How Much Is a Sales Operations Manager Salary?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Explore how a sales operations manager salary varies according to details like location, past experience, and the industry you work in. Use these details to help guide your job search and career goals.

[Featured Image] A woman working for a sales operations manager salary talks to the sales team during a business meeting, pointing to a colleague who has their hand raised to make a comment.

Sales operations managers streamline and improve sales processes to increase the sales team's success. In addition to managing operations and ensuring effective sales processes, they will likely have a supervisory role, overseeing sales operations specialists and other sales team members. 

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 6 percent, which is faster than the average across all jobs [1]. Exploring the average salary and how to maximize your earning potential can be helpful if you’re considering this role as part of your career path.

Importance of sales operations

Sales operation 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. 

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 CRM 

  • Completing sales forecasts

  • Tracking KPIs

  • Using automation tools to increase sales and efficiency

  • Recruiting and training sales professionals

Average salary for sales operations managers

The BLS reports a median total annual salary of $135,160 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 $85,000 to just over $100,000. The annual average base wage figures are in the table below [2,3,4,5]:

ZippiaGlassdoorPayscaleZip Recruiter
$103,113$92,577$90,084$99,349

*All salary data as of January 2025

However, the exact level of salary you can expect depends on many factors, including your skills, education and 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 [7]:

  • Associate degree: $96,857

  • Bachelor’s degree: $114,544

  • Master’s degree: $132,340

Earn Your Degree

Georgetown University

University of North Texas

University of North Texas

You are Currently on slide 1

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: $42,471

  • Mid-level: $58,988

  • Senior-level: $118,933

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]:

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 annual base US salary for a sales manager is $85,159 [8]. This figure is less than a sales operation manager's average US salary of $92,577 [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 average annual salary for a director of sales operations in the US is $117,969, significantly higher than that of a sales operation manager [9]. 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:

*All salary data reflects Glassdoor's average annual base pay as of January 2025; it does not include additional income like bonuses or commissions.

Next steps

Factors like education, location, experience, and industry all affect a sales operations manager's salary. Building in-demand skills, gaining experience, and obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree are ways to increase your earning potential. 

Continue learning about sales operations and prepare for a career as a sales operations manager with a Professional Certificate like the Salesforce Sales Operations Professional Certificate from Salesforce. It allows you to develop skills like tracking, analyzing, and communicating sales data to improve operations and is available on Coursera. To boost your sales ops management skills, check out the Sales Operations/Management Specialization from West Virginia University, also found on Coursera.

Article sources

1

US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Sales Managers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm.” Accessed December 19, 2024.

Updated on
Written by:

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.