Source of information: http://www.ehow.com/info_7746642_national-sales-manager-salaries.html
Sales managers held about 329,000 jobs in May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National sales managers are responsible for meeting sales objectives in one or more product and service categories. They usually start out as sales representatives, buyers or public relations specialists. Working with regional and local sales managers and a network of dealers and distributors, they set sales goals and establish training programs for the sales representatives. Sales managers are usually paid a base salary, plus performance-based bonuses.
The average annual salary for sales managers was about $112,000 in May 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The top-paying states were New York with an average annual salary of about $157,000; Delaware and Massachusetts, about $134,000 each; New Jersey, about $133,000; and Florida, about $127,000. According to PayScale's December 2010 survey, the annual salary range for sales managers was about $68,000 to $121,000.
According to BLS, in May 2009, average annual salaries by industries employing the most sales managers were as follows: other financial investment activities, about $162,000; other investment funds, about $160,000; securities and commodity brokerage, about $156,000; apparel, piece goods and notions merchant wholesalers, about $153,000; and technical and trade schools, about $151,000.
According to PayScale, in December 2010, the annual salary range by industry were as follows: manufacturing and distribution, about $56,000 to $99,000; hotels and hospitality management, about $50,000 to $70,000; retail and wholesale distribution, about $50,000 to $83,000; food manufacturing, about $62,000 to $102,000; steel and metal manufacturing, about $57,000 to $96,000; and financial services, about $52,000 to $108,000.
According to BLS, in May 2009, the top-paying metropolitan areas were New York-White Plains-Wayne (New York-New Jersey), with an annual average salary of about $163,000; Nassau-Suffolk (New York), about $155,000; Haverhill-North Andover-Amesbury (Massachusetts-New Hampshire), about $149,000; Boston-Cambridge-Quincy (Massachusetts), about $145,000; and San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City (California), about $141,000.
According to PayScale, in December 2010 the annual salary ranges for sales managers by major cities were as follows: Chicago, about $70,000 to $109,000; Dallas, about $60,000 to $107,000; Atlanta, about $58,000 to $101,000; New York, about $53,000 to $99,000; Los Angeles, about $52,000 to $99,000; Houston, about $64,000 to $113,000; and San Diego, about $55,000 to $99,000.
Employment growth for sales managers is expected to be about 15 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to BLS. Employers are likely to seek experienced candidates, especially those with expertise in driving sales through the Internet, social media and other evolving technologies. Companies tend to cut overhead expenses such as advertising and marketing during downturns, which can impact the job outlook for sales managers.