,053 | $47,570 to $97,370 | 39,920 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,580 | $13.74 | $38,585 | $22,530 to $36,590 | 2,940 |
| Rhode Island | $81,450 | $39.16 | $109,963 | $55,130 to $103,370 | n/a |
| South Carolina | $58,510 | $28.13 | $78,993 | $40,600 to $83,810 | 21,070 |
| South Dakota | $61,770 | $29.70 | $83,394 | $39,600 to $78,380 | 630 |
| Tennessee | $60,230 | $28.96 | $81,315 | $42,260 to $80,580 | 21,600 |
| Texas | $61,680 | $29.65 | $83,272 | $45,090 to $88,120 | 135,030 |
| Utah | $62,580 | $30.09 | $84,487 | $46,920 to $85,600 | 16,210 |
| Vermont | $77,530 | $37.27 | $104,671 | $61,440 to $97,890 | 1,130 |
| Virgin Islands | $42,980 | $20.66 | $58,026 | $28,510 to $68,070 | 80 |
| Virginia | $72,640 | $34.92 | $98,069 | $47,900 to $106,600 | 41,390 |
| Washington | $79,920 | $38.42 | $107,898 | $60,640 to $108,600 | 18,950 |
| West Virginia | $50,240 | $24.15 | $67,828 | $37,630 to $73,390 | 2,130 |
| Wisconsin | $64,020 | $30.78 | $86,432 | $49,820 to $87,660 | 22,720 |
| Wyoming | $58,970 | $28.35 | $79,614 | $41,690 to $93,140 | 750 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 391 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for sales representatives. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $116,510 |
| Boulder, CO | $99,990 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $96,960 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $93,750 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83,420 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Hot Springs, AR | $40,040 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $43,930 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $44,230 |
| Grand Island, NE | $44,300 |
| Alexandria, LA | $44,300 |
The routine part of the sales representative’s job
Much of what a sales representative does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a sales representative’s job, for 8% of what one costs.
- Follows up every lead the same day, in your voice, from your own inbox and number.
- Keeps the CRM current without anyone typing into it.
- Books the meeting onto your calendar and briefs you before it.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $94,500 a year for a sales representative at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI SDR.
Questions
How much does a sales representative cost a small business?
The median sales representative earned $69,990 a year, or $33.65 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time sales representative at the median costs about $94,500 a year. The middle half earn $47,670 to $100,480.
Which states pay sales representatives the most?
New York ($92,190), Massachusetts ($83,760) and Rhode Island ($81,450) have the highest median wage for sales representatives. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Mississippi ($48,440), West Virginia ($50,240) and Arkansas ($50,570).
Which metro areas pay sales representatives the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($116,510), Boulder, CO ($99,990) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($96,960), out of the 391 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for sales representatives.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 41-3091. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
Thirty minutes with us, on your own tools. Bring the thing that eats your evenings and watch it get handled from your own inbox, calendar and books.
Professional is $629 a month and we set it up with you. Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with the free trial first: 7 days, no card. Every plan is on the pricing page.