Sales Executive Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Sales Executive. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Sales Executives.

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Job Duties

Sales executives usually work for a larger organization as part of a team of sales agents. Their responsibilities go above and beyond those of a sales agent, as they hold more managerial responsibilities. They also focus strongly on building relations with clients, while at the same time monitoring the competition to determine whether they are developing new products and ideas.

Their role is largely office based and they spend a great deal of time collecting data for reports, using the findings to communicate with the sales manager or director of sales. They aim to identify areas for improvement so that overall sales targets can be increased. They may also have line management responsibilities for sales agents.

Other job duties of a sales executive include:

    • Selling the products and services offered by the organization to existing customers
    • Managing an assigned geographical territory and identifying potential new customers within it

– Keeping track of the market conditions, the competition’s products and services, product innovations, and trends in prices and sales
– Creating and maintain sales leads’ records and ensuring accounts progress as expected.

  • Developing external and internal relationships to ensure the needs of clients in terms of products and services are met consistently.

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 385,500 sales managers in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Wholesale trade: 20%
  • Retail trade: 18%
  • Manufacturing: 12%
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services: 10%
  • Finance and insurance: 9%

How to Become

A sales executive usually has at least a bachelor’s degree. They also have many years’ experience, generally coming from a sales representative background.

Education Requirements

Usually, a sales executive will hold a bachelor’s degree as a minimum. The subject of this degree varies, but it is preferred for them to have completed courses in statistics, marketing, mathematics, finance, accounting, economics, management, and business law. Work experience is usually of greater importance than education, however. Often, they will have at least five years of experience in the field.

Typically, a sales executive grows into their position, coming from occupations relating to sales. They may have been a purchasing agent, a manufacturing or wholesale sales representative, or a retail sales worker, for instance. They are then usually promoted to sales manager internally and, eventually, to the position of director of sales.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective sales executives have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Great customer service skills
  • Strong leadership skills

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Sales Executive was $69,894. This number is estimated from over 5,375,324 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $36.40 and monthly of $5,825.

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$14,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Sales Executive salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Alaska had the largest quoted salary of $188,004 while Delaware had the smallest quoted salary of $48,545.

AlaskaIdahoMontanaRhode Island
AlabamaIllinoisNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina
ArkansasIndianaNorth DakotaSouth Dakota
ArizonaKansasNebraskaTennessee
CaliforniaKentuckyNew HampshireTexas
ColoradoLouisianaNew JerseyUtah
ConnecticutMassachusettsNew MexicoVirginia
DCMarylandNevadaVermont
DelawareMaineNew YorkWashington
FloridaMichiganOhioWisconsin
GeorgiaMinnesotaOklahomaWest Virginia
HawaiiMissouriOregon
IowaMississippiPennsylvania
Alaska – $188,004Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Real Estate builder and for sales executive.

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$6,200

$30,000

Salary Distribution
Alabama – $75,482Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Dothan Marketing Group, National Merchant Services, and TSI – Transworld System, Inc.

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$16,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $73,860Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Carter-Brinley Group, National Register USA, National Merchant Services, and Trinity Payments.

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$15,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $69,179Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Trupro, Sentinel Technologies, Inc., Heartland Payment Systems, and MD24 House Call.

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$14,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
California – $70,971Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Camfil, Strategic Ventures, and Marriott Vacations Worldwide.

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$14,000

$188,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $66,916Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, USHA, Sentinel Technologies, Inc., and Professional Career Match Solutions.

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$14,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $73,404Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Trupro, Marcus Evans, and Total Healthcare Search.

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$14,000

$193,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $78,432Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like kolb electric, HireKeep, Porter Group, and The Porter Group, Inc..

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$15,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $48,545Rank: 50th
The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Treeline Inc., The Lampe Group, Gatehouse Media, and Gatehouse Media Delaware.

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$14,000

$144,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $63,879Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Professional Career Match Solutions, DAS Health, and CNI Recruiting.

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$14,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $68,412Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Recruitment Corp, Professional Career Match Solutions, The Caler Group, and Vanguard Management Recruiting – Our Client.

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$14,000

$173,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $80,655Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Express Employment Professionals, Hilton Grand Vacations, Resume Library, and Vistana Signature Experiences, Inc.

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$15,000

$200,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa – $64,871Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CC Direct, National Merchant Services, Access Systems Inc, and TMC Transportation.

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$14,000

$168,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho – $52,455Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, National Merchant Services, Manpower, and The Lampe Group.

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$14,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $69,296Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Humana, National Register USA, Hire Horizons, and CMD And Associates.

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$14,000

$173,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $64,983Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Cube Management, Marquis Solutions, and National Merchant Services.

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$14,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $69,341Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, National Register USA, Premiere, and National Merchant Services.

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$14,000

$172,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $78,292Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, City Wide Maintenance, National Register USA, and Commonwealth Sign.

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$25,000

$159,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $73,719Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Engauge Energy, National Register USA, NEW ORLEANS AUDI, and Bizzuka, Inc..

