Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Productss by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Productss the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Lawton ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $144,682/year, better purchasing power than Lawton's higher nominal pay of $124,340. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2025 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Lawton$124,340
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$103,670
#3 Napa$100,460

Best purchasing power

#1 Lawton$144,682
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$93,887
#3 Napa$89,258

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productss excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
Lawton
10% rent burden
$124,340
$144,682
#2
$103,670
$93,887
#3
Napa
33% rent burden
$100,460
$89,258
#4
Rapid City
20% rent burden
$78,280
$87,797
#5
Sioux Falls
18% rent burden
$78,740
$86,881
#6
Casper
16% rent burden
$81,320
$86,667
#7
Topeka
17% rent burden
$76,490
$86,118
#8
Sioux City
19% rent burden
$73,500
$85,020
#9
Lawrence
19% rent burden
$75,560
$83,732
#10
Elkhart-Goshen
19% rent burden
$75,220
$83,272
#11
$73,480
$82,488
#12
Trenton-Princeton
28% rent burden
$84,920
$82,303
#13
Barnstable Town
36% rent burden
$80,930
$82,288
#14
Midland
19% rent burden
$75,010
$81,604
#15
Decatur
16% rent burden
$71,110
$81,539
#16
Michigan City-La Porte
19% rent burden
$74,430
$81,185
#17
Cleveland
20% rent burden
$76,020
$80,941
#18
$93,100
$80,529
#19
Syracuse
22% rent burden
$77,090
$80,520
#20
Midland
28% rent burden
$76,930
$80,319
#21
Akron
20% rent burden
$74,990
$80,315
#22
$80,110
$79,918
#23
Muncie
18% rent burden
$70,420
$79,887
#24
Vineland
26% rent burden
$76,500
$79,712
#25
Yakima
22% rent burden
$76,140
$79,686

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Productss?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $124,340 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $103,617 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Productss?

Lawton has one of the lowest rent burdens for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Productss in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,001/month, with a median salary of $124,340.

Where do Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Productss get paid the most in nominal terms?

Lawton pays the highest nominal median salary at $124,340/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductssView →How to become a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productsGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →