Head of Sales Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$215,000
national median salary
$168,000 to $280,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $148,270 for Sales Managers (SOC 11-2022) across the United States, based on 637,080 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$73,170
25th percentile
$100,360
Median
$148,270
75th percentile
$207,340
90th percentile
$290,540
Workers surveyed
637,080
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$138,060
May 2025 release
$148,270
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $215,000 is 45% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Sales Managers covers a different population than the Head of Sales title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Sales Managers (SOC 11-2022) rather than Head of Salesspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 11-2022Highest Paying
$302,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$224,000
San Francisco, CA
Lowest Paying
$168,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 11-2022. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Head of Sales salary in the United States at $215,000 in 2026, within a range of $168,000 to $280,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $302,000, while San Francisco offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Head of Sales compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent.
Head of Sales salary by city.
Skills that increase Head of Sales pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Head of Saless based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $30,100 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$30,100 per year
≈ +$27,950 per year
≈ +$25,800 per year
≈ +$23,650 per year
≈ +$23,650 per year
≈ +$21,500 per year
≈ +$21,500 per year
≈ +$19,350 per year
What you should know.
Head of Sales compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Equity is a major component at roughly 28% of base — candidates should weight stock grants as heavily as salary when comparing offers. At the leadership level, the scope of the organization under management ($10M budget vs $100M+) drives the largest compensation variance.
Head of Saless progress Manager → Senior Manager → Director → Senior Director → VP → SVP → C-suite over 12 to 20 years. Each step adds org scope roughly 3x (manage 6 → 20 → 60 → 200 → 500+ people). The biggest inflection is Director → VP, which requires demonstrated P&L responsibility. For Head of Saless specifically, the seniority anchor means roughly 12+ years of experience and demonstrated P&L or strategic leadership.
Total compensation for Head of Saless runs roughly $325K at median when factoring base + equity (28% of base annually) + bonus (18% of base). Equity is the single largest non-base component — candidates should model vesting schedules (typically 4-year with 1-year cliff) and compare grant values across offers carefully. At management levels, variable compensation (bonus + LTIP) grows as a share of total — expect 30–50% variable at director and 50%+ variable at VP and above.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Head of Saless typically earn $204,000 (5% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Head of Sales pay.
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