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$14,000

$181,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $61,205Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, athenahealth, Treeline Inc., and Treeline Inc.

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$14,000

$156,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $75,419Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like kolb electric, Homefix Custom Remodeling, CyberCoders, and Porter Group.

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$15,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Maine – $64,128Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Register USA, Treeline Inc., The Lampe Group, and Portland Monthly Magazine.

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$14,000

$153,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $66,602Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Recruitment Corp, Hub International, Management Business Solutions, and Growing Software Products Firm.

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$14,000

$174,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $67,051Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, National Debit Card Network, Frontier Communications, and Pitney Bowes.

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$14,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $69,387Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, GNH Services, Inc., N-Store Services, Socket Telecom, and National Register USA.

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$14,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi – $85,042Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Burke Group, National Register USA, Carter-Brinley Group, and National Merchant Services.

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$20,000

$195,000

Salary Distribution
Montana – $54,606Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Lampe Group, Hub International, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch & STLtoday.com, and Quad-City Times.

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$14,000

$151,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $71,513Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Pitney Bowes, National Register USA, Emergys, and Dealer LED, LLC.

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$14,000

$178,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota – $75,842Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Lampe Group and The Edbraham Group, LLC.

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$14,000

$218,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $71,718Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Carter-Brinley Group, The Firm Business Brokerage, National Register USA, and The Job Jobber.

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$14,000

$181,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire – $51,356Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Treeline Incorporated, CNI Recruiting, National Register USA, and National Merchant Services.

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$14,000

$114,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $75,287Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, National Recruitment Corp, Gould Group, and Strategic Ventures.

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$14,000

$190,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $53,700Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Merchant Services, The Lampe Group, and Resume Library.

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$14,000

$151,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada – $76,734Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, National Merchant Services, and Aims Marketing.

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$15,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $74,587Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Porter Group, CNI Recruiting, and HireKeep.

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$14,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $73,207Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, CMC Limited, Stanley Staffing, and Epcon Communities, Inc..

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$14,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $66,774Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, City Wide Maintenance, National Register USA, and Ann Grogan and Associates, Inc..

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$14,000

$161,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $66,937Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like DaBella Exteriors LLC, Rayco Technical Solutions, LLC, Phillips Staffing Solutions, and PMG Employment Consultants.

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$14,000

$158,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $71,929Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens AG, GenZeon Corporation, Payment Solution Brokers, and The Caler Group.

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$14,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island – $51,174Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Merchant Services, Ocean House, The Lampe Group, and YRC Freight.

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$14,000

$131,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $69,933Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, The Burke Group, HENDRICK HONDA EASLEY, and National Merchant Services.

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$17,000

$159,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota – $69,864Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Register USA, National Merchant Services, The Lampe Group, and Hub International.

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$14,000

$195,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $72,873Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Win Group, yp, National Register USA, and Medical Solutions, Inc..

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$14,000

$177,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $69,462Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ICE Group, IBM, Heartland Payment Systems, and Pitney Bowes.

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$14,000

$173,000

Salary Distribution
Utah – $65,109Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, Armored Merchant Solutions, United States Postal Service, and National Register USA.

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$14,000

$166,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $74,665Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Logi Analytics, AppleOne, CyberCoders, and National Register USA.

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$15,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont – $103,862Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Invado Pharmaceutical.

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$30,000

$221,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $83,835Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Trupro, Hub International, Medical Solutions, Inc., and Diagnostic Lab Company.

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$15,000

$211,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $67,094Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like yp, City Wide Maintenance, Management Recruiters of Chicago NW, and Publishing & Printing Company.

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$14,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia – $51,155Rank: 49th
The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National Merchant Services, Pinnacle Direct, Gatehouse Media, and EZTOUSE.COM (Ogden Directories).

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$14,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Sales Executive. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
Emergys Sales ExecutiveNorth Carolina$300,000
The Royak Group Inc. Sales ExecutiveUtah$300,000
National Recruitment Corp Sales ExecutiveGeorgia$285,745
Pitney Bowes Sales ExecutiveMinnesota$233,480
CyberCoders Sales ExecutiveIndiana$223,144
PrimeTime Recruiting Services Inc Sales ExecutiveNevada$204,021
Hub International Sales ExecutiveSouth Dakota$200,000
Sentinel Technologies, Inc. Sales ExecutiveColorado$200,000
Gould Group Sales ExecutiveNew Jersey$199,007
Logi Analytics Sales ExecutiveVirginia$185,148
Strategic Ventures Sales ExecutiveCalifornia$182,252
Stanley Staffing Sales ExecutiveOhio$181,213

Learn More

Related Careers

Career NameAverage Salary
Program Officer$70,926
Sales Manager$70,506
Underwriter$70,387
Distribution Manager$70,204
Marketing Communications Manager$70,119
Data Analyst$69,685
Compliance Officer$69,393
Human Resources Manager$69,342
Procurement Analyst$69,088
Communications Manager$68,895

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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