Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Salary
The median pay for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products in California is $124,220/year ($59.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $214K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $117,034 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 33.7% 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 $124K get you in California?
About sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $105K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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, technical and scientific products (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $214K or more, a $155K spread from bottom to top.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products salary by metro in California
19 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $168K | +35% | 2,790 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $132K | +6% | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $132K | +6% | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $131K | +5% | 3,950 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $126K | +1% | 1,710 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $124K | -0% | 120 |
| Chico | $116K | -7% | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $111K | -11% | 760 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $107K | -14% | 6,450 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $102K | -18% | 270 |
| Vallejo | $101K | -19% | 90 |
| Fresno | $99K | -20% | 300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $99K | -21% | 880 |
| Salinas | $92K | -26% | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $84K | -33% | 160 |
| Visalia | $81K | -35% | 160 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $77K | -38% | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $74K | -40% | 40 |
| Modesto | $73K | -41% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 metros
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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, technical and scientific product afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 33.7% 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 $2,200/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, technical and scientific products in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,529/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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, technical and scientific product a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $124K here vs. $105K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products?
California pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products make in California?
The median is $124,220 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,820, and experienced sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products can clear $214,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,331/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 33.7% 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, 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, technical and scientific products salary is worth about $117,034 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, 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.