Sales Manager

Pay scales and minimum rates

These are minimums if the stated scope applies to your employment. This is not legal advice.

Statutory minimum wage

• Statutory

  €13.90 per hour

  valid from 2026-01-01, until 2026-12-31

  § 1 Nr. 1 MiLoV5: „ab 1. Januar 2026 13,90 Euro brutto je Zeitstunde“

Source: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 268 · As of 2026-10-27

Upcoming rates (1)

• Statutory

  €14.60 per hour

  valid from 2027-01-01 · upcoming

  § 1 Nr. 2 MiLoV5: „ab 1. Januar 2027 14,60 Euro brutto je Zeitstunde“

Source: Fifth Minimum Wage Adjustment Ordinance (MiLoV5), Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 268 · As of 2026-10-27

Terms explained

Generally binding collective agreement (AVE)

A collective agreement that the labour ministry has declared binding for all employers in a sector – even without union membership.

Framework agreement (Manteltarifvertrag)

Sets general working conditions such as working hours, leave and notice periods, not the level of pay.

Pay agreement (Entgelttarifvertrag)

Sets how much is paid per pay grade.

Pay grade (Entgeltgruppe)

The classification by task and qualification. It decides which amount in the pay table applies to you.

Career: possible moves

Occupations people move to from this one. Every rating shows how it was derived.

• Brand Manager

  Marketing, Medien & Kreativ

  Editorially selected · Dataset as of 2026-05-24

  Rating: extrem

  Derivation

  What you bring: Budget, KPI-Tracking, Marktforschung

  What is still missing: Analytics, Content-Strategie, communication, Social Media

  According to the dataset: qualification paths

  Show qualification routes (4)

  • Analytics
    1 option

    • Praxiserfahrung
      Description from the dataset

      Datenanalytische Kompetenz im Marketing-Kontext wird neu aufgebaut — durch eigenständige Auswertung von Kampagnen- und Marktdaten, KPI-Tracking und Nutzung gängiger Analyse-Werkzeuge. KPI-Tracking ist bereits vorhanden und übertragbar.

  • Content-Strategie
    1 option

    • IHK-/Kammer-Zertifikatslehrgang
      Description from the dataset

      Zertifikatslehrgang im Bereich digitales Marketing oder Content-Management bei einem IHK- oder Hochschulträger; vermittelt Grundlagen der Redaktionsplanung, Zielgruppenanalyse und kanalübergreifenden Content-Erstellung.

  • Kommunikation
    1 option

    • Praxiserfahrung
      Description from the dataset

      Markenkommunikation und zielgruppenspezifisches Messaging werden neu aufgebaut — durch Übernahme erster Kommunikationsverantwortung im Brand-Team sowie durch Beobachtung und Auswertung erfolgreicher Markenkampagnen.

  • Social Media
    1 option

    • IHK-/Kammer-Zertifikatslehrgang
      Description from the dataset

      Zertifikatslehrgang Social-Media-Marketing bei einem anerkannten Bildungsträger (IHK, Fachschule oder Hochschule); Inhalte: Plattformstrategie, Community-Management, Performance-Messung und Redaktionsplanung.

  Check this switch

Further paths have not been researched reliably yet.

Where else you can go

Routes many people do not think of straight away. Every statement names source and date; what is missing reads “not documented yet”.

• Key-account manager

  BERUFENET lists key-account manager under the sales-manager alternatives for a vocational focus and, as a rule, assigns a short familiarisation. That entry has no task text of its own; on the account-manager page the same title is an alternative for the whole activity, meaning building and developing customer relationships and running sales work whose results are measured by sales figures.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET describes the sales-manager job as revenue targets, the sales team, sales analysis and customer retention. Key-account manager is a focus alternative to that job, not an entry with its own admission rule.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  not documented yet

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 6,018 euros for occupational group 92133, specialist level (lower quartile 4,306 euros, upper quartile 7,930 euros, 90,237 employees). Filters: Germany, gender total, age total, industry total.

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 92133 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Clarify which customers the title covers in your company. Read the key-account-manager entry on BERUFENET beside it: it currently has no task text.

  Save
• Account manager

  You build customer relationships, maintain them and develop them further. In advice and sales you analyse processes and needs, put relationship strategies into practice and measure results by the sales figures of a period.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET names account manager as a focus alternative to sales manager and, as a rule, assigns a short familiarisation. In the other direction, sales manager is listed among the neighbouring occupations of account manager.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  not documented yet

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  Account manager sits in group 92133, specialist level. The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 6,018 euros for that group (lower quartile 4,306 euros, upper quartile 7,930 euros, 90,237 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total).

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 92133 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Compare an account role with your current revenue and team responsibility. This occupational entry does not require an exam for admission.

