How Much Is a Sales Operations Manager Salary?

Key takeaways

• The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median sales manager salary to be $138,060 [1].

• Senior sales operations manager salary data from Zippia, reveals an average salary of $118,933 [2].

• Sales and operations manager salary details can vary depending on education, experience, in-demand management skills, location, and industry.

To earn a sales operations manager salary, you may first work as a sales representative before moving into a leadership role. Explore the average salary and how to maximize your earning potential as you consider this role as part of your career path.

If you’re ready to build key skills for your sales career, consider enrolling in the Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to build reports, charts, and dashboards in Salesforce in as little as three months. By the end, you’ll have earned a career credential to share with potential employers.

Importance of sales operations

Sales operations managers provide vital support to the sales team with enhanced strategy and streamlined, data-driven processes. Sales operations roles are generally part of more extensive operations in growing businesses, requiring robust sales and tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs). Companies at this level need strategies to navigate the complexities of sales processes and how various departments and teams contribute to them. Sales representatives need to focus on selling. So, the operations team ensures that processes are efficient and productive and that the business ultimately reaches its goals.

Demand for people with the skills and background necessary for this position remains steady. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sales management roles have an expected growth rate of 5 percent, which is faster than the average across all jobs [1].

Tasks and responsibilities of a sales operations manager

A sales operations manager’s tasks and responsibilities often include taking point in much of the hiring and training of the sales team and implementing effective sales processes. Still, duties often vary according to industry and whether the role is mid- or senior-level. However, some typical tasks include:

• Streamlining sales processes

• Designing compensation systems

• Analyzing data to set goals

• Using data to identify trends

• Communicating goals with the team and stakeholders

• Managing customer relationship management (CRM)

• Completing sales forecasts

• Tracking KPIs

• Using automation tools to increase sales and efficiency

• Recruiting and training sales professionals

What do you need to be a sales operations manager?

To become a sales operations manager, you’ll likely need to earn your bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or technology. You’ll also want to build leadership skills, which you can gain through company training or mentorships. Finally, work on developing other relevant skills, such as strategic thinking, sales forecasting, and organizational skills.

Average salary for sales operations managers

The BLS reports a median total annual salary of $138,060 for all types of sales managers in the US [1]. According to leading job listing websites, sales operations managers' average salary ranges from more than $95,000 to just over $110,000. The annual average base wage figures are in the table below [2, 3, 4, 5]:

*The Glassdoor salary represents the median total pay as of July 2026. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

However, the exact level of salary you can expect depends on many factors, including your skills, education, experience, location, and industry.

Factors that can affect the sales operations manager salary

Many considerations affect the salary you receive as a sales operations manager, including your education and experience level. Other significant factors in determining your earnings include the industry you choose and where you live and work. Learn more about these below in more detail.

Education

You generally need a bachelor's degree to work as a sales operations manager. Roughly 70 percent of sales operations managers hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and 9 percent have a master’s degree [6]. Typical majors include business, finance, and management. Average annual salaries according to degree level are below [6]:

• Associate degree: $96,857

• Bachelor’s degree: $114,544

• Master’s degree: $132,340

Experience

Sales operations managers typically have experience in sales or operations before starting a career as a sales operations manager, and even more so for senior positions. It’s also common to receive on-the-job training.

Once qualified, you can expect a salary increase in line with your experience. Zippia lists the average annual salary for different experience levels as follows [2]:

• Entry-level: $68,000

• Mid-level: $110,000

• Senior-level: $120,000+

In-demand sales management skills

Along with experience comes skills. You develop your skills as you study and gain professional experience, and these skills can also affect your salary. Specific skills may command higher salaries. Review a few examples and the associated average annual income of each skill [4]:

• CRM: $90,014

• Operations management: $91,627

• Process improvement: $95,895

• Data analysis: $92,102

• Salesforce: $98,681

Geographical location

Your education, skills, and experience are only a few details that help you command the highest salaries. Your physical location also has an impact. Some areas, cities, and states pay higher rates than others.

According to Zippia, the top five highest-paying cities and the annual average salary are as follows [2]:

1. San Francisco, CA: $165,362

2. Seattle, WA: $140,516

3. New York, NY: $136,650

4. Washington, DC: $128,499

5. Boston, MA: $118,059

Read more: What Is a Good Salary?

Top industries that hire sales operations managers

Sales operations professionals work in a range of industries, from construction to technology to retail. The highest-paying industries and their associated average annual salaries are as follows [2]:

1. Technology: $115,157

2. Professional: $96,991

3. Manufacturing: $86,987

4. Telecommunications: $81,618

5. Retail: $81,391

Sales operations manager career path

A sales operations manager generally starts in an entry-level job, such as a sales representative, moves up to a leadership role, such as a sales manager, and then advances again to a sales operations manager.

Sales operations manager vs. sales manager

Although they may sound similar, a sales operations manager and a sales manager are not the same role. A sales operations manager improves processes and systems to make the sales team's efforts more efficient. In contrast, a sales manager increases sales by acquiring new customers, setting sales targets, and supporting the sales team in doing their job.

According to Glassdoor, the median total US salary for a sales manager is $115,000 [7]. This figure is similar to a sales operations manager's median US salary of $113,000 [3].

Sales operations manager vs. director of sales operations

A director of sales operations is another similar role to a sales operations manager. This position is a step up from a sales operations manager, and it involves managing the whole sales operations department, including the sales operations manager.

According to Glassdoor, the median total salary for a director of sales operations in the US is $153,000, significantly higher than that of a sales operations manager [8]. This higher earnings level reflects the increase in responsibility.

Other similar roles

Having the skills, experience, and qualifications to work as a sales operations manager puts you in an excellent position to apply for similar roles. Below, you’ll find a list of similar jobs and their average annual salary:

• Sales executive: $155,000

• Sales operations specialist: $86,000

• Vice president of sales: $355,000

• Sales development representative: $115,000

• Sales operations analyst: $103,000

• Account manager: $112,000

• Sales director: $232,000

• Sales manager: $115,000

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of July 2026. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Discover free resources for your sales career

Visit our Career Resource Hub, where you can explore career paths and assess your skills. Then, you can learn even more by checking out these free resources:

• Read our Career Chat issue: Business Professionals + GenAI: Saving Time and Increasing Performance

• Watch on YouTube: Highest Paying Sales Jobs – Where Big Earnings Meet Big Deals!

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career Is Right for Me Quiz?

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.