Direct Sales Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Direct Sales Specialist make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Direct Sales Specialist in the United States is $76,810 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

However, a Direct Sales Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,889
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,448 to $83,132
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $66,566
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View as table View as graph 25% $71,448 10% $66,566 90% $88,889 75% $83,132 $76,810 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Direct Sales Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $83,132 $6,928 $1,599 $40
Average $76,810 $6,401 $1,477 $37
25th Percentile $71,448 $5,954 $1,374 $34
Check out Direct Sales Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Sales Specialist Digital Marketing

Concentrix - FARMINGTON HILLS, MI

Fire Suppression Inside Sales Specialist Key Accounts

Johnson Controls - MILWAUKEE, WI

Direct Support Specialist

Pinnacle Services, Inc. - MINNEAPOLIS (METRO AND SURROUNDING CITIES), MN

Direct Marketing Specialist II

Election Systems & Software - OMAHA, NE

Search More Direct Sales Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Direct Sales Specialist Salaries

A Direct Sales Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Direct Sales Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Direct Sales Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $74,578
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,739
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $76,810
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $79,413
  • Expert (over 8 years): $79,599
Levels Salary
Entry Level Direct Sales Specialist$74,578
Intermediate Level Direct Sales Specialist$74,739
Senior Level Direct Sales Specialist$76,810
Specialist Level Direct Sales Specialist$79,413
Expert Level Direct Sales Specialist$79,599
$74,578 0 yr
$74,739 < 2 yrs
$76,810 2-4 yrs
$79,413 5-8 yrs
$79,599 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Direct Sales Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Direct Sales Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $85,043.
  • California: $84,721.
  • Massachusetts: $83,592.

Top Paying Cities for Direct Sales Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $96,880
  • San Francisco: $95,927
  • Oakland: $93,800

What Skills Can Increase a Direct Sales Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 11.22% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Cold Calling (Mentioned in 2.74% Job Postings): Cold calling is the solicitation of business from potential customers who have had no prior contact with the salesperson conducting the call. It is an attempt to convince potential customers to purchase either the salesperson's product or service. Generally, it is referred as an over-the-phone process, making it a source of telemarketing, but can also be done in-person by door-to-door salespeople. Though cold calling can be used as a legitimate business tool, scammers can use cold calling as well.
  • Transaction Processing (Mentioned in 0.95% Job Postings): Transaction processing is information processing in computer science that is divided into individual, indivisible operations called transactions.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 11.22%
Cold Calling 2.74%
Transaction Processing 0.95%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Direct Sales Specialist's salary.
  • Merchandising: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Sales Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Career Development: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Merchandising
$92,171
20%
Sales Presentation
$92,171
20%
Career Development
$90,635
18%
Agility
$84,490
10%
Store Management
$84,490
10%
Office Management
$83,722
9%
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How Education impacts a Direct Sales Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Direct Sales Specialists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Direct Sales Specialist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $64,428 and $71,312).

Direct Sales Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Direct Sales Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.3%
High School 25.3%
Associates 11.4%
Bachelors 57.0%
Masters 3.8%
Doctorate 1.3%
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Direct Sales Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Direct Sales Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Direct Sales Specialist

Salaries for a Direct Sales Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $67,585 in 2023 to around $67,655 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Direct Sales Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Direct Sales Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$67,585
2024
$68,494
2025
$67,655
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $67,585
2024 $68,494
2025 $67,655
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Direct Sales Specialist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Direct Sales Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Direct Sales Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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