Jobs Similar to Sales Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sales managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers, Marketing Managers and Chief Executives.
Sales Managers: $148,270 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Sales Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 86% | $87,520−41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Marketing ManagersSame group | 84% | $166,790+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Chief Executives | 84% | $213,990+44% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Fundraisers | 84% | $72,550−51% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Financial Managers | 83% | $166,570+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 83% | $78,660−47% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Human Resources Managers | 83% | $149,280+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 82% | $48,520−67% | High school |
| 9 | Spa Managers | 82% | $69,770Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 10 | Lodging Managers | 82% | $69,250−53% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | General and Operations Managers | 82% | $105,770−29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Public Relations ManagersSame group | 82% | $146,910−1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Advertising and Promotions ManagersSame group | 82% | $133,660−10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Fundraising ManagersSame group | 82% | $125,470−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Purchasing Managers | 82% | $148,0800% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | 81% | $149,230+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Gambling Managers | 81% | $93,220−37% | High school |
| 18 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 80% | $69,990−53% | High school |
| 19 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 80% | $69,500−53% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Project Management Specialists | 80% | $102,320−31% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
86% similar · $87,520 (−41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 2Marketing Managers
84% similar · $166,790 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Chief Executives
84% similar · $213,990 (+44%) · Graduate degree
- 4Fundraisers
84% similar · $72,550 (−51%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Financial Managers
83% similar · $166,570 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
83% similar · $78,660 (−47%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Human Resources Managers
83% similar · $149,280 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
82% similar · $48,520 (−67%) · High school
- 9Spa Managers
82% similar · $69,770 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 10Lodging Managers
82% similar · $69,250 (−53%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11General and Operations Managers
82% similar · $105,770 (−29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Public Relations Managers
82% similar · $146,910 (−1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Advertising and Promotions Managers
82% similar · $133,660 (−10%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Fundraising Managers
82% similar · $125,470 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 15Purchasing Managers
82% similar · $148,080 (0%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Compensation and Benefits Managers
81% similar · $149,230 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Gambling Managers
81% similar · $93,220 (−37%) · High school
- 18Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
80% similar · $69,990 (−53%) · High school
- 19First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
80% similar · $69,500 (−53%) · Training or associate
- 20Project Management Specialists
80% similar · $102,320 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than sales managers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers82% similar · High school
- Spa Managers82% similar · Training or associate
- Gambling Managers81% similar · High school
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel80% similar · High school
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers80% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sales managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sales managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Fundraisers (91)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (90)
- General and Operations Managers (89)
- Online Merchants (89)
- Purchasing Managers (89)
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products (85)
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (84)
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (84)
- Financial Managers (83)
- Human Resources Managers (83)
Questions about jobs like sales managers
What jobs are most similar to sales managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (86% similar), Marketing Managers (84% similar), Chief Executives (84% similar), Fundraisers (84% similar) and Financial Managers (83% similar).
Which jobs like sales managers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +44%; usually a graduate degree), Marketing Managers ($166,790, +12%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Financial Managers ($166,570, +12%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sales managers ($148,270). Without more preparation than sales managers usually need: Marketing Managers, Financial Managers and Human Resources Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.