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Sales Managers at high-growth companies earn $105K–$167K. Median: $132K. Based on 2,222 public job postings (2025–2026). US DOL certified wage filings (FY2026): $170K median. Recruiting from Scratch's network includes 17,000+ sales managers, including 800+ with top-tier-company experience.
Median: $132K · Based on 2,222 public job postings · Updated August 30, 2026
San Francisco
New York
Based on companies with 3+ active postings. Median of publicly advertised salary range.
Typical experience required: 5–6 years.
Sales Managers are revenue leaders who build pipeline and close business. This benchmark reflects Manager-level base compensation at high-growth and AI-native companies.
For corroboration, U.S. Department of Labor certified wage filings (FY2026) show a median of $170K for Sales Manager roles, ranging $145K–$205K, across 223 filings. This is reported separately from — never blended with — the job-posting median above.
What is the average Sales Manager salary at an AI startup?
The median pay is $132K, with a typical range of $105K–$167K, based on 2,222 public job postings collected in 2025–2026.
What is the Sales Manager salary in New York?
New York Sales Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $154K, with a typical range of $120K–$197K (25th–75th percentile). That's 17% above the $132K US national median. 11% below San Francisco's $173K. Based on 242 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.
What is the Sales Manager salary in San Francisco?
San Francisco Sales Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $173K, with a typical range of $150K–$229K (25th–75th percentile). That's 31% above the $132K US national median. Based on 168 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.
What is the Sales Manager salary in Chicago?
Chicago Sales Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $133K, with a typical range of $115K–$163K (25th–75th percentile). That's 1% above the $132K US national median. 23% below San Francisco's $173K. Based on 71 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.
What is the Sales Manager salary in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Sales Managers at AI-native startups earn a median of $117K, with a typical range of $95K–$163K (25th–75th percentile). That's 12% below the $132K US national median. 32% below San Francisco's $173K. Based on 61 qualifying postings, 2025–2026.
Where does this salary data come from?
It is aggregated from public job postings on company career pages — no private placement or client data. We require a minimum of 15 postings per role.
Figures are the midpoint of each posting's advertised USD salary range, aggregated from 2,222 public job postings (2025–2026). The range shown is the 25th–75th percentile; the median is the 50th percentile. Equity is separate and not included; where a posting's range reflects on-target earnings (OTE) for commission roles, that is included in the midpoint. Roles require at least 15 postings to be published. Last refreshed August 30, 2026.
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