Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Sales and related workers, all other (41-9099) represent a broad group of sales professionals whose roles do not fit neatly into more narrowly defined sales categories. Nationally, about 123,000 people work in these positions, indicating a sizable occupation with diverse opportunities. The national median annual salary of $46,370 reflects solid earning potential across different employers and regions. Projected employment growth of 3.7% suggests that jobs in this field are expected to expand over time, with an estimated 16,000 openings each year from growth and other job changes. The role typically relies on strong customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills, supported by adaptability, problem solving, and comfort with technology. For people exploring sales careers, this occupation can appeal to a wide range of backgrounds and interests. It can also connect to related paths such as real estate, advertising sales, and wholesale and manufacturing sales, which may offer more specialized directions over time.
The national median annual salary for sales and related workers, all other is $46,370, but pay levels vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a median salary of $75,100 and Colorado $60,670, compared with $52,810 in California, $55,270 in New York, and $51,620 in Massachusetts. At the metro level, the New York–Newark–Jersey City area reports a median of $74,530 and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara $73,250, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont is at $60,050. The Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metro has a median of $43,500, and the Boston–Cambridge–Newton area sits at $51,480. These figures show that earnings can be notably higher than the national median in certain states and metros, especially in several of the top-ranked urban areas. Job seekers weighing offers can use these numbers to compare potential earnings across regions.
Sales and related workers, all other have national employment of about 123,000, with projected employment growth of 3.7%. This growth rate indicates that the occupation is expected to add jobs over time. In addition to growth, about 16,000 annual openings are projected, reflecting a combination of new positions and openings created when workers change jobs or leave the labor force. Together, the current employment base, positive projected growth, and steady annual openings point to a labor market with ongoing demand across the country. The 3.7% projected growth is also reflected consistently in the top states and metro areas listed for this occupation, suggesting broadly similar expectations for expansion across those highlighted regions. For career planners, these data indicate that opportunities in this field are likely to remain available over the coming years in both national and local markets.
Location makes a clear difference for sales and related workers, all other, both in pay and concentration. Among states with high CareerGPS opportunity scores, California stands out with employment of 28,480 and a median salary of $52,810, suggesting a large number of roles at a mid-range pay level relative to the listed states. Washington has a higher median salary of $75,100 but a smaller employment base of 2,840. Colorado combines a median of $60,670 with employment of 6,340. New York and Massachusetts show more modest employment counts (1,400 and 850) but solid median salaries above $51,000. At the metro level, New York–Newark–Jersey City and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara both pair high opportunity scores (above 77) with median salaries above $73,000. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont offers a $60,050 median with 3,010 employed, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria offer somewhat lower median salaries and smaller employment levels among the top metros.
The typical education requirement for sales and related workers, all other is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to people who have completed secondary education without requiring a college degree. However, success in these roles depends strongly on a well-rounded skill set. Customer service, speaking and listening, and interpersonal abilities form the core of day-to-day interactions with clients and colleagues. Adaptability, problem solving, and decision making help workers handle varied situations. Mathematics skills support tasks that involve numbers, while writing and reading are important for clear communication. Project management capabilities can assist with organizing work and coordinating activities, and comfort with computers and information technology is also highlighted. Together, these skills show that while the formal education threshold is relatively modest, building strong communication, analytical, and organizational strengths is important for thriving in this career path or preparing to move into one of the similar occupations listed, such as real estate or advertising sales roles.
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