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Salary comparison

Sales Managers vs. Financial Managers: Who Earns More?

Financial Managerss out-earn Sales Managerss by $18K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Sales Managerss land at $148,270 and Financial Managerss at $166,570. The education gap is real: sales manager programs typically require bachelor's degree, while financial manager programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Sales Managerss is New York ($217,640); for Financial Managerss it's New York ($219,880).

Sales Managers
Financial Managers
Median salary
$148,270
$166,570
Hourly rate
$71.28/hr
$80.08/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$73,170
$94,310
Senior level (90th %)
$290,540
$323,270
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
637,080
841,710
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
14.8%
Category
Management
Management
Top-paying state
New York
New York

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Sales Managers median pay.

State
Sales Managers
Financial Managers
New York
$217,640
$219,880
Massachusetts
$191,200
$206,760
Virginia
$191,130
$185,220
Colorado
$180,850
$182,690
Washington
$174,000
$174,840
New Jersey
$173,020
$199,110
Connecticut
$162,110
$174,830
Georgia
$159,890
$166,790
Illinois
$155,280
$165,880
Rhode Island
$154,970
$166,940
Minnesota
$151,670
$163,410
North Carolina
$150,470
$166,780
District of Columbia
$141,800
$188,880
Texas
$136,020
$164,860
California
$134,910
$180,770

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Sales Managerss or Financial Managerss?

Financial Managerss earn more nationally. The median is $148,270 for Sales Managerss versus $166,570 for Financial Managerss, a difference of $18K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Sales Managers or Financial Managers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Sales Managers or Financial Managers?

Sales Managers typically requires bachelor's degree. Financial Managers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Sales Managerss get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Sales Managerss at $217,640/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Sales Managers vs. Financial Managers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Sales Managerss earn $217,640 vs. $219,880 for Financial Managerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Sales Managers salary breakdownView →Full Financial Managers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Sales Managerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Financial Managerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a sales managersGuide →How to become a financial managersGuide →