  Save
• District sales lead

  With your team you look after a company's regional sales districts, develop sales concepts and put company targets into practice. You steer the work by economic indicators, maintain the customer base, win new customers, advise, prepare offers, take orders and handle complaints or pass them on.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET names Bezirksleiter/in as a focus alternative to sales manager and, as a rule, assigns a short familiarisation. Both entries describe sales leadership, targets and customer work; the district role is tied to an area and a local team.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  not documented yet

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 7,673 euros for group 61194, expert level (lower quartile 5,838 euros, upper quartile not reported, 90,438 employees). Filters: Germany, gender total, age total, industry total.

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 61194 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Check the organisation chart to see whether a district lead in your company means an area with a team. The employer sets admission; this entry names no nationwide exam.

  Save

Show more routes (6)

• Head of sales

  You coordinate a company's sales work, develop sales strategy and set areas and sub-targets. You gather market and competitor information, run sales controlling, lead employees and oversee orders and complaints; you also look after important customers yourself and take part in product, price and marketing questions.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET already describes the sales-manager job as revenue targets, team leadership and steering sales work. Head of sales is not named on the sales-manager page. Bezirksleiter/in, a focus alternative there, names head of sales as its own focus alternative with a short familiarisation.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  not documented yet

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  Head of sales sits in group 61194, expert level. The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 7,673 euros for that group (lower quartile 5,838 euros, upper quartile not reported, 90,438 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total).

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 61194 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Particulars

  Head of sales is assigned to occupational group 61194.

  Source: BERUFENET, head of sales · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Compare the role with the district lead: BERUFENET attaches the short familiarisation to the district lead, not to the sales-manager title. Clarify the expectation of a qualification or a degree before you apply.

  Save
• Digital sales manager

  You are responsible for selling products or services through digital channels, analyse demand and watch the market. You develop solutions, accompany introduction and delivery, check results, measure customer satisfaction and work with product development and marketing.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET lists digital sales manager among the neighbouring occupations of sales manager. In the other direction, sales manager is a neighbouring occupation of digital sales manager. Both entries sit in group 61124.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  not documented yet

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  Digital sales manager sits in group 61124, expert level. The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 7,128 euros for that group (lower quartile 5,282 euros, upper quartile not reported, 85,651 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total).

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 61124 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Check whether your current customers and products already run through digital channels. Add a degree or a commercial qualification only if the employer requires it for this channel.

  Save
• Commercial agent

  You sell a company's products or services on its behalf, explain use, benefits and terms and give presentations. You pass orders to the company, take complaints and win new customers.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET lists commercial agent among the neighbouring occupations of sales manager. Selling, advice and winning customers are part of the sales-manager description; the commercial-agent entry says employers often expect a qualification in trade or sales.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  not documented yet

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 5,641 euros for group 61123, specialist level (lower quartile 4,215 euros, upper quartile 7,343 euros, 234,080 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total). This query does not report income for self-employed commercial agents.

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 61123 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Particulars

  A commercial agent is a self-employed business person permanently entrusted with brokering business for another entrepreneur or with concluding it in that entrepreneur's name. A person is self-employed who can essentially organise the activity freely and determine their working time. Anyone who is not self-employed in this sense, but is permanently entrusted with brokering or concluding business for an entrepreneur, counts as an employee.

  Source: German Commercial Code section 84 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: First decide whether the contract is meant to be self-employment under section 84 of the Commercial Code. Check commission and compensation under sections 87 and 89b in the draft before you leave the employed role.

  Save
• Bachelor's degree in marketing and sales

  In the first-cycle subject marketing and sales you take a first higher-education degree and study business administration, market research, marketing management, accounting and controlling. BERUFENET gives examples such as business administration with sales management, marketing, or international marketing management.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET names a first-cycle or second-cycle degree as a development route after sales manager, including, under set conditions, without a school leaving certificate that grants higher-education access. Marketing and sales (first cycle) is on that progression list and also among the entry subjects.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  First-cycle study in marketing and sales at a higher-education institution or a vocational academy, ending with a first degree. Programmes that combine an apprenticeship, and programmes that combine practice placements, exist. BERUFENET points vocationally qualified people to the state rules on higher-education access.

  Source: BERUFENET, marketing and sales (first cycle) · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Duration

  Standard period of study: 6 to 8 semesters.

  Source: BERUFENET, marketing and sales (first cycle) · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Cost

  Enrolment and administration fees and semester contributions can arise. BERUFENET states no single tuition figure for this subject. A programme in regular form is not paid. Practice phases may be paid. A dual programme is paid; BERUFENET states no amount.

  Source: BERUFENET, marketing and sales (first cycle) · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  The subject sits in group 92113, specialist level. The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 5,546 euros for that group (lower quartile 4,164 euros, upper quartile 7,472 euros, 123,925 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total). That is the group median, not a separate figure for the degree.

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 92113 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Ask your state's science ministry about higher-education access for your award. Only then choose a first-cycle programme in marketing and sales, or the business-administration variant with sales management that BERUFENET names.

