Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Salary
The median pay for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products in California is $76,490/year ($36.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $153K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $72,065 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 49.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in California?
About sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
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What this looks like in California
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $76K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 50.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $153K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products salary by metro in California
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $104K | +36% | 6,530 |
| Napa | $100K | +31% | 790 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $93K | +22% | 13,190 |
| Salinas | $81K | +5% | 930 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $79K | +4% | 1,840 |
| Modesto | $78K | +3% | 1,250 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $77K | +1% | 2,630 |
| Vallejo | $77K | +1% | 840 |
| Yuba City | $76K | -0% | 310 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $76K | -0% | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $76K | -1% | 9,040 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $76K | -1% | 680 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $75K | -2% | 750 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $75K | -2% | 5,620 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $75K | -2% | 2,000 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $74K | -3% | 54,950 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $74K | -3% | 1,110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $74K | -3% | 1,530 |
| Fresno | $74K | -3% | 3,080 |
| Visalia | $74K | -3% | 770 |
| El Centro | $73K | -4% | 360 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $72K | -6% | 11,950 |
| Merced | $71K | -7% | 360 |
| Redding | $70K | -8% | 350 |
| Chico | $66K | -14% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
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Track sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific product afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 50.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,592/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 95% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific product a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $76K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products?
California pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products make in California?
The median is $76,490 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,200, and experienced sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products can clear $152,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,912/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 50.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products salary is worth about $72,065 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.