SOC 7132 Sales occupations

Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale Salary

Median salary £26,112 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £26,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For sales supervisors - retail and wholesale, £29,172 is the typical (median) pay. That is well below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -25% versus the national average. Experienced sales supervisors - retail and wholesale (top 25%) earn over £32,201.

About this role

Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale sell products or services to customers, identifying needs, presenting solutions, negotiating terms and closing deals. They build and maintain customer relationships, meet sales targets and contribute to revenue growth for their organisation.

Key responsibilities

Identifying and qualifying sales opportunities
Presenting products or services and demonstrating value
Negotiating pricing, terms and contracts
Building and maintaining customer relationships
Meeting and exceeding sales targets and KPIs

Qualifications and entry routes

Formal qualifications are less important than commercial ability and product knowledge. However, degrees in business or marketing are common. Professional sales qualifications (e.g., ISM) and industry-specific knowledge add value.

Career outlook

AI and automation are transforming customer service, but complex, relationship-based sales and service roles remain in demand. Career progression often leads to management or specialist roles.

Key skills

Negotiation Communication Relationship building Target focus Product knowledge

Common industries

Technology
Financial services
Manufacturing
Professional services
Retail

Data coverage

SOC code 7132

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 85,000

Median Salary

£26,112

Mean Salary

£26,609

Jobs (000s)

85k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £13kP25: £19kMedian: £26kP75: £32kP90: £38k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£13,139

0-2 years

Mid Level

£19,093

3-7 years

Senior

£32,201

8-15 years

Leadership

£38,221

15+ years

Potential career growth: +191% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +24.0%Real growth: +0.3%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 14.5%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£26,112

Full-time Only

£29,172

Full-time premium: +£3,060

Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale salary: common questions

How much do sales supervisors - retail and wholesale earn in the UK?

Sales supervisors - retail and wholesale earn a median of £29,172 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £19,093 and £32,201.

Is £29,172 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for sales supervisors - retail and wholesale?

Entry-level sales supervisors - retail and wholesale typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £19,093, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £13,139.

How much do the highest-paid sales supervisors - retail and wholesale earn?

The best-paid 10% of sales supervisors - retail and wholesale earn over £38,221 a year, and the top 25% over £32,201 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have sales supervisors - retail and wholesale salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median sales supervisors - retail and wholesale pay has risen from £23,643 to £29,172 — +23% in cash terms, or +0.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for sales supervisors - retail and wholesale?

Male sales supervisors - retail and wholesale earn a median £28,352 and female sales supervisors - retail and wholesale £24,250 — a gap of +14% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).