← Business, Finance, Sales & Administration
Sales Managers
SOC 11-2022 · Business, Finance, Sales & Administration
jobs in Hamilton County, 2026
estimated openings each year
median pay in Hamilton County
projected job growth
Source: Lightcast Q1 2026 occupation snapshot, Hamilton County, IN.
What this job pays in the Indianapolis area
Half of workers earn more than the median, half earn less. The range below runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
| Point in the range | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $75,810 | $36.45 |
| 25th percentile | $103,510 | $49.77 |
| Median (middle) | $137,410 | $66.06 |
| 75th percentile | $195,400 | $93.94 |
| 90th percentile | $251,320 | $120.83 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release, Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood MSA. These are metro figures; BLS does not publish a Hamilton County wage by occupation. "Not published" means the federal source suppressed or top-coded that value.
What you need to get started
Most common education: A bachelor's degree (a 4-year college program).
How much preparation: A lot of preparation. Usually a four-year degree or several years of experience.
Source: O*NET 30.2 database, U.S. Department of Labor (pinned vintage; survey rows dated 2021 to 2024).
Where this role can lead
Occupations that ask for much the same skills and typically pay more, with how pay compares. These are skills matches, not a record of individual people moving.
| Occupation | Match score | Monthly postings | Typical pay change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Engineers | 80 of 100 | 17.1 | +$5,456 per year |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 79 of 100 | 1.8 | +$861 per year |
| Producers and Directors | 74 of 100 | 22.8 | +$456 per year |
| Marketing Managers | 74 of 100 | 174.6 | +$25,604 per year (about +18%) |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 74 of 100 | 32.2 | +$11,210 per year (about +8%) |
| Power Plant Operators | 70 of 100 | 2.2 | +$7,148 per year (about +5%) |
| Public Relations Managers | 68 of 100 | 63.2 | -$6,910 per year |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | 67 of 100 | 143.6 | -$8,394 per year (about -6%) |
Common paths into this role
Occupations whose skills line up with Sales Managers and that typically pay less, so they are a common place to build from. Matched on skills, not on anyone's recorded move.
| Occupation | Match score | Monthly postings | Typical pay change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 96 of 100 | 395.5 | -$29,055 per year (about -20%) |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 95 of 100 | 27.2 | -$21,955 per year (about -15%) |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 93 of 100 | 247.3 | -$48,565 per year (about -34%) |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | 92 of 100 | 230.6 | -$36,129 per year (about -25%) |
| General and Operations Managers | 81 of 100 | 340.8 | -$20,490 per year (about -14%) |
| Sales Engineers | 80 of 100 | 17.1 | +$5,456 per year |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 79 of 100 | 143.9 | -$42,253 per year (about -30%) |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 79 of 100 | 1.8 | +$861 per year |
Occupations whose skills point toward this role
Source: Lightcast Career Pathways, Q1 2026, Indianapolis MSA (network built July 2026 from 64 exports).
Local training that can get you there
- Ivy Tech Community College
Post-secondary
Associate degrees, certificates, workforce credentials across IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, business, skilled trades. - The Pursuit Institute (TPI)
K-12 CTE
K-12 CTE consortium serving all 6 Hamilton County school corps. 9 career pathways, 15 TPI-managed programs, 450+ courses. Advanced manufacturing, healthcare, business/finance, education, agriculture, info tech, hospitality, engineering. - Manager Development Lab (MDL)
Management Development
IHC + IU Tobias Leadership Center cohort program. First-line manager development for Hamilton County employers.
Source: IHC program registry, curated April 2026. Programs decide their own eligibility and enrollment.
Where does this leave you?
Reading about a job is one thing. Whether you can get it, what it would pay you, and who near you hires for it are another. Pick whichever of these is true and we will work it out.
The first prices your experience and shows everywhere it could take you. The second shows the jobs people hold before moving into this one. Both are free and neither asks for a CV.