GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Best States to Be a Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products salary goes furthest in Kansas — a $130,850 BLS median worth $138,060 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 133.2).
Which US states are best for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products after cost of living and tax?
For a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Kansas #1: a $130,850 BLS median becomes $138,060 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 133.2). Alaska ranks last ($75,304, index 72.7). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 49 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Kansas ranks #1 of 49 states for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products. Index 100 = the average state; 133.2 means pay goes 33.2% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedSales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | $130,850 | $6,502 | 90.1 | $138,060 | 133.2 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $124,200 | $3,351 | 88.2 | $137,006 | 132.2 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $125,370 | $4,786 | 94.3 | $127,837 | 123.4 |
| 4 | Georgia | $128,850 | $6,298 | 96.3 | $127,270 | 122.8 |
| 5 | Colorado | $135,000 | $5,280 | 103.1 | $125,878 | 121.5 |
| 6 | Michigan | $125,650 | $5,094 | 96.2 | $125,296 | 120.9 |
| 7 | Virginia | $128,270 | $6,576 | 101.1 | $120,365 | 116.2 |
| 8 | Washington | $127,390 | — | 107.0 | $119,042 | 114.9 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $131,360 | $6,178 | 108.8 | $115,052 | 111.0 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $102,720 | $765 | 89.0 | $114,609 | 110.6 |
| 11 | Ohio | $108,370 | $2,243 | 92.8 | $114,393 | 110.4 |
| 12 | New York | $129,410 | $6,716 | 107.9 | $113,688 | 109.7 |
| 13 | Iowa | $103,380 | $3,888 | 87.8 | $113,365 | 109.4 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $111,190 | $5,286 | 93.7 | $112,965 | 109.0 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $117,670 | $4,030 | 102.3 | $111,106 | 107.2 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $100,850 | — | 92.7 | $108,802 | 105.0 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $126,110 | $8,054 | 110.0 | $107,371 | 103.6 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $118,980 | $5,729 | 105.8 | $107,086 | 103.3 |
| 19 | Indiana | $102,910 | $3,057 | 93.3 | $106,990 | 103.3 |
| 20 | California | $124,220 | $7,431 | 110.7 | $105,482 | 101.8 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $97,230 | $3,752 | 89.5 | $104,449 | 100.8 |
| 22 | Florida | $107,700 | — | 103.4 | $104,145 | 100.5 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $97,640 | $3,775 | 90.2 | $104,111 | 100.5 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $103,790 | $3,186 | 97.6 | $103,107 | 99.5 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $94,450 | — | 91.9 | $102,808 | 99.2 |
| 26 | Illinois | $107,570 | $5,184 | 100.0 | $102,429 | 98.9 |
| 27 | Delaware | $107,830 | $5,776 | 99.8 | $102,251 | 98.7 |
| 28 | Texas | $99,080 | — | 97.1 | $102,084 | 98.5 |
| 29 | Idaho | $101,390 | $4,654 | 95.5 | $101,301 | 97.8 |
| 30 | Oregon | $113,830 | $9,156 | 103.4 | $101,270 | 97.7 |
| 31 | Missouri | $94,840 | $3,577 | 90.8 | $100,492 | 97.0 |
| 32 | Maine | $101,850 | $5,333 | 97.0 | $99,451 | 96.0 |
| 33 | Minnesota | $103,000 | $5,515 | 98.6 | $98,848 | 95.4 |
| 34 | Nevada | $98,500 | — | 100.0 | $98,521 | 95.1 |
| 35 | Arizona | $100,620 | $2,041 | 100.7 | $97,917 | 94.5 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $97,960 | — | 104.2 | $94,043 | 90.8 |
| 37 | Vermont | $95,900 | $3,948 | 98.0 | $93,869 | 90.6 |
| 38 | Alabama | $87,140 | $4,092 | 88.8 | $93,498 | 90.2 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $87,310 | $3,001 | 92.2 | $91,429 | 88.2 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $98,000 | $3,815 | 103.6 | $90,903 | 87.7 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $84,400 | $3,293 | 90.1 | $90,016 | 86.9 |
| 42 | Maryland | $95,040 | $4,182 | 105.0 | $86,566 | 83.5 |
| 43 | Montana | $83,610 | $3,795 | 94.6 | $84,331 | 81.4 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $74,990 | $2,494 | 87.0 | $83,373 | 80.5 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $78,480 | $3,007 | 94.1 | $80,209 | 77.4 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | $92,940 | $5,025 | 109.9 | $79,995 | 77.2 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $71,830 | $2,593 | 86.9 | $79,641 | 76.9 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $72,480 | $2,905 | 87.8 | $79,204 | 76.4 |
| 49 | Alaska | $77,080 | — | 102.4 | $75,304 | 72.7 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 49 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Kansas, a $130,850 salary is worth about $137,173 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $7,301 (≈ top marginal 5.58% (upper bound)) · take-home $123,549 · BEA cost of living 90.1 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $147,710, a $10,537 gain over Kansas.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $147,710 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $144,641 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $143,894 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $143,862 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $143,431 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $143,413 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $142,430 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $141,883 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $141,168 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $139,950 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $139,327 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $139,159 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Kansas is the best state for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products: a BLS median of $130,850 is worth $138,060 after the 2025 state income tax ($6,502) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 90.1), an index of 133.2 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. Colorado has the highest headline BLS median for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products at $135,000, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #5 of 49 on real pay (index 121.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products salary go least far?
- Alaska ranks last of 49 states for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products: a $77,080 BLS median is worth only $75,304 after tax and cost of living (index 72.7). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.