  Save
• Master's degree in marketing and sales

  You deepen the first-cycle subject marketing and sales, often with a focus such as international marketing or strategic sales management. Continuing master's programmes, often taken alongside work, as a rule require one year of practice in addition to the first degree and build on that experience.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET lists marketing and sales (second cycle) on the sales-manager progression list. Someone who already has sales practice and a first degree finds the master's there as a second degree, not as a substitute for the bachelor's.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  Second-cycle study in marketing and sales. A consecutive master's can follow a completed first-cycle degree. A continuing master's as a rule requires at least one year of practice in addition to the first degree. Practice-integrated and work-integrated models exist. BERUFENET describes forms alongside work, with the job on weekdays and classes in the evening or at the weekend.

  Source: BERUFENET, marketing and sales (second cycle) · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Duration

  Standard period of study: 2 to 4 semesters.

  Source: BERUFENET, marketing and sales (second cycle) · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Cost

  Enrolment and administration fees and semester contributions can arise. BERUFENET states no single amount. A programme in regular form is not paid. A dual programme is paid; BERUFENET states no amount.

  Source: BERUFENET, marketing and sales (second cycle) · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Funding

  not documented yet

  Salary

  The second-cycle subject sits in group 92114, expert level. The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 6,480 euros for that group (lower quartile 4,685 euros, upper quartile not reported, 13,354 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total). That is the group median, not a separate figure for the master's degree.

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 92114 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Check the first degree. If it is missing, clarify first-cycle access first. If you have it, choose a continuing or consecutive master's in marketing and sales against the university's regulations.

  Save
• Certified business economist (Master Professional in Business Management)

  You prepare strategic decisions and put them into practice, in organisations of different kind, size and sector, including self-employment. In marketing or sales you develop marketing strategy or analyse sales markets, alongside viability analyses and financing plans.

  Why you fit

  BERUFENET lists the certified business economist under the Vocational Training Act among the entry occupations of sales manager, and lists head of sales among the jobs after this exam. The ordinance aims at the third upgrading level. The sales-manager progression page itself names a degree, not this exam.

  The route there

  Further training and exam

  Admission requires section 53d of the Vocational Training Act and a Fachwirt or Fachkaufmann certificate or a comparable commercial upgrading certificate under that Act, or the commercial Fachwirt under the Crafts Code, or a state exam at a commercial technical school that builds on an apprenticeship plus at least one year of practice afterwards, or an economics diploma, master's or bachelor's degree plus at least one year of practice afterwards. Practice after technical school or a degree must have substantial links to the tasks in section 2 (3). People who show comparable skills in another way can also be admitted.

  Source: GepBetrWMAProBusManFV section 3 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Duration

  not documented yet

  Cost

  not documented yet

  Funding

  Eligible upgrading courses can receive a contribution to course and exam fees of up to 15,000 euros in total. Of that, 50 percent is paid as a grant, and a loan from KfW can be added. The competent body checks whether your course meets the further conditions.

  Source: Upgrading Training Assistance Act (AFBG) section 12 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Salary

  This award sits in group 71303, specialist level. The Entgeltatlas reports median monthly gross pay of 5,926 euros for that group (lower quartile 4,605 euros, upper quartile 7,441 euros, 40,736 employees; Germany, gender total, age total, industry total). No separate figure for this exam alone is published there.

  Source: Entgeltatlas of the Federal Employment Agency, KldB 71303 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Particulars

  Passing the exam shows the extension of vocational competence aimed at progression, at the third upgrading level. The award title is certified business economist under the Vocational Training Act and, at the same time, Master Professional in Business Management under that Act.

  Source: GepBetrWMAProBusManFV section 2 · As of 2026-10-30 (retrieved)

  Your next step: Ask the competent body about admission under section 3 before you book a course. If Fachwirt or a degree is still missing, clarify that requirement or the exceptional admission first. Apply for AFBG funding before the course starts.

  Save

What matters to you

Choose what matters to you, if you like. We then show the matching facts about this job. There is no weighting, no rating and no overall score.

What matters to you? (optional, several possible)

Important to you

Financial situationSecurity & predictabilityWork environment & belongingRecognition & competenceGrowth & self-determination

Without a selection you get a general orientation: salary, collective agreements, skills, career and knowledge are in the sections of this page. Choose above what matters to you and we will point you to the matching places.

How we assign facts

• Financial situation: Salary, Pay scales
• Security & predictability: Pay scales, Job market
• Work environment & belonging: No data
• Recognition & competence: Skills
• Growth & self-determination: Career, Skills

Job market: what job ads ask for

Reliable data basis · Based on 458 ads with skills

Sought-after professional skills

• Gebietsverantwortung

Source: Stellenanzeigen (BA-Volltext) · As of 2026-11-01

Quick check with this target job

The quick check reads your CV with this job as the target. What it shows and where its limits are is explained on the result page.

Start the quick check